There will be 75 crafters, 60 food vendors and bands with live music
SOMERS POINT — Bayfest, the city’s popular street fair to celebrate Earth Day, returns for its 36th anniversary April 26 along historic Bay Avenue.
Much of the event, which started in 1989 to coincide with Earth Day and celebrate the city’s maritime heritage and brings tens of thousands of people to the city to enjoy food and craft vendors and nonprofit environmental organizations, is much the same year to year — that’s why people keeping flocking to the event.
Booths line both sides of the street between Pleasant and Annie avenues along Great Egg Harbor Bay, where the crowd can enjoy shopping, dining, live music, games and children’s activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Steve Hornig, chairman of the Bayfest Committee, said the 10-member board begins meeting monthly in September to organize the next year’s event, then meets bi-weekly through March and weekly through April to get all of the work done in time.
However, new this year is a commitment to increased security.
Mayor Dennis Tapp, a member of the committee, said the biggest difference this year will be the heightened level of security following the attack Jan. 1, 2025, in New Orleans.
Texan Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, was shot dead by police when he got out of his pickup truck after striking scores of people on Bourbon Street in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day. Jabbar reportedly posted on Facebook his allegiance to terrorist group the Islamic State, but according to the FBI acted alone in his attack. Fourteen people were killed and at least 57 others injured, including Ocean City native Adam Coste, who is recovering from extensive lower-body injuries.
Tapp said the city will be erecting multiple barricades to prevent automobiles from entering the pedestrian area.
“That’s really changed a lot from the way it was before,” he said, noting they were forced to borrow barricades from the county Sheriff’s Office and neighboring towns.
Tapp said Paul Clark Drive and Decatur, Gibbs and Higbee avenues would be blocked at Bay Avenue.
“We have to take every precaution,” he said.
Still, he said, the event remains family-oriented, with a lot of attractions for children.
“I don’t think it has changed much; we’ve kept with the same model,” Tapp said. “Even though it was a celebration of Earth Day, it has evolved a little but we stay away from manufactured goods. It’s more of a homey-type feel.”
This year there are 75 crafters, 60 food vendors and 20 grab-and-go food spots.
Hornig said the latter were popular last year when first instituted.
“We decided to keep it and were fortunate enough to grab a couple extra this year,” he said.
Tapp said committee members Hornig, Brianna McNair, Ashley Mathers, Shelly Falls, Sean McGuigan, Emerald Hornig, and Deirdre Cosgrove work hard to organize the event and ensure it is successful.
“They divide and conquer and do an excellent job,” Tapp said.
This year’s live bands are South Jersey Jazz Society, Animal House, Dead Reckoning and Shore Thing Band.
There also will be various children’s activities such as face painting, sand art and pony rides, as well as raffle prizes including gift certificates from local restaurants and two bicycles.
Hornig said in addition to the Bayfest Committee and about two dozen volunteers who help at the event, hosting it requires the participation of multiple city departments, which work to keep it safe and clean for visitors.
Parking is never easy in the city’s Bayfront District and even more difficult during the popular event. Hornig said the best way to get to the street festival is to park and take the free shuttle, which runs all day with stops at Dawes Avenue School, Jordan Road School and Somers Point Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 on Bethel Road.
Hornig said vendor fees and profit from apparel sales support the following year’s event, paying for such things as port-a-potties, electric carts, entertainment and giveaways. Any money that’s left over is donated to different local organizations.
– STORY by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff