Boardwalk run, obstacle courses, shopping, food vendors all part of inaugural event
OCEAN CITY — Weekend warriors will have an opportunity to knock some of the winter rust off during a new event on the boardwalk, beaches and playing fields of America’s Greatest Family Resort.
Hoping to offer something exciting to do during the coldest month of the year, various city organizations joined together to create the inaugural Winter Warrior Festival.
The event is expected to bring families and local businesses together for Presidents Day weekend. It is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Ocean City Sports & Civic Center.
The festival will include four components: an obstacle course race for children, a Winter Warrior obstacle challenge for adults, team challenges such as a firetruck pull and an indoor festival.
— Youth obstacle course: The non-competitive event includes a rock wall, hazard walls, cargo net, agility poles, teeter plank, monkey bars, floating steps, tire run and noodle tower. This race is reserved for participants age 13 and younger.
— Winter Warrior Challenge: A cold 2.5-mile course with 10 obstacles including sand mounds, tires, teeter-totters and monkey bars. This race is reserved for participants age 14 and older. All survivors receive an exclusive Winter Warrior Challenge finisher T-shirt.
— Winter Warrior Team Challenges: Teams of four from local businesses, organizations, churches and other groups will compete in events such as a firetruck pull and tire-flip relay.
— Winter Warrior Festival: As the events go on outside and for a post-race celebration, local merchants, restaurants and services will set up inside the Civic Center for a mid-winter festival offering an early taste of the long-awaited summer.
Registration for all events is open; discounted fees will be available through 4 p.m. Feb. 14. Visit ocnj.us/race-events for complete information and registration.
Lisa Rumer, supervisor of the Aquatic & Fitness Center, is among those working behind the scenes to make the event special.
“I’m pretty excited about this event,” she said last week.
While it may seem quite the physical challenge, Rumer said participants can make it as difficult as they like.
“It can be very challenging for those who want to commit to putting their body to the test or gather some friends and come out and do something that definitely is physical, but I’m assuming people are going to get some good laughs,” she said.
Rumer said the festival will cater to those who are looking for a physical challenge as well as those who just want to be part of community alongside it, noting there will be a food truck, the library’s book mobile, music, hot chocolate, fire heaters and more.
“It’s a little competition, a little shopping and fun for everyone in the same spot,” Rumer said.
She said the adult challenge will be timed, with champions crowned for overall male, female and nonbinary individually and the overall male, female and coed teams.
She said the team trophy will be amended each year to include the winners and displayed at the Civic Center.
“We can’t wait to put that winning team’s name on the trophy,” she said.
Rumer said the Community Services Department; fire, police and public works departments; and the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce are all part of the planning.
“We really have a true community endeavor here,” she said.
Visit ocnj.us/ocnjwinterwarrior for a complete schedule of event times.
Online registration is available at ocnjrecdesk.com — $40 through 4 p.m. Feb. 14 . Race-day registration is $50. Youth course is $10.
“We are hoping that it really creates a space where people can enjoy something in Ocean City in the winter,” Rumer said.
She said organizers are hoping for good weather “but we are going to have fun either way.”
Environment,
nature fun day
The 5th annual Ocean City Nature & The Environment Family Fun Day is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to noon the same day in the cafeteria at Ocean City High School.
The event provides an opportunity for children to do something educational, interactive and have loads of fun.
This year’s event will include a wide range of nature- and environmental-focused interactive and educational experiences.
Event sponsors are the Ocean City Environmental Commission in partnership with the Ocean City Free Public Library, the Cape May County Park & Zoo, The Wetlands Institute and Rutgers University Agricultural Extension.
“It’s right there around the corner, so hopefully people can be inspired by both and find some delight in the day,” Rumer said.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff