The 19th annual Surf For A Cause will be held at the Decatur Avenue beach Saturday, Sept. 7. It is just one of four major events going on in Atlantic City and Downbeach this weekend.
Although the unofficial end of the summer season was Labor Day weekend, Absecon Island will be a happening place Saturday, Sept. 7 with major events taking place in Atlantic City and all three Downbeach communities.
Atlantic City
The World Famous Atlantic City Boardwalk is the place to be as Hard Rock Hotel hosts the Celebrate America Parade at 5 p.m. The parade starts at Metropolitan Avenue and ends at Arkansas Avenue. Spectators are encouraged to bring American flags, lawn chairs and blankets to watch the 90-minute parade. Miss America 1984 Suzette Charles is the Grand Marshal. Other Miss America contestants will be in the parade, along with Philadelphia sports legends Larry Bowa, Bill Bergey and Dave Schultz. The parade honors first responders, police and firefighters and those in the military. Parade units include the Valley Forge Military Academy Band, the Marching Cobras, 78th Army Band, string bands, military units, Patriotic Farm Tractor and a diverse offering of cultural groups and more.
Ventnor
The Downbeach Seafood Festival will be held 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Ventnor's Ski Beach on Dorset Avenue at the bay. The event, which relocated to Ventnor after eight years at Bader Field, features seafood offerings from more than 25 local and regional seafood restaurants and food purveyors, along with festival fun, music and contests. Sample culinary creations of local celebrity chefs and restaurants offering seafood dishes, and taste entries in the Chowder Cook-off benefiting the FoodBank of New Jersey. Enjoy beers from local and regional breweries. Other activities include sand sculpting, Kid's Zone street games, Atlantic City Aquarium touch tank, amusements, cooking demonstrations, South Pacific Island Dancers, a crab cake eating competition and a pet costume contest.
Tickets are $10, but if you arrive by kayak, admission is $5; children under 12 are free. Food entrees will be priced from $4 to $11. Parking is available at the Tropicana lot next to Ventnor Plaza shopping center on Wellington Avenue with a shuttle service to and from the festival. Overflow parking will be available at the baseball fields on Surrey Avenue. See downbeachseafoodfest.com for more.
Margate
The surfing world will be thoroughly engaged at the Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation's 19th annual Surf For A Cause surfing contest and beach party on the Decatur Avenue beach in front of Lucy the Elephant. The event raises money for those affected by cancer.
The competition begins at 8 a.m. and continues throughout the day. The South Jersey Boardriders Club will judge the event and hold a surfing exhibition at 11:30 a.m. At noon, Heart of Surfing will provide an open surfing session for families with autism and special needs.The Icla da Silva Foundation, a recruitment center for the Be The Match Registry, will also conduct registrations for the National Marrow Donor Program.
Popular New York City-based rock band with South Jersey roots, The Danbees, has signed on as the headlining musical act for the after party being held at Ventura's Greenhouse at 4 p.m. Tickets to the after party are $25 and include food, raffles, live entertainment a chance to meet professional surfers and an awards ceremony. Jo-Jo From the Jo-Jo and Scotty Morning Show on 100.7 WZXL will be doing a live DJ set from 4-6 p.m. For more see thedrcf.org.
Longport
The Longport Beach Patrol will host its annual Mascot Races starting at 11 a.m. on the beach at 33rd Avenue. The races are for children 13 and under. On-site registration opens at 10:30 a.m.
