The inaugural Cherry Blossom Festival will be held in Margate, Sunday, March 26.
MARGATE - The spring equinox signals the beginning of warmer weather, and in Margate, that means the beautiful cherry trees that line the parkway section will soon be showing their colors.
In an effort to celebrate the arrival of spring, several community groups have planned a spectacular Sunday on the parkway when the Margate Business Association, Margate Mothers Association, Sustainable Downbeach and the Margate Recreation Department hold their first-ever Cherry Blossom Festival starting at noon on March 26. Sponsored by The Pet Salon, the free family event features pony rides, children's games and activities, live dance music by The Dead Reckoning, tasty treats, wine sampling, arts and crafts, and a host of environmental exhibitors.
The festival will be held noon to 4 p.m. on Ventnor Avenue between Sumner and Thurlow avenues directly in front of the Margate Community Church. Everyone is encouraged to wear tie dye clothing and bring chairs or blankets to spend the afternoon relaxing with friends and neighbors.
For decades, the scores of cherry blossom trees that line the Margate Parkway section have been a symbol of seasonal renewal and hope for sunnier days ahead, as their delicate pink and white blooms burst onto the scene and say goodbye to winter.
The festival commences with Gerri Medoff and her Tai Chi instruction, which is free for all participants eager to understand its meditative and health benefits. On the grassy grounds of the Margate Community Church, the Recreation Department will host family activities such as spoon races, and potato sack and three-legged races. Margate Community Church will be sell pansies, host children's crafts and provide free pony rides in the south bridle path in front of the church. The MBA will hold a mini-cornhole tournament in anticipation of the city's upcoming Cornhole League seasons. Alisa Dirato will use her exquisite talents for face painting.
The Grateful Dead tribute band Dead Reckoning will hit the stage 1-3 p.m. performing an inspired set of Dead favorites, including iconic harmonies and Jerry Garcia-esque fueled vocals and guitar effects.
Food trucks include TacoCat, California Frozen Yogurt, Harry & Beans and Kells Concessions. Wawa will also be on site to satisfy all types of appetites. For the adults, Treasury Wine Estates will have a wide variety of selections from Matua wines to sample and/or purchase.
Margate Mothers will lead the children to participate in free themed crafts like Japanese fish kites and cherry blossom branch painting. The Pet Salon will feature tie-dye wearable feathers for both our furry friends and children.
Sustainable Downbeach has compiled a collection of presentations, including the Surfrider Foundation's rain barrel demonstration, NJDEP AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassadors What's in Our Bay display. Atlantic County Utilities Authority, South Jersey Native Plant Society and Earth First Native Plant Nursery will display seed planting techniques.
Bianca Del Mar will be on hand with their vegan, organic soaps, and the Jacques Cousteau Estuary Research Reserve and Marine Mammal Stranding Center will discuss the importance of protecting our wildlife, vegetation, marine life, oceans and beaches. Busy Bees will bring their delicious honey products along with educational information about our buzzing friends
This event offers a great opportun.ity for the various environmental organizations to show off their displays and share their knowledge about the shore environment in a fun and engaging way, said Steve Jasiecki, who chairs Sustainable Downbeach.
Sponsors include The Pet Salon, 95.1WAYV, Shore Local, Margate Mothers Association, Sustainable Downbeach, Margate Business Association and the Margate Recreation Department For more information visit MargateHasMore.com.
