Summer may be coming to an end, but for the Wildwoods, the fall offers even more chances for fun. The Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement & Development Authority has packed what is known as the "second season" calendar with more than 40 special events taking place before the winter holidays - including a weekend full of classic cars, Irish fun and family entertainment kicking off this Thursday, Sept. 20.
21st Annual Irish Fall Festival
Celtic music, corned beef, Irish dancing, boxing and more - if it's Irish, it will be in Wildwood this weekend.
The largest Irish festival on the East Coast, the 21st annual Irish Fall Festival begins Thursday, Sept. 20, and runs through Sunday, Sept. 23, in North Wildwood.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), an organization preserving Irish culture and heritage, sponsors the popular four-day festival, which draws more than 200,000 visitors each year.
Festivities begin Thursday evening where Olde New Jersey Avenue meets the ocean at 7 p.m.. There, the tent at The Pointe at Moore's Inlet will be transformed into a boxing arena for 10 amateur boxing bouts, sanctioned by the Middle Atlantic Boxing Association. Matches will feature the Harrowgate Boxing Club of Philadelphia vs. the Holy Family Boxing Club of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. For tickets, call 215-465-1778.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, street vendors will display Irish memorabilia, food and more along Olde New Jersey Avenue from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free live entertainment will run from noon to 10:30 pm. both Friday and Saturday. Performers include Timmy Kelly, Maura McKinney-Mastro, Ballina, Broken Shillelaghs, Birmingham 6, Celtic Pride and First Highland Watch.
The annual Brian Riley Pipe Exhibition, an event attracting thousands of spectators, will take place 10 a.m. Saturday at the field located at 8th and Central Avenues. Also on Saturday, the AOH will host free Irish dance lessons at the Anglesea Volunteer Fire House, located at 2nd and Olde New Jersey Avenues, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
The annual parade begins 12:30 p.m. Sunday at 24th and Surf Avenues and continuing to Spruce and Olde New Jersey Avenues. Brendan Moore, National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America, will serve as the 2012 Grand Marshal.
The official Irish music tent will be located in the municipal parking lot across from The Pointe at Moore's Inlet. The Irish Music Tent will feature nonstop entertainment by Broken Shillelaghs, Celtic Connection, Sean Fleming Band, Secret Service, Bogside Rogues, Highland Rovers, 2 U, Belfast Connection and Derek Warfield and the Young Wolftones. For discount weekend admission tickets - $20 for all three days - call 215-397-5909.
Throughout the festival, shuttle service will be available from the Anglesea Fire Hall, and additional shuttle service will be available through Wildwood and Wildwood Crest, where other events will also be held at various bars and restaurants. For detailed information, call 609-884-5230 or go to www.gatrolley.com.
For more information about the festival, contact the AOH at 1-800-IRISH-91 or go to www.cmcaoh.com.
Sunset Lake Seafarers Celebration
Wildwood Crest will host its annual Seafarers Celebration, a free street festival featuring live music, family entertainment, craft vendors and food, on Saturday, Sept. 22, at both Sunset Lake and Centennial Park.
The daytime portion of the Seafarers Celebration will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sunset Lake, located along New Jersey Avenue between Rambler Road and Miami Avenue. Live music will include The Star Band, Dogs Playing Cards, The Groove, The Christopher Dean Band and Michael James. Family entertainment will include a stunt bike show, pony rides, karaoke, a rock climbing wall and face painting.
At 7 p.m., the festival continues near the beachfront at Centennial Park, located at Fern Road and Ocean Avenue, with a live musical performance by Bandstand. The day concludes with a beachfront fireworks show at 9 p.m.
Go to www.visitwildwoodcrest.com, www.wildwoodcrest.org or call 609-523-0202.
Morey's Piers Annual Beach Jam Fall Festival
The ultimate camping experience for scouts kicks off Friday, Sept. 21,with Morey's Piers annual Beach Jam Fall Festival.
The fun begins with what is billed as a "creepy" Friday night, when campers can enter the Ghost Ship if they dare, go on a hayride and warm up at the bonfire. Live entertainment, catered meals and free Boardwalk tram rides are also included in package prices. Camping will take place on the beach at Morey's Piers.
Packages range from $45 to $70 per person. The registration deadline has passed for the event, but interested campers may still purchase admission upon arrival at the Beach Jam Event Information Booth. The on-site Beach Jam package rates are $5 more than the online advance sale rates.
Email BeachJam@MoreysPiers.com, call 609-522-3900 ext. 1195, or go to www.moreyspiers.com.
Boardwalk Classic Car Show and Auction
Show off your classic dream ride or bid on one of your very own. The annual auction of "muscle" and classic cars will take place once again in the Wildwoods Convention Center, when the Wildwood Boardwalk Classic Car Show and Auction returns on Thursday, Sept. 20.
Vendors will have memorabilia, collectibles, parts and accessories - all alongside hundreds of classic cars up for auction. A preview runs from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday. On Friday, the preview runs from noon to 5 p.m. with auction from 6 to 9 p.m. The Saturday auction runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Car Show will feature classic cars displayed on the Wildwoods Boardwalk from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Admission is free for both events. Registration for the car show is $35.
Call 609-522-4546 or go to www.wildwoodmotorevents.com.
