By MADDY VITALE
Ocean City will be giving visitors to the resort this Presidents Day weekend not one, but two exciting events that promise a good time for all ages.
The city is hosting a new free event, the Winter Warrior Festival, on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ocean City Civic Center. Families can also enjoy the fifth annual Nature and the Environment Family Fun Day, also on Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Ocean City High School.
Michele Gillian, executive director of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, said she is excited about the new event and the holiday weekend.
“The Winter Warrior Festival is a great new event showcasing what a great destination Ocean City is for everyone to enjoy,” Gillian said. “From races for children, obstacle course fun, to a truck pull for teams, families, friends and businesses will be highlighting their athletic abilities.”
And for those who rather sit out the friendly competition, there will be plenty more things to do.
“Spectators will be able to enjoy shopping and dining from local merchants,” Gillian said. “What a wonderful way to celebrate a long weekend.”
The Winter Warrior Festival will bring adults, kids and teams representing local businesses and groups together to participate in some obstacle course challenges. For the adults, there will also be the fire truck pull.
Indoors at the Civic Center, local merchants will sell items and there will be food vendors.
And the festival and environmental fun day are near each other, so people can easily attend both if they wish, Gillian noted.
After heading to the festival, or even before, families could enjoy the Environmental Family Fun Day. The free event, which is sponsored by the city’s Environmental Commission, will give visitors plenty to see and do.
The Environmental Family Fun Day will include nature and environmentally focused hands-on, interactive, exciting experiences for all ages. There visitors can see animals from the Cape May County Park & Zoo, and Wetlands Institute of Stone Harbor.
In addition to the city-sanctioned events, there will be a Cornhole Tournament benefiting the campaign of City Council At-Large candidate Mike DeVlieger.
“Come on out and join us for some family-friendly fun and competition,” DeVlieger said.
The tournament will be held Saturday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Cornhole Craze, 23 Mays Landing Rd, Somers Point, NJ 08244-1112.
Caitlin Quirk, president of Ocean City’s Downtown Merchants Association, said she is looking forward to a bustling holiday weekend.
“I am excited that the city created a new activity to give visitors something extra to do on a long, holiday weekend,” Quirk said. “It gives visitors, like our second homeowners, something new for to participate in when they come to town. I think it could be really great for business.”
Although some of Quirk’s employees at Bowfish Kids will be involved in the Winter Warrior Festival, she will be at the Environmental Family Fun Day with a table set up to teach attendees about composting.
She said both events will help bring people to town and give them family-friendly activities in the typically quieter time of year at the shore.
“I am excited about the outdoor component of the festival,” she added. “People can see the beauty of the ocean, the downtown and the Boardwalk.”
Wes Kazmarck, president of the Boardwalk Merchants Association, said he is optimistic about what the weekend could bring in terms of business.
“If we could get some decent weather, then it could be a really good weekend,” Kazmarck said. “The Winter Warrior Festival is new and could be a boost for the Boardwalk and the whole town.”
