By MADDY VITALE
Shoppers seemed to delight in Day One of Ocean City’s first ever Winterfest by the Sea, which features an array of local vendors with specialty foods, clothing and household items.
And it didn’t seem to matter to the crowd of patrons who browsed, while adhering to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, that the weather Friday was damp and chilly.
Friends Joan Vicari, of Egg Harbor Township, and Kathy Ghannavati, of Seaville, only seemed to care about the great deals they were buying.
By 1 p.m., the women already had a few bags in each hand filled with everything from holiday ornaments to guacamole.
“It feels great to be out here shopping and everyone is so happy and friendly and wearing their masks,” Vicari noted. “We make it a point to shop local and this is a great way to do it.”
The two-day, open-air market began at noon and went to 5 p.m. on Friday and continues Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the field behind the Sports & Civic Center at 6th Street and the Boardwalk. All CDC regulations are strictly adhered to amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michele Gillian, executive director of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, explained that the upscale shopping event helps local businesses.
“We are excited to bring a new event to Ocean City that encourages people to shop our Ocean City businesses in a fun atmosphere,” she said.
Winterfest was in the works for a couple of years, Gillian noted. However, the original plan was for it to be indoors, which shifted due to the pandemic.
“I think Ocean City needs to do more outdoor events,” Ghannavati said, adding that you just have to dress for the occasion. “We have our hoods on. We are bundled up.”
Clare Pfeil, of Philadelphia, stopped to taste test some cashews from Mick Julia’s Mullica Hill-based store, called Karen and the Nut.
“Fabulous,” Pfeil said of Winterfest, as she purchased some roasted cashews. “I’m glad they are doing something.”
Julia added that as a business owner who does the shows, the cancellation of the popular Ocean City Fall Block party was a disappointment, but this made up for it.
“I think tomorrow, with the weather forecast to be nice, it will be off the charts,” he said of the crowd he expects Saturday at Winterfest.
Andrea Freda of Pillowz by Andrea does about 30 shows a year.
This year, like so many other business owners, it was difficult for Freda. And like Julia, she said it was tough not counting on the blockbuster Fall Block Party to showcase her wares.
But Winterfest seemed to make up for it, she noted, as she arranged some of her merchandise and people stopped by to browse.
“I always do the Ocean City shows,” Freda explained of both the fall and spring block parties. “The Chamber of Commerce has been great to vendors. I definitely like that they offered this event and would definitely do it again.”
Rose Veltri and Alex Seedes, managers at Top Sail Steamers, an Ocean City business, displayed gift cards and baskets for customers to view.
“I think Winterfest is a great substitute for the block party,” Veltri said. “The Chamber was really helpful, and everyone is social distancing and wearing their masks.”
But every once in a while, there were those who took off their masks – albeit for a couple of seconds.
And there was good reason.
“I can’t resist these doughnuts. I just love these things,” said Kathy Hoffman, of Ocean City, who sampled some confections from Cape May-based RSK Doughnuts as she entered the event.
“This is a perfect location for Winterfest,” Hoffman said. “There is so much to see. I plan on getting a few things and I may get more doughnuts.”
