Margate’s FREE Fall Funfest By The Bay & Scarefest After Dark!

JUST THE FACTS:

When: Saturday 9/24: 11am-6pm & Sunday 9/25 11 am-5pm

What: Food, music (on two stages), crafters, kid’s activities, character parade, Margate Catch the Wave Cornhole Tournament  and SCAREFEST AFTER DARK.

Where: All along Amherst Avenue in Margate from Washington Avenue to Coolidge Avenues PLUS, you can walk the new Promenade Baywalk

Scarefest (Funfest) After Dark 9/24: A  NEW take on Funfest After Dark , is all about costumes and tastings, dancing and mischief. Guests are invited to get a jump on Halloween and arrive dressed in costume! This is a special adults-only event,  includes 5 samplings of wine & spirits, finger…. foods, and access to the Spooktacularly decorated lounge on the Washington Avenue Pier and the special Tito’s Handmade Vodka tent. To purchase tickets, visit Eventbrite at SCAREFEST AFTER DARK.  A wicked good time featuring live music by Mas Tequila Orchestra.

Steve & Cookie’s Annual Dog Show  9/25 – Preregistration online at steveandcookies.com. $20 per event. On site registration 11:30a-12:30pm. K9 demonstration at 11:30am. Showtime 1pm. Events: Prettiest/Most Handsome (Small/Large Dog)  & Best Dressed Farm Animal (Small/Large Dog), benefitting NJ Aid for Animals and Humane Society of Ocean City.

THE DETAILS: Thousands of visitors attend Margate Fall Funfest to enjoy over 100 booths and activities, beer gardens and more; a true celebration of the season, the beautiful bayfront, and the friendly spirit of the people of Margate! Fall Funfest is FREE and loaded with new entertainment and activities including music, games, back-bay nature tours and educational exhibits.  Saturday, Cornhole Tournament, open to everyone –  sponsored by Colmar Home Center with    open to all ages. Register online  or day of on Washington Ave. at 12:30 pm, tournament begins at 1pm.  Sunday is free Cornhole recreational play.

The Margate Fall Funfest By The Bay, was started in 1998 by Margate Business Association founder and president Joseph Tozzi. The event held annually on Amherst Avenue, grew and realized crowds of 20,000 people from throughout the tri-state area all coming to enjoy the spectacular flavors, crafts and entertainment in Margate.  The event is designed to give a boost to local businesses in the shoulder season and to showcase so many of Margate’s attributes.  Funfest took a three-year break beginning in 2004 but came back strong from 2007-2019; only to be cancelled last year due to Covid-19. Vendors from throughout the region will be offering savory food and unique crafts. The area’s represented bars and restaurants will be alive with visitors. A dozen musical bands will be featured on the main stage, playing everything from rock, to country, to reggae.

Vendors from throughout the region will be offering unique crafts and savory food  including seafood, barbecued meats, pizza, funnel cakes, acai bowls, fruit shakes, cheesesteaks, Tin Cup sodas and much more.  The beer gardens and a special Tito’s Handmade Vodka tent will provide a wide array of adult beverages. Amherst Avenue’s signature bars and restaurants will be offering delectable foods and beverages.  A dozen musical bands will be featured on the main stage, playing everything from rock, to country, to jazz.  The fun kicks off on Saturday, from 11 am- 6 pm and continues through Sunday from 11am-5pm, along Amherst Avenue, between Decatur and Coolidge Avenues. Free jitney shuttle service is available all along Ventnor and Amherst Avenues and from the parking lot at the Eugene Tighe School on 7804 Amherst Avenue.  Just look for the FREE FUNFEST JITNEY sign in the jitney window.

Free jitney shuttle service is available all along Ventnor and Amherst Avenues and from the free parking lot at the Eugene Tighe School on 7804 Amherst Avenue. Just look for the FREE FUNFEST JITNEY sign in the jitney window.

Ray Scott’s Dock “Wetland Wonderland” : A myriad of activities including turtle releases, local wildlife artists, and a new addition Skelfish Metals artistic depictions of bay life. Highlights also include Turtle Encounters Jeff Quicksall and Barry Winakur, and spectacular back-bay eco kayak tours. Reservations are suggested and there is an admission fee the eco-kayak tour. For more information contact Ray Scott’s Dock at 609-822-6819.

Dozens of juried artisans offering a wide variety of handmade crafts including; pottery, photography, fall décor, culinary artisans, handmade candles, soaps, and unique jewelry will be at Funfest. New crafters include Collier’s Candle Company, soy candles poured into Mason jars, Pet Portraits by Joe Brewer painted art work of your pet, Sand Jewels LLC, handmade glass art, jewelry pendants, ornaments, candle holders, plaques, wine charms, coasters, mosaics, magnets, keychains and more.

On Sunday, visitors can enjoy Steve and Cookie’s Annual Dog Show featuring best dressed dogs and other special categories!Steve & Cookie’s Annual Dog Show  – Preregistration online at steveandcookies.com. $20 per event. On site registration 11:30a-12:30pm. K9 demonstration at 11:30am. Showtime 1pm. Events: Prettiest/Most Handsome (Small/Large Dog)  & Best Dressed Farm Animal (Small/Large Dog), benefitting NJ Aid for Animals and Humane Society of Ocean City.

There will be a character’s parade, autographs and pictures with Snow White, Woody, Chewbacca, Buzz Lightyear and Superhero Minion. All of this will be in addition to children’s gymnastics and yoga demonstrations, games, giveaways and more.

Visitors will enjoy shopping at local businesses Christina’s Boutique, Lilly, Heritage Surf & Sport, Steelfin plus others.

Sponsor tents will feature exciting FREE activities and giveaways. T-Mobile will be patrolling the site giving random acts of kindness awards; WAWA will be randomly handing out product coupons; Atlantic County Utilities Authority’s environmental giveaways, waste disposal information, and participants of all ages are invited spin to the environmental trivia question wheel and be on the lookout for Supercan mascot; Renewal by Andersen is offering 25% off select services and items; Hartman Home Team Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Hartman Realtors interactive activities and South Jersey Electric Vehicles golf cart display.

This year’s sponsors include 100.7 WZXL, 95.1 WAYV, Atlantic County Utilities Authority, Balsley Losco Real Estate, Bath Fitter, Downbeach Express Hartman Home Team of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Fox & Roach Realtors, Margate Business Association, Maynard’s Café, Mediagate, Produce Junction, Ray Scott’s Dock, Steve & Cookies By the Bay & Oyster Bar, Tomatoes.

Scarefest (Funfest) After Dark – Saturday, September 24, features live Music by Mas Tequila Orchestra, dancing, wine and spirits tasting. Funfest After Dark; Definitely Not For Kids, will continue the weekend’s fun into Saturday night, from 7:30pm to 11pm.-  A special adults-only event with free live music by the Mas Tequila Orchestra .  Attendees are invited to wear a costume.  $20 plus processing fee and $25 at the door. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Margate Business Association and proceeds will go to local charities.

This year, all of our booths on the fairground will be spaced 6 feet apart for safety. MBA staff members will be wearing masks at all of the service points that the MBA controls. There will also be hand sanitizing stations throughout the fairground. If any additional guidelines for outdoor event are issued by the City, State, or Federal government or further recommendations are made by the CDC, the MBA will most certainly comply.

Event sponsors are 100.7 WZXL, 95.1 WAYV, Atlantic County Utilities Authority, T-Mobile,Downbeach Express, Hartman Home Team of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Fox & Roach Realtors, South Jersey Electric Vehicles, Margate Business Association, Maynard’s Café, Mediagate, Produce Junction, Ray Scott’s Dock, Steve & Cookie’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar, Tomatoes.

For more information and updates visit or download the Catch the Margate Wave App.

The Margate Business Association exists to promote the economic and physical revitalization and welfare of the businesses and Bay District of Margate, including the advancement of the Margate Community through local scholarship, events to promote family activities and providing assistance to local governments and organizations situated in the City of Margate, the County of Atlantic, and the State of New Jersey.