On Sunday March 26, the Margate Business Association, in conjunction with the Margate Mothers
Association, Sustainable Downbeach and the Margate Recreation Department, will celebrate the arrival of spring with their 1st Annual Cherry Blossom Festival, presented by The Pet Salon. This free admission, family friendly event will feature pony rides, kid’s games and activities, live “must dance to” music by The Dead Reckoning, tasty treats, wine sampling, arts and crafts, and a host of environmental exhibitors. The festival will be held from 12pm – 4pm on Ventnor Ave. between Sumner and Thurlow Aves. 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. Families, it’s time to say farewell to the freezing temperatures, pull out your old tie dye t-shirts and welcome spring!
For decades, the scores of cherry blossom trees that line the Memorial Parkway in Margate 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 Margate Recreation Department will host family activities ranging from egg and spoon races, and potato sack and three-legged races. Margate Community Church will host free pony rides by Happy Trails in the south bridle path in front of the church. There will also be mini cornhole tournament with boards set up for play and practice in anticipation of the upcoming Margate Cornhole League seasons. The church will also have children’s crafts and beautiful pansies for sale. Alisa Dirato will use her exquisite talents for face painting.
The Grateful Dead tribute band Dead Reckoning will hit the stage from 1pm-3pm to perform an inspired set of Dead favorites, with their iconic harmonies and Jerry Garcia-esque fueled vocals and guitar effects. Food trucks from TacoCat, California Frozen Yogurt, Harry & Beans Coffee Roasters, Kells Concessions and Wawa will 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 organizations featuring the Surfrider Foundation’s rain barrel demonstration, NJDEP AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassadors what’s in our bay displays, 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 opportunity 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, Director of Sustainable Downbeach.
Sponsors include The Pet Salon, 95.1WAYV, Shore Local, Margate Mothers Association, Sustainable Downbeach, Margate Business Association and the Margate Recreation Department.
Photo Credit: Mitch Tannehill, 2022. Margate’s Parkway section adorned by cherry blossoms in full bloom.
