Memorial Day Weekend is here, so the Summer has unofficially begun! This means around Avalon and all throughout Cape May County, all of your favorite shops, restaurants, and attractions should be open for business, and that there will be a plethora of activities for you and your friends and family to enjoy!
The Avalon Players along with Act 1 Productions will be staging Mary Poppins Jr. on May 24th at 7pm and May 25th at 5pm in the Avalon Elementary School. Tickets for this family-friendly show are only $10 and can be purchased at the door using cash or check. Head to www.AvalonPlayers.com for more information.
Here at the Library on Saturday the 25th from 10am to 11:30am, Kid’s Book Bingo returns! Bring your little ones aged 5 through 12 so they can play Bingo to win books and other fun prizes!
Also on Saturday, from 11am to 2pm, the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children will open their doors for their annual Community Open House. To thank the Borough of Avalon for all its support over the years, the celebration will feature a hot dog cookout, kids’ entertainment, and tours of the facility.
Ocean Galleries located at 9618 3rd Avenue in Stone Harbor will be hosting a dual-artist exhibit entitled “Harmony” on both Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th. The works of digital painter Stephen Harlan and hand-blown glass sculptor David Wight will be highlighted, and the gallery will host exclusive evening receptions with both artists. This is the only scheduled appearance in the Northeast for either artist this year, so you won’t want to miss this free event. All displayed artworks will be available for acquisition. You can get a sneak peek at Stephen Harlan’s works here and David Wight’s pieces here.
Monday the 27th of course sees the return of Avalon’s annual Memorial Day Parade! Presented in collaboration with American Legion Post #331, this beloved tradition makes sure that the true meaning of the holiday is honored and that we all take some time to remember the valiant soldiers our country has lost to protect the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. The parade will kick off at 9am sharp at the corner of Dune Drive and 32nd Street and from there will head north along Dune to Veterans Plaza, located on 21st Street. A host of local charities, civic organizations, elected officials, and Post members will take part in the parade, including the Library and Avalon History Center.
The parade is immediately followed by a ceremony in Veterans Plaza, which will this year feature guest speaker, retired Brigadier General Patrick M. Kennedy, who most recently served as the Assistant Adjutant General-Air, New Jersey National Guard and now serves as Superintendent of Veterans South Haven. He has flown combat support in both Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and exercised command and control of over 2,400 airmen across 2 flying wings while he was the principal advisor to the Adjutant General. Brig. Gen. Kennedy has been honored with the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Achievement Medal, and more for his service for the State of New Jersey.
In the event that it should be raining on Monday morning, the parade itself will unfortunately be cancelled, but the ceremony will be moved to Avalon Community Hall, located at 30th Street and the Boardwalk. The event would then begin at 9am. If you are unsure about whether the parade will continue, check the Borough of Avalon website at www.avalonboro.net for the most up-to-date information.
Of course, there’s all the usual great things to do and enjoy like shops and restaurants, tennis and pickleball, boating, mini-golf, or just grabbing a book from the Library and relaxing on the beach! If you’re interested in heading to one of our local bars to hear some great music, I Heart 7 Mile has a full guide to who’s playing where located here. So, remember to take a moment out of your weekend to remember our country’s fallen soldiers, and then enjoy spending time with your loved ones!
Cover image created with Midjourney prompt: an American flag blowing in the breeze with the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean in the background.
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