Photo by MITCH TANNEHILL/Margate Parkway cherry trees in bloom, spring 2022.
MARGATE – 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 first-ever Cherry Blossom Festival, presented by The Pet Salon.
This free family friendly event will be held noon to 4 p.m. Sunday March 26, in front of the Margate Community Church on Ventnor Avenue between Sumner and Thurlow avenues.
The event features pony rides, children’s games and activities, live dance music by Grateful Dead tribute band, The Dead Reckoning, tasty treats, wine sampling, arts and crafts, and a host of environmental exhibitors.
Everyone is encouraged to say goodbye to winter and welcome spring by wearing tie-dye clothing and bringing chairs or blankets to spend the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the beautiful Kwansan cherry trees that line the Memorial Parkway. The pink and white blossoms on the trees serve as a symbol of renewal and hope for the sunny days ahead.
The festival commences with Gerri Medoff’s Tai Chi instruction, which is free for all participants eager to understand its meditative and health benefits. On grassy church grounds, the Margate Recreation Department will offer 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 season. The church will also provide children’s crafts and have beautiful pansies for sale. Exquisite face painting will be offered by Alisa Dirato.
The Dead Reckoning will hit the stage from 1-3 p.m. performing Deadhead favorites, with Jerry Garcia-esque fueled vocals and guitar effects.
Food truck offerings include TacoCat, California Frozen Yogurt, Harry & Beans Coffee Roasters, Kells Concessions and Wawa. Treasury Wine Estates will have a wide variety of selections from Matua wines for adults to sample and for purchase.
Margate Mothers will provide free themed crafts for children, such as Japanese fish kites and cherry blossom branch painting. The Pet Salon will feature tie-dye wearable feathers for both furry friends and children.
Sustainable Downbeach will host the Surfrider Foundation’s rain barrel demonstration, NJDEP AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassadors What’s in our Bay display, 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 its vegan organic soaps, and the Jacques Cousteau Estuary Research Reserve and Marine Mammal Stranding Center will discuss the importance of protecting wildlife, vegetation, marine life, oceans and beaches. Busy Bees will bring their delicious honey products along with educational information about honey bees.
“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,”
For more information, visit MargateHasMore.com.
