By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
Longport will celebrate its Quasquicentennial in 2023.
LONGPORT – Tickets sales for the borough’s Quasquicentennial Celebration (125th Anniversary) being held 6-10 p.m. Saturday, July 22 have been extended to July 17.
“Please join us on this historic day as we look forward to another 125 years of serene seashore life in the beautiful Borough of Longport,” Mayor Nicholas Russo said.
The last time a borough-wide celebration was held was during the borough’s 100th anniversary that included an open golf tournament and a summertime celebration in the large room on the second floor of Borough Hall that was renovated and dedicated as “Centennial Hall.”
“The Borough of Longport has a proud history on Absecon Island,” Russo said, and once housed the island’s first Coast Guard Station, now the Historical Society Museum, and the Betty Bacharach Home for Afflicted Children, now Borough Hall. In its early days, the borough was much larger until several storms in the early 1900s washed away 10 blocks in the southernmost point of Longport.
The event will be held in the park behind Borough Hall, 2305 Atlantic Ave. It is a rain or shine event.
To make it convenient for residents and visitors to purchase tickets to the milestone event, the borough will be selling tickets over the 4th of July weekend in front of Borough Hall, as follows: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 1; 10 a.m. to noon, Sunday, July 2; and 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, July 4. In the event of inclement weather, tickets will be available in the lobby.
Tickets are also available for purchase 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday at the Borough Clerk’s Office, and through the VIPLY app (service fee applies). If tickets are purchased on the VIPLY app, they can be picked up at the door on the day of the event using your cell phone as proof of purchase.
Tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for children under age 11, and include the choice of one meal from the Josie Kelly’s, Essl’s and TacoCat food trucks. In addition to their regular offerings, such as burgers, pulled pork, nachos, tacos, Irish poutine, fish & chips, and corned beef specials, each of the food trucks will offer vegetarian and/or gluten-free options. Tickets also include ice cream, non-alcoholic beverages, Philly soft pretzels, anniversary cake and giveaways.
Activities include face painting, seashell painting, cornhole, children’s games and activities, and a DJ spinning the hits throughout the event.
Free jitney rides to and from the event will be available at locations around the borough.
Members of the Quasquicentennial Committee.
The event is being organized by the 125th Anniversary Committee comprised of local year-round and seasonal residents.
“We have a wonderful, dedicated committee that has volunteered countless hours to help put together a special celebratory year for our residents. We can’t thank them enough for all of their hard work,” Russo said.
For more information, see longportnj.gov.
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