Merchants Mart: Buys, Beers, Bands, Kid Stuff
Oh, and Dinosaur and DragonBeach Haven — LBI’s epic Chowderfest Weekend kicks off on Saturday, Oct. 5, with a free merchant marketplace at the Taylor Avenue Ballfield in Beach Haven, at Ninth Street and the bay. Dozens of Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce members will lay out end-of-season bargains (see the list of vendors that follows), local specialties and gourmet food from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“This is a plastic bag- and balloon-free event,” organizers announced. “Please bring a tote for shopping.”
The live music lineup of popular local bands begins with Garage Kept, moves to 40 North and goes on with the Jimmy Brogan Band.
Beers on tap and hard ciders will smooth out the festivity, including Bud Light, Landshark Lager, Blue Point Toasted Lager, Spaten Oktoberfest, Goose Island IPA, Stella Artois Cidre, Strongbow and McKenzie Black Cherry. For the first time, wine by the glass and spritzers will be choices, brought by Barefoot Wines.
Festivalgoers who hear a roar will find it’s not the roar of the crowd; it comes from Chowdasaurus. Be prepared to see a dinosaur from noon to 1 p.m. and 2 to 3 p.m. A dragon will roam the grounds as well – Ocean County Library mascot Sparks the Dragon.
Merchants Mart keeps on adding new activities, and now it’s a play area of Cornhole and Jenga for older teens and adults.
James Ditmars can amaze any age with his 5 Minute Caricatures.
For free kid-friendly activity, look for the hands-on crafts from The Learning Experience. And Home Depot will have a free kids’ workshop. Face painting is on scene with Sprinkles the Clown, Suzy Batullo and Sarah Cannovo.
Merchants Mart gathers friends for a good time, and it whets the appetite for more celebration the next day at the Chowder Cook-Off. —M.S.
MERCHANTS MART VENDORS
Advantage Screen Printing
Albrechts Island Air, LLC
Art Futures/Shirts N Stuff
Axe It 63
Bath Fitter
Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate
Better Quality Linens
Book Depot
Bywatyr Shop
Carl’s Fencing & Decking & Home
Caught Not Bought
Causeway Home Watch, LLC
Chick’s LBI Shop
Coldwell Banker Riviera Realty
Costco Wholesale Manahawkin
Cutco Cutlery
David Lerner Associates
Express Plumbing Service, LLC
Faces 4 Autism
Farias Surf & Sport
Garden Metal Art
German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP) Rescue
Great Bay Regional Volunteer EMS
Hazel Boutique
Holiday Snack Bar
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Island Teak/FireFly
Jersey Charm Coffee
Jersey Shore Air Adventures
Jetty Foundation
Jetty Life
JS Pro Construction
Keller Williams
LBI Surf Fishing Classic
Le Ente
Long Beach Island Historical Assn.
Lularoe/Lindsey Finn
Making Waves
Manasquan Bank
Maximilian Foundation
Mod Hatter
Naturally Home Consulting
NJR Home Services
Ocean County Library
Progressive Dimensions
Ralph’s Flags/Just Desserts
Rancocas Veterinary Associates
RE/MAX Ken Nilson
ReClam the Bay
Renewal by Andersen
Royal Pane Window Cleaning
Sea Breeze Realty Group
Shades of Beach Haven
Shore Brake Cyclery
Shore Builders Group
Shore Fire Grille/Tim’s Tribe T-Shirts
Simply Yoga LBI/The Beaded Mermaid LBI
Sink ’R Swim Men’s Shop
Soroptimist International of Long Beach Island
South Jersey Electric Vehicles
South-End Surf ’N Paddle
Stillwell Farms
Sunsations
Surflight Theatre
VRLBI
Weichert Realtors
Woodhaven Lumber & Millwork
World Famous Hot Sauce
Zilis