Whats Happening At Sea Isle City Skimmer Weekend This Year

For over 60 years, Skimmer Weekend has been a major attraction for South Jersey Locals and Sea Isle City Vacationers. It is one of the staples of the summertime calendar at the Jersey Shore.

I remember when I was a kid living in Sea Isle City on 42nd Street, my Dad and I participated in the Sand Sculpting Competition at Skimmer Weekend. Even though we didn't win it all (2nd place was still cool), it was a fun afternoon out for a 10-year-old kid with his family and I walked away with a trophy (even though my dad did half the work).

The history of the Skimmer Weekend Festival dates back to the 1960s, and first began as a new attraction in the aftermath of the 1962 Ash Wednesday Storm. One of the most devastating storms in New Jersey history crushed the Shore towns, and in a world before Social Media, the Coastal Communities needed to come up with new ways to declare to the world "We Are Open for Business".

So the first Skimmer Weekend Festival was created by Sea Isle City as a new event to attract people back to the Island, and help recalibrate the town's economy after the major storm. Over the course of the last six decades, Sea Isle City's Skimmer Weekend has shifted dates, and weekends but it still features great activities for locals and vacationers to enjoy.

2026 Sea Isle City Skimmer Weekend Details

According to a press release from the Sea Isle City Tourism Office, the two-day festival will take place Fathers' Day Weekend, June 20th and June 21st, with most activities revolving around the Sea Isle City Promenade, and Excursion Park on JFK Boulevard.

*The Seaside Vendors Market will be along the oceanfront of the Promenade with over 80 vendors who will be selling items such as handmade crafts, assorted clothing, artwork, pet and baby items, and other various giftable items. The Seaside Vendors Market is scheduled for Saturday, June 20th from 9 am to 4 pm.

*The Skimmer Food Court will be setup where JFK Boulevard meets Pleasure Avenue, with various food and beverages available for purchase between 9 am and 4 pm on Saturday, June 20th.

*Also on Saturday, June 20th, there will be Free Family Activities hosted at Excursion Park. From 10 am to 3 pm there will be Inflatable bounce houses, face painters, an art bar, balloon artists, a photo booth, and live music from the Brass Pocket Band. For a fee, children will be able to create their own sand art souvenirs at Excursion Park.

*The 2026 Skimmer Antique Auto Show will be hosted on the Promenade on Sunday, June 21st from 9 am to 1 pm. Classic Cars will be lined up for enthusiasts and visitors to check out while the Piney Pickers Band will perform under the Gazebo from 10 am to 12 pm. Mayor Leonard Desiderio will present the winners for “Best in Show” and “Mayor’s Choice” awards with plaques in front of the Gazebo at 1 pm. Following the awards ceremony, the vehicles from the Auto Show will exit the promenade at 44th Street for the parade that will proceed south down Pleasure Avenue to 93rd Street then come back north on Landis Avenue to end back at JFK Boulevard.

For more information about the 2026 edition of Sea Isle City Skimmer Weekend, visit the SIC Tourism Website.