Maritime Festival - 7/16-17 Wildwood, NJ

Subject: Maritime Festival - 7/16-17 Wildwood, NJ
From: Big Ballad Singer
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 10:35 PM

(From the festival website)

"Don't Miss The 2011 Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Maritime Festival , Saturday & Sunday, July 16 & 17, 2011 from 9am to 5 pm. The show will take place on the grounds of the historic Hereford Inlet Lighthouse and along Central Avenue fronting the lighthouse in North Wildwood, New Jersey. The outdoor festival is a celebration of New Jersey's rich maritime history. Historians and Authors will join dozens of Artists and Crafters for a weekend long feast for the eyes and mind! We'll also have great food and music as well as activities for the kids. Pirates will wander the grounds and tours of the historic 19th century lighthouse and award winning gardens will be offered too! Festival Admission is FREE with only a small fee to tour the lighthouse. Saturday 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday 9 am to 4 pm, light rain or shine. So come on out and help us Celebrate the Sea in Anglesea!"

Musical offerings will include:

Caryl P. Weiss performing "Sea Shanties - Songs of the Sea", a rousing program of traditional American and British sea shanties.

Jim Albertson performing a program of traditional folk songs, maritime ballads and folk tales in which the audience is encouraged to participate.

My personal observations:

I attended the 2010 Festival, and while it was small in scope, there were many interesting historic artifacts on display and the love of the seafaring tradition was evident in the attitudes of the vendors and presenters. This year's festival is actually featuring maritime folk music, something which was lacking last year, as the only performers I saw or heard about were a "classic rock" cover band that played to a mostly disinterested crowd. The effort that the sponsors, the Friends of the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, have made to present maritime music and lore is commendable and should be supported by any 'Catters in the area. I've toured the inlet and the gardens around the lighthouse and they are lovely and free to explore. I'd really like to see people do their best to support the Festival and its efforts to preserve and honor the great maritime history of the New Jersey shore.

Hope I meet some of you there!

Subject: RE: Maritime Festival - 7/16-17 Wildwood, NJ
From: EBarnacle
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 11:53 PM

Lady Hillary and I will try to attend.

Subject: RE: Maritime Festival - 7/16-17 Wildwood, NJ
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 12:44 AM

Here's a link to the website. http://herefordlighthousefestival.org/

Subject: RE: Maritime Festival - 7/16-17 Wildwood, NJ
From: GUEST,Big Ballad Singer
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 10:06 AM

ChanteyLass, thanks for the link... I forgot to include it.

If anyone does attend, look for me and say hi. I'm a BIG dude and will be there with my wife and three young daughters. I'll likely be wearing braces ('suspenders' in US jargon)... they're kind of a trademark of mine in my circles.

Anyway, I'd love to meet some fellow Mudcat members. I'll be in Wildwood the entire week of the 16th-23rd, so if anyone can point me to a good place to hear folk music, or perhaps an open mic in the area, I'll make sure to get out to it.

Subject: RE: Maritime Festival - 7/16-17 Wildwood, NJ
From: Big Ballad Singer
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 01:42 PM

Bump for those who might have missed it... the Maritime Festival is this coming Saturday and Sunday.

Subject: RE: Maritime Festival - 7/16-17 Wildwood, NJ
From: Big Ballad Singer
Date: 15 Jul 11 - 10:39 AM

Woo, followed by hoo! Tomorrow and Sunday!

Thing is, it started out small last year in its inaugural attempt. This year, they've added some honest-to-goodness folk artists who will be sharing songs and stories, etc.

If anyone who can make it would do so, we could show a strong block of support and help to ensure that the Festival continues and that they keep on including (and adding) more traditional maritime folk music and arts to the presentations. I've already spoken to the organizers about performing at the Festival next year.

Hope to see you there!