What to do at the Shore, July 5-11: Earth, Wind & Fire, a baby parade, french fry sculpting
Plus: Sea Isle City Beach Patrol's centennial, New Kids on the Block, and the Phillies Home Run Derby.
Looking for something to do (other than veg) down the Shore this week? We’ve got you covered.
Off Boardwalk: Joilet Harris
A new cabaret series at the Showboat begins with a four-night, eight-performance run from the esteemed Philly singer and actor Joilet Harris. Next month: drag queen Eric Jaffe (Aug. 2) and the Bearded Ladies Cabaret (Aug. 9, 16, 23, 30).
7:30 and 9:30 p.m., Friday, also July 5, 12, 19 and 26, Spirit Bar, Showboat, 801 Boardwalk, $15, off-boardwalkshowboat.com
New Kids on the Block
It’s an ’80s-to-’90s reunion, with the era’s seminal boy band performing along with Naughty by Nature, Salt-N-Pepa, Tiffany, and Debbie Gibson. Well past their electric youth, the retro acts are certain to draw plenty of their peers/fans.
8 p.m., Friday, the Borgata, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, $149 and $249, 888-228-4748, theborgata.com
Earth, Wind & Fire
Modern icons bring their R&B-, disco-, rock- and Afro pop-infused classics (and those costumes!) back to A.C. for a performance you need to bring the kids to, so they’ll understand.
8 p.m., Saturday, Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena, 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, $54-$104, 800-653-8000, hardrockhotels.com/atlantic-city
Phillies Home Run Derby
The Sea Isle tradition returns for 7- to 12-year-old hopefuls who get 10 balls to prove they’re worthy of a spot at the big derby at Citizens Bank Park. (Hey, it worked 15 years ago for Mike Trout.)
11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday (registration at 10:30 a.m.), Dealy Field, 59th to 63rd Street and Central Avenue, Sea Isle City, 609-163-0500, visitsicnj.com
Angelsea Night Market
North Wildwood hosts the first of four night markets. Good Mood = Good Food — with its piled-high burgers, smothered fries, and crispy avocado tacos — is joined by a dozen more food trucks. Craft sellers and neighborhood bars take part, too.
5 to 10 p.m., Sunday, also July 18, Aug. 1 and 15; Olde New Jersey Avenue, free (pay as you go), 609-318-4504, angelseanightmarket.com
Al Cunard Stone Harbor Baby Parade
And so it begins, the summertime tradition of parading decorated children along the seashore. Stone Harbor’s comparatively low-key 57th-such procession ends with family night at the fire station and the Cunard Family Clowns.
5:30 p.m. check-in and 6:30 p.m. parade, Monday, from 364 96th St. along 96th Street, free, 609-368-6101, stoneharbornj.org
French Fry Sculpting Contest
Wacky Wednesday is in full swing on the Ocean City boardwalk. Last week’s pie-eating contest built up to this week’s all-ages competition to transform fried potatoes into works of art. (Same day at 6 p.m.: the Music Pier hosts O.C.’s annual freckle contest, also free.)
10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Ocean City Music Pier, 825 Boardwalk, Ocean City, free, 609-399-6111, oceancityvacation.com
Sea Isle City Beach Patrol 100th Anniversary
The lifeguards of Sea Isle host their centennial celebration, starting with a surfboat parade along the Promenade from 29th to 44th Street, a row-out from 43rd Street beach (site of SIC’s first lifeguard stand), and an open house at Beach Patrol HQ.
10:45 a.m. parade, noon row-out, 1 to 5 p.m. open house, Thursday (July 11), 44th Street and the Promenade, Sea Isle City free, 609-263-3655, sicbp.com