Metro Cigar News Fall 1999

Fall for Festivals, Sporting Events
and a Bag of Treats this October
The Greater Atlantic City area has a whole bag of treats in store this October, including festivals, Halloween fun, great shopping and more for the entire family. There's something exciting happening every weekend of the month, from an old-fashioned Oktoberfest celebration and a marathon run to an antique-lovers' paradise, a "must-see" film event and the scary fun of Halloween.

If you're looking for a fun-filled fall, you won't want to miss these exciting events and activities, which are followed by detailed information:

Oktoberfest Weekend: Towne of Historic Smithville, Galloway Township, Saturday and Sunday, October 2 and 3;

40th Annual Atlantic City Marathon Festival: Atlantic City Boardwalk, Friday-Sunday, October 15-17;

Atlantic City Film Festival: Atlantic City, Saturday-Sunday, October 15-24;

Atlantic City Film Festival: Atlantic City Convention Center, Saturday and Sunday, October 16 and 17;

Trick or Treat Weekend: Storybook Land, Egg Harbor Township, Saturday and Sunday, October 30 and 31;

Halloween Costume Party: Fred & Ethel's Lantern Light Tavern, Towne of Historic Smithville, Sunday, October 31.

Oktoberfest, the annual celebration of autumn, kicks off with excitement at the Towne of Historic Smithville amidst an extravaganza of colorful booths featuring the work of more than 100 craftspeople. Now in its 23rd year, the event includes free exhibits, entertainment and rides for the kids, as well as an array of delightful dishes and fun foods. Exhibits will be featured by several non-profit organizations.

Smithville's 60 shops, which offer gourmet foods, candles, clothing, holiday ornaments and more are open for great shopping and browsing. Visitors can choose between the village's seven eateries offering mouthwatering specialties.

Hours for Oktoberfest are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, October 2 and 3. For additional information, call (609) 652-7777.

Those who are always on the run will want to grab their track shoes and head to the 40th Annual Atlantic City Marathon Festival, the fourth oldest marathon in the country, from Friday, October 15 through Sunday, October 17. This unique festival, which attracts families and groups from throughout the U.S. and Canada, will climax with four running events and a walk, all scheduled simultaneously to allow participation by a wide range of runners with varied abilities. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet world-renowned runners Bill Rodgers and Frank Shorter.

Children can join in the fun and exercise during a "Kids Fun Run". The public is invited to the free weekend-long Sports Eitpo and Running Clinic featuring displays of equipment by leading manufacturers, energy and health foods, supplements for athletes, nutritional products, medical services and testing, and a variety of presentations and demonstrations.

With all that exercise, participants will want to indulge their appetites at a free pasta party hosted for all registered runners. A nominal fee will be charged to guests and friends of entrants. For more information, call (609) 6011 RUN.

Already on the road to becoming Atlantic City's answer to Cannes, the Atlantic City Film Festival, now in its third year, will take center stage from Saturday, October 15 through Sunday, October 24.

The festival has grown into a nationally recognized event, receiving more than a quarter of a million dollars in media coverage. In 1998, the event was named the area's #1 Arts Event by The Press of Atlantic City.

With attendance anticipated in the thousands, the festival will, once again, feature a host of cinema-related activities, including cutting-edge films, seminars and celebrity receptions with directors and producers. Last year's festival hosted guests from across the U.S. and England.

A new addition will be the "Young Filmmakers' Competition" for aspiring moviemakers up to age 18. Those works will be showcased on Saturday afternoon with special recognition and awards for the filmmakers of the future.

Don't miss the `reel' excitement of this top-notch, star-studded event. For more information, call (609) 646-1640.

The "Atlantique" City Fall Festival, billed as the largest indoor art, antique and collectibles show in the world, will fill the Atlantic City Convention Center with treasures on Saturday and Sunday, October 16 and 17.

Featuring more than 1,600 booths covering 10 1/2 acres of exhibit space, the 1999 "Holiday Megafair" will draw dealers from 43 states as well as Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, South America, and more.

The largest display and sale of antique dolls ever presented, join in for special celebrations, including Barbie's 40th birthday, Raggedy Ann and Andy's Diamond Anniversary and a Teddy Bear Jamboree. Don't miss the Decorator's Showcase by the Sea; the Pottery, China and Glass Collection; the Jewelry Promenade; Those Great Holidays; a Fun Fair Extraordinaire; and a Grand Furniture Galleria.

Attendees can use the exclusive Computographic Locator System, which contains more than 1,100 categories of antiques, complete with an instant printout of the names and floor locations of dealers offering specific items. Free appraisals will also be provided.

Admission is $17 on Saturday and $10 on Sunday. Get a free courtesy pack, early admission tickets and hotel and airline discounts by calling 1-800 526-2724 or visiting www.atlantiquecity.com.

Parents looking to provide their kids with the perfect Halloween experience safe, not too scary, but filled with the traditional fun and "spirit" of the occasion - will be delighted to discover Storybook Land's Trick or Treat Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, October 30 and 31. Youngsters can wear their most creative costumes, get a free trick or treat bag and collect goodies at various stops that resemble the pages of a Mother Goose storybook.

Storybook Land is always fun for the kids with its more than 50 buildings and displays depicting famous children's fables. There's something for everyone, from rides and a playground to a picnic area and petting zoo. For more information, call (609) 641-7847.

Who said that Halloween is only for kids? Adults who still enjoy dressing up in their scariest, prettiest and most creative outfits can join in the fun during a Halloween Costume Party at Fred & Ethel's Lantern Light Tavern in Smithville. The tavern will be adorned in the most "defrightful" decor, and visitors can vie for the most original apparel during a costume contest.

Reservations are not necessary for the party. Hours are 6 p.m. through the "witching" hour. For more information, call (609) 652-0544.

You'll fall for the Greater Atlantic City region's fun and excitement this October. There's something for the entire family, including the seaside resort's 13 luxurious casino resorts offering 24-hour gaming action, headline entertainment, a choice of gourmet dining, the beach and the world-famous Boardwalk.