Spring-like temperatures draw crowds to the Jersey Shore
Overcast skies and oceanfront temperatures in the 60s made for summer-like crowds at the boardwalk after the Asbury Park’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.
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Spring is still days away, but New Jersey residents wouldn’t know it by the weather the Garden State experienced on Sunday.
The timing couldn’t have been better, with it being a weekend and falling on Asbury Park’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.
“With this, we tried our hardest to get here this year, especially because of the beautiful weather, and we’re just so happy to be outside after being cold for so many weeks,” said Brick resident Isabella Taber.
Overcast skies and oceanfront temperatures in the 60s made for summer-like crowds at the boardwalk after the parade.
Like many, Taber came for the celebration but stayed for the weather.
“Maybe grab a blanket from the car, sit on the beach a little,” Taber said. “Enjoy the ocean now that it’s back out for a little bit.”
“The winter’s been so hard. I knew everybody was going to be out and I just love it,” said Neptune resident Gladys Intindola. “Everybody’s just out and we’re ready for summer or spring.”
Intindola and her dog Daisy exclusively came out to take in the spring tease. It was Daisy’s first visit to the beach.
“We were out in the marina down in Belmar this morning and just taking in the weather at all of the beaches just letting her just be her,” Intindola said.
“I think that there was more people though on the boardwalk side this year viewing just because of how warm it was,” said Asbury Park’s Christina Nigro. “People are eager to get on the beach.”
Visitors were spotted walking along the water, enjoying the playground and enjoying outdoor bar and restaurant scene for hours after the event.
“It feels like Summer Stage days when there’s shows at the boardwalk, and we’re looking forward to that. So a lot to look forward to with the weather getting warmer,” Nigro said.
Businesses like The Robinson Ale House also felt an impact from the spring-like weather.
“Perfect storm, right? Any kind of event going on in Asbury Park combined with nice weather is always going to bring in some influx of walk-ins and walk-in traffic,” said Jennifer Napolitano, general manager of The Robinson Ale House.
Napolitano said they’re now officially in spring-summer preparation mode.
