The Wildwoods Officially Kick off the 2012 Summer Season

L to R: Wildwood Middle School Students on far left and right join Harlem Globetrotter Blenda Rodriguez; John Siciliano, Executive Director, Greater Wildwoods Tourism Authority; Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler; Phyllis Oppenheimer, N.J. Office of Travel & Tourism; North Wildwood Mayor Bill Henfey; Captain William G. Kelly, Commanding Officer, U.S. Coast Guard Training Center, Cape May, NJ; Wildwood Crest Deputy Mayor Joyce Gould; Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano

PRESS RELEASE

Miss America Laura Kaeppeler and Harlem Globetrotters’ Blenda Rodriquez highlighted the official Unlocking of the Ocean ceremony today.

A host of local dignitaries were on hand with a large key to ‘unlock’ the ocean and officially begin the summer season. The Wildwood High School Band performed summer hits like “Wipeout” during the ceremony attended by mayors and other officials from the Wildwoods.

Seventh and eighth grade students from Wildwood Middle School and second and fourth grade students from Glenwood Avenue School also joined the festivities. Speeches at the ceremony focused on the true reason for the holiday – remembering veterans, first responders and servicemen and women as the first annual Celebration of Heroes Festival kicked off at the Wildwoods Convention Center.

The Unlocking of the Ocean event took place under elaborate kites soaring above, as the 27th Annual Wildwoods International Kite Festival began flying today and will continue through the weekend.

For additional information about the Wildwoods, visit www.WildwoodsNJ.com or call 800-992-9732.

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About the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority 

The Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority (GWTIDA) was formed in 1993 to consolidate the tourism economy of its three founding municipalities: Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood. The Wildwoods have won numerous travel and tourism awards, heralding the resort for its beaches, boardwalk and attractions. In 2010, the Wildwoods Doo Wop Architecture was named “One of the Top Ten Architectural Wonders in America” by AOL.com. The Wildwoods were also named among Smarter Travel’s Ten Best Beach Towns in America in 2010, as well as one of Sherman’s Travel’s “Top Ten American Boardwalks” for the second year in a row. In 2009, the Wildwoods were selected as one of Time.com’s “50 Authentic American Experiences.” The Wildwoods made the list of “15 Destinations on the Rise” for TripAdvisor in 2012. In addition, the Wildwoods were also voted “Best Town” in the 2009 and 2011 PHL-17 Philly Hot List, Jersey Shore Edition contest. The Wildwoods were also named “Best Beaches in New Jersey” in the 2008, 2010 and 2011 Top Ten New Jersey Beaches public survey, sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium. Wildwoods’ beaches were also named “Best Beach for Family Vacations,” “Best Beach for Tourism,” “Best Beach for Events,” “Best Beach for Eco-Tourism” and “Best Beach for Day Trips” in the same surveys. The Tourism Authority operates the Wildwoods Convention Center and acts as the island’s destination marketing organization overseeing the development, research, planning, marketing, advertising, promotion, public and media relations encompassing the tourism, meeting and convention industry in the Wildwoods. Additionally, the Authority funds, assists with and hosts more than 180 annual special events to enhance the visitor experience and extend the tourism season, including the Thunder On The Sand Race Series, Family Nights On The Boardwalk, Friday Night Fireworks, the New Jersey State Barbeque Championships and Anglesea Blues Festival, Classic Car Shows, the International Kite Festival, Irish and Italian Festivals and the National Marbles Tournament, among others. For more information about the Wildwoods, contact the GWTIDA at 1-800-WW-By-Sea (800-992-9732) or visit its web site, www.WildwoodsNJ.com.