Sporadic rain, cool temperatures and overcast skies Saturday conspired  to reduce crowds at Shore beaches and local events.

Nonetheless, sprits remained high for those who took part in annual gatherings for the first Independence Day weekend celebrations since the pandemic began to slow and mask-less socializing was widespread.

“It means fewer people, which is nice because it is less crowded and it is a lot less hot,” said Mary Poster of Tinton Falls as she joined her husband, Tanner, and their three children at the annual Ocean Grove July 4th parade. “The weather won’t stop anything.”

Her husband agreed and said the yearly event remains a highlight of the summer season: “You are really close, close to the action,” he said of the parade, which kicked off at 10 a.m. “The floats that come by are great.”

For their 8-year-old daughter, Zoe, the tradition of parade participants tossing candy to the crowd was her favorite part: “I like the Tootsie Rolls,” she said. “It’s better than Halloween.”

Weather forecast: Rainy weather for most of July 4th weekend

For many in the crowd, the parade is a yearly ritual, according to Pater Allburn, who lives near the corner of Whitefield and Main avenues and joins about 25 neighbors for a breakfast buffet as the marchers stroll by.

“It is the gathering of the neighborhood,” he said. “It is a tradition to be on this corner today and it is a time of bringing back some normalcy.”

Parade marchers ranged from bagpipers to a ragtime band and local organizations such as the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association and the Ocean Grove Auditorium Ushers.

“We still come regardless of the weather,” said Carylee Johnson of Howell, who said she and her friend, Jan Connolly of Neptune City, take the same curbside space every year. “It is still a real old time feeling.”

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Elsewhere among Shore towns, crowds were down along the beaches and in some shops, according to merchants.

The Asbury Park boardwalk was less crowded than usual, with parking oddly plentiful along usually busy Ocean Avenue.

“Today it’s slow, but it’s better than last year,” said Sam Jefferies, who was serving up coffee and treats at Eddie’s Confettis along the boardwalk. “There are less restrictions on the beach so more people can come.”

A few yards down the boardwalk Anthony Bannon offered a similar assessment at Pucker’s Lemonade.

“We are beholden to the weather, but people are here,” said Bannon, a third generation beachfront merchant who said July 4th is usually the busiest time of the summer. “People are taking vacations more so this is still a vacation spot.”

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Showers remained likely with a possible thunderstorm for the remainder of Saturday, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms, according to he National Weather Service. It remained mostly cloudy with a high near 66 and north winds around 10 mph. 

There is also a chance of showers before 10 p.m. Saturday, with more showers and a possible thunderstorms on Sunday.

Joe Strupp is an award-winning journalist with 30 years’ experience who covers education and Monmouth County for APP.com and the Asbury Park Press. He is also the author of two books, including Killing Journalism on the state of the news media, and an adjunct media professor at Rutgers University and Fairleigh Dickinson University. Reach him at [email protected] and at 732-413-3840. Follow him on Twitter at @joestrupp

Source: Asbury Park

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