It’s the annual event that kicks off the summer travel season, when thousands of patrons are expected to travel along the Atlantic City Expressway. This year, the 100 Days of Summer event takes place Friday at the Farley Service Plaza in Hammonton, according to a Tuesday announcement from the South Jersey Transportation Authority.
Highlighting the day for travelers on the Expressway will be eastbound toll-free passage from 5-6 p.m. courtesy of Chickie’s & Pete’s, the Philadelphia-area sports bar and restaurant chain, which is also sending its Crabfries Express food truck to dole out free crab fries throughout the day.
“We are always excited to hold our 100 Days of Summer event and hope visitors to Atlantic City and all the other beautiful vacation spots along the South Jersey Shore will avail themselves of everything our service plaza has to offer while enjoying the convenience of taking the Expressway to their favorite destinations,” SJTA Executive Director Stephen Dougherty said.
WlP Sports Radio FM-94.1 and WPHT Talk Radio AM-1210 will be there for live, remote broadcasts with its radio personalities on hand to give out prizes to lucky winners. Applegreen, operator of the Farley Service Plaza, will be ready, selling the smells, tastes and temptations of another Jersey summer. Starbucks, Hershey’s Ice Cream and the Travel Mart will be giving out free samples, while Monster Energy Drink will be available to help invigorate the crowd.
Ron’s Gardens of Hammonton also returns to the Farley Service Plaza with regular hours during the entire summer offering a wide variety of “Jersey Fresh” produce, fruits and garden plants in season, a favorite among Shore-bound travelers, especially those spending vacation time at their summer homes or rentals.
The Atlantic City International Airport Fire Department will display and demonstrate some of its safety apparatus used to keep the public safe at the airport and in surrounding communities.
Over 40 vendors and artists will be participating, including Resorts Atlantic Cityy, Atlantic Cape Community College, the Irish Pub, Comcast, Cape May County Department of Tourism, Atlantic City Tours, Madison Resorts, South Jersey Cultural Alliance, AtlantiCare, First Harvest Credit Union, Holiday Inn Express, Atlantic County Library System, N.J. Campground Association, the Atlantic County Utilities Authority, On the Town Food Tours, Ryfe Atlantic City, the South Jersey Transportation Authority’s READl (Roadway Environmental Advancement Initiative) and many more.
The Hero Campaign will be unveiling its newest HERO Patrol Car during a ceremony at noon. And those who are proud of their classic car are invited to stop by to hang out with other automobile lovers in the designated Cruise Lot area. All cruisers will receive a goodie bag containing a dash plaque, shammy, chip clip, insurance card holder, keychain and a free medium coffee coupon, compliments of Burger King.
While at the 100 Days of Summer celebration, visitors are encouraged to check out the Farley Plaza’s 9/11 memorial and the 22-foot brass replica of the Battleship New Jersey built on a 1/48 scale. And those with pets are welcome to take a pitstop with their furry friends in the secure fenced-in pet walk area. Travelers will find Farley Plaza nestled between the east and westbound lanes of the Expressway in a parklike setting.
