Memorial Day Weekend Happenings: Welcome Tourists, Welcome Margaritaville

When the Beatles sang, "Little darling, it's been a long hard lonely winter", they didn't have the winter of 2013 in mind.  But the lyrics are still appropriate.  Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath has certainly taken its toll.  Enough about Sandy though... bring on Summer!  Nothing like a little sun and surf to put a smile on your face and, if you're a business person, nothing like the open wallets of our friendly, summertime neighbors and visitors to cure what ails your budget!

Resorts Casino is hoping the fun, partying attitude of Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville and Land Shark Bar and Grill complex can improve their fortunes this summer, and my bet, after attending last weekend's Margaritaville sneak preview is, it will be a smashing hit!

Please join me this Sunday for the Humane Society of Ocean City's Barks on the Boards!  This is one of your only chances of the year to bring our dog on the Ocean City Boardwalk for a walk  plus lots of other fun and prizes.  The $20 fee benefits the good work of my friends at the Humane Society of Ocean City, the same organization that brings in the Lite Rock Pet of the Week each Thursday @ 7:20am.  Registration starts at 10:30am, the walk at noon, and dog contests at 1pm.

Here's a look at the other many choices you have for fun this Memorial Day in South Jersey.

Concerts, Shows and Appearances:

-House of Blues @ Showboat: Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, Fri. 5/24

- Caesars: Third Eye Blind, Fri. 5/24

-Harrah's: Blues traveler, Fri. 5/24

-Borgata: Frankie Valli, Fri.-Sun 5/24-26

- Borgata: Chicago, Fri. 5/24

- Golden Nugget: Ke$ha & Pitbull, Fri. 5/24

-Tropicana: Saturday Nite Live alums, Dana Carvey, Dennis Miller, Kevin Nealon, Fri 5/24

- Caesars: Mary J. Blige, Sat. & Sun. 5/25-26

-Trump Taj Mahal: Motley Crue, Sat. 5/25

-Cape May: Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, Convention Hall, Sat 5/25

-Brigantine: Atlantic Brass Band, Sat. 5/25, North School

-Cape May: Music festival begins 5/26 runs to 6/13

-"Unlocking of the beaches" : Ceremonies to welcome summer include those at noon in Atlantic City, Ocean City and Wildwood

-Atlantic City: Beginning Saturday at 9 p.m., Boardwalk Hall's facade will be lit with a nine-minute long 3-D light show. The set features an assortment of lights and music as viewers will travel through different eras of music - including jazz and swing from the 1920s, the Beach Boys from the 1960s, disco from the 1970s and rock from the 1990s.

- Ventnor: Art in the Park, 4th Fridays during the summer behind Ventnor Library, 4-8pm

-Wildwood- 28th annual Kite Festival, Rio Grande Ave & beach, Fri-Mon 5/24-27

Memorial Day parades or services in most South Jersey towns Monday morning.