Cassidy Synder, 9 months old, of American Fork, Utah, wins the Large Float category with her “Mermaid Under the Boardwalk” theme. (Photos courtesy of the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority)
Wildwood’s 115th annual Baby Parade on the Boardwalk featured plenty of cuteness and attracted contestants from as far away as Utah.
Dozens of babies and children dressed up in adorable costumes on July 30, competing in categories such as Cutest Baby and Best Dressed.
The Baby Parade was preceded by the Wildwoods Loves Waddlers Baby Waddle Contest on July 29. A fun event for infants, toddlers, and spectators alike, the Baby Waddle encourages young participants of walking or crawling age to show off their speed-crawling or “waddling” techniques to win prizes.
The Baby Waddle and the Baby Parade have become major family traditions in the Wildwoods, which consist of the towns of Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood.
Families traveled across the country to vie for titles in the friendly Baby Parade competition, including a baby from American Fork, Utah.
Following are the Baby Parade winners in each category:
Cutest Baby Boy:
1– Johnny Dukes, 12 months, Springfield, Pa.
2– Brendan Renz, 4 months, Havertown, Pa.
3– Frank Sebastian Quintana, 11 months, West Columbia, South Carolina
Cutest Baby Girl:
1– Evelyn Fitzmaurice, 8 months, Philadelphia
2– Ireland Rose, 7 months, Doylestown, Pa.
3– Logan Landgraf, 10 months, Mickletown, N.J.
Bryce and Ryleigh Heckler and Grace and Cole Greenwald, of Barrington, N.J., take third place in the Large Float category with their “Gilligan’s Island" theme.Individual Best Dressed:
1– Stanley Stephen Campbell-Condio, 4 years, Little Falls, N.J.
2– Edith Ann Campbell-Condio, 18 months, Little Falls, N.J.
Best Themed Group:
1– Lennon McGinnis, 13 months, “Little Miss North Wildwood,” Washington Township, N.J.
2– Vincent and Adrianna Dougherty, 11 months and 4 years, “Wildwood Fudge Wudgy Man,” Washington Township, N.J.
3– Henry and Cole Lessig, 7 years and 5 years, “Chump Crew,” Wenonah, N.J.
Small Float:
1– Evelyn Rosenthal, 15 months, “Splish Splash She was Takin’ a Bath,” Blackwood, N.J.
2– William Geltrude and Henry Gerrel, 11 months and 16 months, “Mascots in Training,” Cedar Grove, N.J. and Wayne, Pa.
3– Sophia & Madelyn Stein, 20 months, "Moana," Ewing, N.J.
Large Float:
1– Cassidy Synder, 9 months, “Mermaid Under the Boardwalk,” American Fork, Utah
2– Thomas and James Bitto, Matthew and Michael Lobley, “Hungry, Hungry Seagulls”
3– Bryce and Ryleigh Heckler, Grace and Cole Greenwald, “Gilligan’s Island,” Barrington, N.J.
