MARGATE – Summer might be winding down but there is still some fun on the horizon after Labor Day.

The back bay will serve as the backdrop for the Margate Fall Funfest by the Bay Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27 and 28 along Amherst Avenue between Decatur and Coolidge avenues.

The fest brings together juried artisans from around the region with items for sale made from a variety of mediums including ceramics, photography, sculpture, decorative fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, painting, wearable art and wood. All pieces must be handmade.

There will also games, boat rides, educational exhibits and demonstrations. Back by demand again this year is the Marvelous Margate Retail Block featuring some of Margate’s finest retailers.  

If all that fun or the shopping brings on an appetite, the festival has food and refreshments covered. The favorites are back with everything from surf to turf.  Seafood to be featured includes crab cakes, shrimp on a stick, cream of crab soup, clam strips, calamari, flounder, coconut shrimp, deviled crab and soft shell crab.  For the land lover there are ribs, pulled-pork sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, shish-kabobs, paddy cakes, sausage and peppers, meatball sandwiches, souvlaki, cheese steaks and meat pies. For dessert there will be funnel cake, fresh fried apples, kettle korn and frozen cheesecake on a stick. 

The Funfest also features entertainment for the entire family such as carnival games, sand art, face painting, airbrush tattoos and a lineup of live bands. Ray Scott’s Dock will serve once again as the educational headquarters with hands-on exhibits on turtles and their habitats and scientists to answer questions. There will also be race car drivers and their cars. Boat rides of the Back Bay on board the Jessie O’ out of Captain Andy’s Marina will depart every hour starting at 11 a.m. both days.

At 1 p.m. on Sunday dog lovers can head to the parking lot at Steve & Cookies by the Bay for the 12th annual Fun Dog Show. Canine categories include best dressed, looks most like owner, handsomest/prettiest and stupid pet tricks, with large and small divisions for all categories. Registration begins at 11:30 and the entry fee is $10.

Funfest by the Bay is sponsored by the city of Margate; the Margate Business Association; Archer & Greiner; Art Handler’s; Atlantic County Utilities Authority; Bathfitter; Balsley Losco; Birch’s Communications; Capaldi Reynold’s, Pelosi, CPA PA; Cape Bank; Captain Andy’s Marina; Downbeach Deli; Etagram/Tozzi Enterprises; Express Press; Giovanni’s Linens & Handkerchiefs; Gold Transportation; Harrison Beverage/Budweiser; Interstate Outdoor Advertising; Jamaican Me Crazy; Jersey Fresh; Junior’s Doughnuts & Dogs; Marriot Vacation Club; Mediagate; Ocean City Home Bank; Petrosh’s Big Top Rentals; Portock, Bye, Weiss & Co.; R.E. Darby Insurance Agency; Reitmeyer Marketing PR; Shore Memorial Hospital; Soleil Sotheby’s International Realty; Steve & Cookies By the Bay; Sunrooms America and the residents of Margate.

Festival admission is free. Call Susan Reitmeyer (609)704-8166 or visit www.marvelousmargate.com.

The Margate Fall Funfest by the Bay is produced by the Margate Business Association. Proceeds benefit FACES Autism Support Group and Gilda’s Club South Jersey.