Free tolls on the Atlantic City Expressway kick off '100 Days of Summer' in South Jersey
From 4-5 p.m. Friday, any driver passing eastbound through the plaza is to have their tolls paid by Chickie's & Pete's. The bar and restaurant chain picks up the tab there every year as the company ownership's way of celebrating Memorial Day.
Also on May 23, the expressway operator, South Jersey Transportation Authority, is to kick off its annual '100 Days of Summer' programming at the nearby Farley Service Plaza. The plaza is at milepost 21.3, not far from the toll station.
More: Memorial Day 2025 events planned across South Jersey. See the listing.
The authority's Executive Director Stephen Dougherty announced the program lineup last week.
'There's truly something for all ages from restaurants, car show, health check-ups, artisanal crafts, books, jewelry, and even a petting zoo for the kids,' he said.
Some of the features:
WIP Sports Radio and WHPT 1210 Talk Radio hosts are to distribute prizes.
Ron's Gardens of Hammonton staff is to be at the plaza this day throughout the summer with fresh produce, fruits and garden plants.
The authority is to exhibit its conservation and wildlife programs.
Atlantic City International Airport Fire Department members are to display their trucks and equipment.
Staff from the farm and zoo animal rescue sanctuary Funny Farm is to be attending.
A Sidewalk Chalk Fun Zone to be set up for children interested in art.
Sixty businesses, vendors and artists include Atlantic Cape Community College, Carmine's, Comcast, On the Town Food Tours, The Irish Pub, AtlantiCare, Holiday Inn Express, and the Atlantic County Library System. There's also to be a dozen of local merchants offering gift items, jewelry, clothing and other goods.
Food trucks are a new addition. They include DonutNV, Mister Softee, CrawDaddy's Cajun and TACOS Al Carbon.
The Hero Campaign is to showcase two HERO Patrol Cars.
Classic car owners and fans have a designated lot for cruising. All cruisers are to receive a goodie bag containing a dash plaque, shammy, chip clip and an insurance card holder. The first 50 registrants are also to receive a road core celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Atlantic City Expressway this July.
There is a fenced-in area for people to walk their pets.
The plaza also has a 9/11 memorial and a 22-foot brass replica of the battleship USS New Jersey open for the public to see.
More: Atlantic City air show 2025: It's back, after the 2024 cancellation. What to know.
Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.
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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Chickie's & Pete's restaurant to pay tolls in South Jersey on May 23
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