Wildwood commission advances 30th Celebrate Wildwood plans; approves merchandise sales and paver program

The Wildwood Celebration Commission on Feb. 6 discussed revenue, sponsorship and logistics for the city’s 2025 Celebrate Wildwood — the event marking the city’s 30th anniversary — and approved two revenue measures: the sale of Wildwood‑branded merchandise at the event and the launch of a commemorative paver program.

The commission opened the meeting with routine business, approved the Jan. 8 minutes, and then moved into a detailed review of sponsorship targets, promotional materials and venue layout for the September event. City staff reported a $35,000 sponsorship goal for 2025 and said City Council added $5,000 to the event budget; staff stated the commission has "$95,000 to work with." Staff also reviewed existing revenue streams including business sponsorships, vendor fees and revenue sharing with food and beverage vendors.

Why it matters: the Celebrate Wildwood event is a major community festival that the commission says typically attracts more than 100 vendors and accounts for most event‑related programming and fundraising for the year. Decisions on sponsorship levels, vendor fees, and concessions affect the event’s net cost and which local nonprofits or vendors benefit financially from operating at the festival.

Key decisions and directions - Merchandise: The commission voted to authorize the sale of Wildwood‑branded goods at the event. Staff will pursue a limited inventory for on‑site sales and consider post‑event sales and order fulfillment to avoid oversupply. - Paver program: The commission approved launching a commemorative paver (sometimes described in materials as memorial…