What a day at Ski Beach.
The Ventnor Business Association’s inaugural Phillies Tailgate brought together residents, visitors, families, baseball fans, local businesses, and community partners for an afternoon that perfectly showcased what makes Ventnor special. Under bright sunshine and near-perfect weather conditions, hundreds gathered along the bay to enjoy food, shopping, games, inflatables, and a live broadcast of the Phillies vs. Dodgers game on a gigantic LED screen.
The event marked a natural expansion of a concept that proved incredibly successful during the VBA’s Eagles Tailgate events. After seeing the overwhelming community response to football Sundays at Ski Beach over the past two seasons, the VBA set its sights on bringing the same energy and family-friendly atmosphere to baseball season. Yesterday’s turnout confirmed that Ventnor was more than ready for a Phillies version.
With temperatures in the 70s, blue skies overhead, and a gentle breeze coming off the bay, Ski Beach provided the ideal backdrop for an afternoon of community fun. Families spread out lawn chairs and blankets while children enjoyed games and activities throughout the venue. Food trucks kept visitors fueled while local vendors showcased products, services, and small businesses that help make Ventnor unique.
One of the highlights of the day was the strong participation from VBA vendors and local businesses. Guests had the opportunity to shop local, connect with business owners, and discover many of the products and services available throughout the Ventnor community. Events like these continue to demonstrate how the VBA’s mission extends beyond entertainment—creating opportunities for local businesses to connect directly with residents and visitors alike.
Fantastic weather, a great crowd, local vendors, family activities, food trucks, and another successful community gathering at Ski Beach.
The giant LED screen transformed Ski Beach into an outdoor Phillies watch party unlike anything else on the island.
Unfortunately, the Phillies couldn’t match the energy of the crowd and fell to the Dodgers 9-1.
While the tailgate atmosphere was a home run, the game itself belonged to Los Angeles.
Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered one of his strongest performances of the season, striking out ten Phillies hitters over 5.1 scoreless innings while allowing only three hits. The Dodgers offense provided plenty of support as Ryan Ward blasted his first Major League home run, while Alex Freeland and Max Muncy also went deep.
Phillies fans received a brief scare when catcher J.T. Realmuto exited after taking a pitch off his wrist, but postgame X-rays were negative, providing some relief despite the lopsided loss.
The defeat prevented Philadelphia from taking the series, but judging by the crowd reaction at Ski Beach, the Phillies faithful are already looking forward to the next opportunity to gather together.
If yesterday proved anything, it’s that the Phillies Tailgate has the potential to become another signature Ventnor tradition. Building on the success of the Eagles Tailgates and now a highly successful first baseball edition, the VBA continues to create events that bring neighbors together, support local businesses, and showcase everything that makes Ventnor City such a special place to live and visit.
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