Shhh! The Quiet Festival Is Coming To Ocean City, NJ
By Chelsea Karnash
OCEAN CITY, NJ (CBS) – This weekend, a little known festival will descend on Ocean City without a peep.
It's called the Quiet Festival, and it was started by Ocean City publicist Mark Soifer.
But you'll have to be very quiet and listen if you're in the area and want to catch any of the festival action, which involves plenty of yawns. In fact, it's really a chorus of yawns, to the tune of "Beautiful Dreamer," as part of the opening ceremony.
In addition to Friday's low-key fun, the centerpiece of this silent weekend is on Saturday, when residents tip toe into the Ocean City Senior Center for a slew of low-decibel events. There are performances from "quiet" magicians and puppeteers, a snoring contest and even a Quiet Pet Contest, when mice, guinea pigs, hamsters and gerbils will all vie for the prize.
On Sunday, guests are asked to create their own quietness. Suggested activities including petting dogs, flying kites or taking a walk.
So, why all the noise about a festival that doesn't aim to make any?
"The ulterior motive was to have another economical special event in Ocean City that no one else has," Soifer writes on the Ocean City online blog. But he also says that he "started the Quiet Festival because of the hectic pace of modern life, the noise, confusion, speed and to foster a greater appreciation for natural things."
To read more about the Quiet Festival, click here.
