When will the hotels and motels pick as the time to impose famous three-night minimum holiday stay rules? This weekend, mid-week, next weekend? All of the above?
With so much uncertaintly about when exactly the celebrating should begin for that out-and-out, no-doubt-about-it, in-your-face signal that summer's finally here, the great Fourth of July Weekend debate has become the season's great question.
"I think it's human nature to want to begin the celebration as soon as possible, so I say it's this weekend," said Mark Soifer, 75, who has seen his share of summers come and go as Ocean City's director of public relations for the past 35 years.
Soifer gets a jump-start on the festivities every year by beginning the town "July Jubilee" celebration while the calendar still says June.
"Some people question how we can begin July Jubilee in June, but other people who are here for their vacation they've planned around the Fourth of July are happy that we do," Soifer said.
Laurie Brewer, spokeswoman for the South Jersey Transportation Authority, whose agency provides an excellent barometer of Shore crowds by monitoring the Atlantic City Expressway, contends that next weekend is the big weekend.
"It's just my personal opinion, but technically this weekend is still part of June, the traditional time for graduations, weddings, family reunions, and things like that, so many people, at least people that I know, are still thinking in those terms," said Brewer.
"The Fourth and after is when the holiday begins."
Many towns have scheduled fireworks displays on the Fourth, taking the diplomatic middle ground rather than shooting for bigger attendance numbers of a weekend crowd.
Nonetheless, Shore town officials, business owners and others who have a stake in the Shore, say they are preparing for the onslaught this weekend.
