FREE TOLLS AND CRABFRIES: SUMMER KICKOFF RETURNS TO AC EXPRESSWAY WITH FAMILY-FRIENDLY BASH

 Atlantic City -- Summer in South Jersey officially starts this Friday as the South Jersey Transportation Authority hosts its annual “100 Days of Summer” kickoff at the Frank S. Farley Service Plaza. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., travelers on the Atlantic City Expressway will find more than just gas and snacks. The plaza transforms into a full-scale event site featuring nearly 60 vendors, local food trucks, hands-on exhibits, and children’s activities. The lineup includes everything from farm-fresh produce and artisan goods to conservation education, airport fire truck demonstrations, and interactive animal displays. New this year is a sidewalk chalk zone designed to let kids leave their mark—literally—on the pavement. Returning attractions include Ron’s Gardens produce stand, classic car displays, and giveaways tied to the Expressway’s 60th anniversary. Food vendors on deck include CrawDaddy’s Cajun, Mister Softee, Tacos Al Carbon, and more. Visitors are also encouraged to stop by the plaza’s 9/11 Memorial and a large-scale brass model of the Battleship New Jersey. To cap off the event, drivers headed eastbound between 4 and 5 p.m. will cruise through the Egg Harbor toll plaza for free. The one-hour toll relief is covered by Chickie’s and Pete’s, which is also sending its Crabfries Express truck to hand out free food on-site. The kickoff marks the start of a coordinated push to drive tourism and showcase the Expressway as more than just a road to the shore.