Families across Philadelphia region soak up last moments of summer

OCEAN CITY, New Jersey (WPVI) -- It's the unofficial end to summer and many across the Philadelphia region are soaking up every last minute of it this Labor Day.

At Penn's Landing, a lot of families enjoyed the last few hours of the holiday by playing arcade games and enjoying a few rides.

"Just enjoying the weekend, getting the last moments in before back to school and cold weather sets in," said Mark Anderson of Raritan, New Jersey.

"I mean it's an amazing summer despite how Covid-19 has been. I think people have been happy to go out and enjoy family," added Faiaayl Anderson.

And over at the Belmont Plateau, there was a lot of grilling, while Philly Rap Artist Joey Zaza Zazalino was setting the tone.

"We're just out here enjoying family, enjoying the end of the summer," said Felicia Bolton of Southwest Philadelphia.

While the kids were playing, some of the adults were playing too by showing off their classic cars.

"The Chevy life we live, it's a whole camaraderie, it's a whole family here," said Snoop McClendon.

Many youngsters said they're ready to go back to school.

It's the unofficial end to summer at the Jersey Shore, and families were spread out up and down the coast soaking up the last weeks of summer.

But beachgoers down at the Jersey Shore are feeling a little sad to let summer go.

"It's sad. It's really sad. But our kids go back to school really late, so we're a little bit ready for them to go back," said Suzanne Lewis from Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania.

On the boardwalk, business owners say this summer helped make up for a bleak 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This summer was really good. I think people were just ready to get out," said Anna Palmieri who owns Litterer's Food Court in Ocean City.

Restaurant owners in Wildwood agree.

"We would have had the most awesome summer that you could possibly have, but unfortunately, like a lot of us up here, we were lacking staff," said Dino Pierelli, owner of Route 66.

Pierelli says he almost tripled his business from last year, even with cutting back hours for staffing.

"It's the end of the season. We're tired. We need to rest," Pierelli added.

For Carol Vellios and her family, this is the final rest time before everyone, including herself, goes back to school.

"I'm a teacher, so I'm getting my last hurrah here, and I love it," Vellios said.