Undaunted by the damage inflicted by Hurricane Sandy, the Sea Bright Firemen’s Fair returns this week. (Click to enlarge)

By WIL FULTON

For residents of Sea Bright – many of whom remain displaced post-Hurricane Sandy – the sight of the flashing lights of a Ferris wheel shining through the air of their recovering community will mean more than just music, games and funnel cake when the Firemen’s Fair comes to town later this week.

 This year, it will be another sign that things are slowly returning to normal in the small beachside borough.

According to recreation director Kathy Morris, residents and visitors can expect much of the same as in years past from this year’s fair, including games of chance, carnival rides, live music, food vendors, and the fair’s signature Ferris wheel, which gives riders a seagull’s view of the surrounding area.

“My favorite thing about the fair has always been the Ferris wheel, of course,” Morris said. “You get a great view of Sandy Hook, and the Manhattan skyline. It’s terrific.”

Morris said there was really no hesitation about whether the fair would return to the former Peninsula House lot in 2013.

“For the firefighters, it was never a question of doing it or not: they were immediately up for it,” she said. “They weren’t going to let Sandy knock them down.”

“We’ve done all the annual events so far, like the tree-lighting, the polar bear plunge and the KDM run in March,” she noted. “It’s important for the town to continue things like the Fireman’s Fair, not just for the kids and everyone’s enjoyment, but to show we’re coming back, and that even Hurricane Sandy can’t stop us from breaking tradition.”

The fair’s hours are:

Thursday 6pm-10pm

Friday 6pm-11pm

Saturday 4pm-11pm

Sunday 2pm-9pm

All proceeds from the fair go to benefit the Sea Bright Fire Department and the borough’s Recreation Department.