Some came to the Midland Beach boardwalk on Sunday to enjoy live music and some traditional seaside treats.

"The entertainment is local but it's different every year," said one visitor.

"Funnel cake and sausage and peppers," said another.

Those visitors were among those who attended a nostalgic 2-day event called "Back to the Beach" this weekend.

"All of this brings me back to my childhood," said another attendee.

For many, taking part in the festival, the gathering means summer has arrived on Staten Island.   

"You have everybody walking up and down the boardwalk," said Massimo DiDonna of the Carl V. Bini Memorial Fund. "A lot of great novelties being sold by local vendors. A lot of great food."

DiDonna runs the Carl V. Bini Memorial Fund.

The nonprofit teamed up with the Borough President's Office to host this year's celebration.

More than 100 vendors lined the boardwalk for the final day of the festival.

Igor Yakovlev was happy to see new customers buzzing around his homegrown honey stand.

"People get to witness new businesses," he said. "Up and coming, old businesses, mom and pop shops. It brings the community together. It's really cool."

Back to the Beach is also about giving back to the local community.

Proceeds from vendor rental fees will go back into the Bini Fund.

The non-profit will direct the money collected to its drug addiction treatment center, Carl's House.

"We're helping thousands of families that really need help here in our backyard," said DiDonna.

Other charitable groups also took advantage of the large crowds.

The Knights of Columbus setup a dunk tank to raise money for St. Jude Children's Hospital.

"It was fun because we saw the guy drop and he went in the water and it was a big splash," said one young participant.

Many families told us they've been coming to the event since it started in 1995.

It's a longstanding tradition visators said will make waves for generations to come.