WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OCEAN CITY
Baby Parade Rolls Down Boardwalk for 113th Time on Thursday
The 113th annual Ocean City Baby Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 10 on the Boardwalk.
The annual tradition offers a chance for parents to show off Ocean City’s newest generation. The parade features children ages 10 and under cruising the Boardwalk in themed strollers, wagons and floats. It starts at Sixth Street with children finishing at 12th Street and all other entries continuing to 14th Street.
The parade is free to watch from either side of the boardwalk. Spectators are welcome to bring beach chairs to watch from the railing along the ocean side of the boardwalk. On the parade morning, the boardwalk will close to bicycle traffic at 10 a.m.
In addition to the array of themed Baby Parade entries, participants will include: Ed Coles Entertainers, the Fred Hall Orchestra, the Absegami High School Marching Band, the Hobo Band, newly crowned Queen Infanta Callie Bellwoar, lifeguard boats celebrating the Ocean City Beach Patrol’s 125th anniversary, local dignitaries, local businesses, local organizations and more.
Each child receives a memento at 12th Street for participating in the parade, and winners will receive their awards when they complete the parade at 12th Street. In addition to division awards, special honors will include the Leo Bamberger Founders Award, Hanscom Award, Dahlhausen Award, Canale Award, Outstanding Twins or Triplets, Baby Traveling the Greatest Distance to Participate, Best Float, Best Musical Act and the Mark Soifer Award.
In the event of heavy rain, entries should still report to the Civic Center where judging will take place. The parade will not proceed down the Boardwalk.
Registration remains open to anybody who wants to participate in the parade. For an online entry form and more information, visit ocnj.us/babyparade. Entry fee is $5 per child, and the registration deadline is 2 p.m. Tuesday, August 8.
Ocean City’s Pamper Scamper, a crawling race among children 15 months old and younger, is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday, August 8 on the beach at Sixth Street. Registration is at 8:30 a.m. The event is an annual prelude to the city’s Baby Parade.
Babies are placed in the middle of a silk parachute on the sand. The first to crawl off the parachute into a parent or guardian’s waiting arms is declared the winner. Only crawlers can win this race. If one gets up and walks, he or she is disqualified.
The charming event is free to watch with great spots available on the boardwalk looking down onto the competition area.
FISHING PIER OPEN HOUSE AND KIDS’ FISHING TOURNAMENT
An open house on the 14th Street Fishing Pier will return for the second time this summer from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, August 10. The Ocean City Fishing Club will welcome the public to tour its pier, which is usually restricted to club members. The open house coincides with the city’s Family Night on the Boardwalk.
The public is encouraged to bring non-perishable food or make a cash donation that will be given to the Ocean City Food Cupboard, a tradition that began in 2013, when the fishing club celebrated its centennial anniversary. Representatives from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center of Brigantine also will be on hand.
Fishing club members will guide visitors, answer questions and demonstrate casting and fishing techniques. The pier extends nearly 750 feet from the Boardwalk, over the beach and the Atlantic Ocean. The club began a pier extension project in December 2020 to add about 113 feet to the structure. The addition was completed in spring 2021. The Ocean City Fishing Club, founded in 1913, has a strong commitment to community involvement through its youth fishing tournaments, awarding scholarships and advocating for recreational fishing. OCFC is the oldest continually operating fishing club in the nation.
The club’s Boys and Girls Surf Fishing Tournament will be held Saturday, August 12, rain or shine, at the city’s north end beach near the Ocean City-Longport bridge. Registration will be begin at 9 a.m. for youth ages 8 to 16. Fishing will start at 10 a.m. and end at noon, followed by awards presentations.
‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ IN OCEAN CITY
The Ocean City Pops and the Ocean City Theatre Company continues their performances of a stage adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s beloved “Wizard of Oz,” featuring the iconic musical score from the MGM film. The timeless tale continues to thrill audiences worldwide. The show features a professional cast and orchestra with flying effects provided by ZFX.
Performances are at the Bill and Nancy Hughes Performing Arts Center (within Ocean City High School at 501 Atlantic Avenue) with 7:30 p.m. shows on August 8, 9 and 11; and a 2 p.m. matinee on August 10. Tickets are $30 or $25 for 65-and-overs and 12-and-unders. Visit www.oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or call 609-399-6111 for tickets.
CONTESTS AND WEEKLY HAPPENINGS
Ocean City’s “Wacky But Not Tacky” series of Wacky Wednesdays continues at 10:30 a.m. August 9 at the Ocean City Music Pier with a “Hawaiian Luau.” No advance registration is required for this free family event, but participation is limited to the first 150 to enter.
The popular weekly Farmers Market on the grounds of the Ocean City Tabernacle is open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Wednesday through Sept. 13. The market features the best of fresh produce from local farms in the region, along with a variety of craft vendors.
Family Night on Thursday, Aug. 10 will bring two Mummers bands to the Ocean City Boardwalk from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. On Tuesday, Aug. 15, Mummers Night will return to the Boardwalk from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. with more string bands providing entertainment.
Downtown Asbury Avenue will feature entertainment, face-painters, balloon sculptors and more from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday (Aug. 10) for Market Days and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday (Aug. 15) for Funtastic Tuesday.
OCEAN CITY POPS FEATURES TCHAIKOVSKY AND BEETHOVEN
At 7:30 p.m. Sunday, August 13, Ocean City Pops Maestro Vince Lee will show off the virtuosic classical side of the Pops with an evening of symphonic favorites. Musicians from the orchestra will also take the spotlight as featured soloists, and the evening will close with selections from one of the most famous tunes in classical music history: Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.
MISS OCEAN CITY PAGEANT ON SATURDAY
Miss Ocean City 2023 Grace Oves will be on hand to crown her successor, as contestants compete in interview, talent, swimsuit, evening gown and onstage question at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12 at the Ocean City Music Pier.
The Miss Ocean City Pageant this year has a travel theme of “Jet Set,” and the public is invited to attend to watch nine young women compete for the title. Miss Ocean City represents the city at events throughout the year, and all proceeds from the event benefit local scholarships.
Tickets ($15) are available at the Music Pier Box Office, online at www.oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or by phone at 609-399-6111.
