WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OCEAN CITY
The Ocean City Boardwalk will be host to three major events this weekend: The Porsche Boardwalk Reunion on Saturday and the HERO Walk and N.J. Jeep Invasion on Sunday.
About 425 Porsches of all models from 1954 to 2022 will be on display on the Ocean City Boardwalk between Sixth Street and 14th Street from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, as part of the Porsche Boardwalk Reunion. The Ocean City Music Pier will be host to various free tech sessions on Porsche-related topics. For more information, visit www.boardwalkreunion.org.
The John R. Elliott HERO Walk and 1-Mile Fun Run on the Ocean City Boardwalk will take place on Sunday, October 15. The HERO Fun Run will take place at 10 a.m. HERO ceremonies are at 10:30 a.m. The 5-kilometer HERO Walk along the Ocean City Boardwalk commences at 11 a.m. The organization raises awareness of the importance of sober designated drivers. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the Sports and Civic Center, Sixth Street and Boardwalk. For more information, visit herocampaign.org or call 609-626-3880.
The NJ Jeep Invasion will run from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15.About 400Jeepswill roll down the boardwalk and remain on display in lines that stretch from Fifth Street to 14th Street. The event raises money for local charities, and trophies are awarded to the best Jeeps in various categories with trophies awarded at 4:30 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. The show started in Ocean City in 2013. Visit njjpinvasion.com for more information. This event had originally been scheduled in September but was postponed due to the weather.
Five performances of My Way: “A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra” will begin on Friday, Oct. 13.Presented by the Ocean City Theatre Company, My Way celebrates the mystique of Frank Sinatra and the unforgettable music that made him famous. Talented musical theater performers will showcase 60 of Sinatra’s greatest hits in a fully-staged production that will include favorites such as “All of Me,” “My Funny Valentine,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Summer Wind,” “Chicago,” “I Love Paris,” “New York, New York,” and the show-title inspiration, “My Way.” Brett Bainer, Conor Fallon, Hannah Hill, Lathan Roberts and Bessie D. Smith will bring the music of Sinatra to life. Shows are at the Ocean City Music Pier on October 13, 14, 20 and 21 at 7 p.m. and October 22 at 2 p.m. For tickets visit, oceancitytheatrecompany.com.
COMING UP IN OCTOBER
Dog Day (Oct. 21 and 22): Leashed dogs will be permitted on the boardwalk from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. All are welcome and encouraged to bring their favorite furry canine friend. Activities for Saturday include dog-specific vendors along the boardwalk, photo-op stations on the boardwalk, and the Humane Society of Ocean City’s “Pet of the Year” announcement.
HSOC “Howl-O-Ween” Parade (Oct. 21): Hosted by the Humane Society of Ocean City. Contestants are encouraged to dress themselves and their pooch in zany, fun Halloween costumes in the spirit of the season. Registration begins at 2 p.m. at the Sports & Civic Center. The parade begins at 3 p.m. and the procession is from Sixth Street to 14th Street on the Boardwalk.
Ocean City Fishing Club 54th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament (Oct. 21): Friends and families are invited to participate. Youths are invited to fish the first, second, or both sessions. Parents may assist (youth assist) the angler with baiting and casting. For more information and advance registration, visit oceancityfishingclub.com.
OC Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Welcome Night (Oct. 25): 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ocean City Sports & Civic Center. Meet OC groups, businesses and organizations. Free event.
Halloween Parade (Oct. 26): 7:15 p.m. on Asbury Ave. from 6th to 11th Street. Sponsored by the Ocean City Exchange Club. For more information, call 1-800-813-5580 or visit ochp.blogspot.com.
Trail of Two Cities 5K (Oct. 28): 9th St. Bridge from Ocean City to Somers Point. For more information and registration, visit ocnj.us/race-events.
Halloween Costume Skate (Oct. 28): The Ocean City Skate Park at Fifth Street and Asbury Avenue will celebrate Halloween 4 p.m. to dusk. Skateboarders are invited to come dressed for the holiday. There will be prizes for best costume and best trick, and candy for the participants.
HALLOWEEN PARADE AND HOUSE DECORATING CONTEST
Registration is now open for anybody who would like to participate in Ocean City’s annual Halloween Parade or in the Halloween House Decorating Contest.
The 75th annual Halloween Parade will start at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, October 26, 2023 and travel a route on Asbury Avenue from Sixth Street to 11th Street.
All are welcome to watch or participate in this fun community event, which is organized by the Exchange Club of Ocean City in partnership with the city. For those who want to join the parade, please note there are new divisions this year, including an animal division.
To register to be in the parade, email: oceancity_halloween@yahoo.com.
Include your name, name and age of participant(s), address, email /phone number and the division you are registering for. An email confirmation will be sent back to you with your registration number within 24 hours Monday through Friday.
Medals and trophies will be awarded to first- and second-place entrants. Judges will evaluate based on appearance, originality and artistry. All award winners will be notified by phone or email the day after the parade.
For more information on the parade, please visit ochp.blogspot.com.
The fourth annual Halloween House Decorating Contest in Ocean City will award prizes to homes and businesses in a variety of categories. Deadline for registration is 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24. A list of participants will be posted, so everybody can see the decorated homes.
For more information and to sign up, please visit ocnj.us/HalloweenEvents.
Other Halloween events include the Halloween Costume Skate at the Ocean City Skate Park at Fifth Street and Asbury Avenue 4 p.m. to dusk on Saturday, Oct. 28. Skateboarders are invited to come dressed for the holiday. There will be prizes for best costume and best trick, and candy for the participants.
Hours for traditional trick-or-treating will be 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31.
FIRST NIGHT ADMISSION BUTTONS ARE ON SALE NOW
It’s not too early to think about celebrating the arrival of 2024 at Ocean City’s family-friendly First Night New Year’s Eve celebration. All-inclusive admission buttons will be on sale starting on Friday, Oct. 6.
Tickets are available:
First Night offers more than 70 entertain programs at 20 different venues throughout town on Dec. 31. One $15 button is good for all programs. Don’t wait, because button sales are limited at the price goes up to $20 on Dec. 1.
Headline entertainment at the Ocean City Music Pier this year will include “GYPSY,” a tribute to the music of Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac; and “Motor City,” a revue of Motown’s greatest hits. The return of perennial favorites like outdoor ice-skating (with extended hours this year), rides at Wonderland Pier, magic shows, the Harlem Wizards and a variety of musical performances also highlight the entertainment lineup. The Ocean City Pops will perform with a returning favorite – the Chicago tribute band Brass Transit. In their first-ever First Night appearance, the Atlantic City Ballet will perform a holiday show.
First Night’s 2024 sponsors include the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Cape May County Division of Culture and Heritage, McMahon Insurance Agency, Ocean City Free Public Library, Wonderland Pier and Atlantic City Electric.
Complete information on First Night is available at firstnightocnj.com.
Tickets are also on sale for the Ocean City Pops’ Holiday Show at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 at the Ocean City Music Pier. Led by Maestro Vince Lee, the Pops will perform classic holiday favorites and modern hits featuring soloist Sara Maimone of Ocean City. Visit oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice for tickets and more information.
