It’s not too early to think about celebrating the arrival of 2026 at Ocean City’s family-friendly First Night New Year’s Eve celebration. All-inclusive admission buttons are on sale now. Don’t wait to purchase your buttons, because supplies are limited.
Tickets are available:
- Online: firstnightocnj.com
- By phone: 609-399-6111.
- At the City Hall Welcome Center at 861 Asbury Ave. (9th Street entrance): 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
- At the Roy Gillian Welcome Center (9th Street causeway): 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
- At the 46th Street Welcome Center (4500 block of West Avenue): 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday.
First Night offers more than 70 entertainment programs at 20 different venues throughout town on Dec. 31. One $25 button is good for all programs.
Headline entertainment at the Ocean City Music Pier this year will include a tribute to the music of the Journey and also “Motor City: the Motown Revue.” The return of perennial favorites like outdoor ice-skating, a magic show, a mentalist, the Harlem Wizards, and a variety of other shows also highlight the entertainment lineup. Ocean City will reunite Elton John and Billy Joel at the Ocean City High School auditorium with separate tributes.
A drone light show in the sky over Carey Stadium synced to music is scheduled. As always, the festivities will end with a fireworks display to ring in the new year at midnight.
First Night’s 2026 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, Pete Madden of Goldcoast Sotheby’s International Realty, Uncle Bill’s Pancake House and Atlantic City Electric.
Complete information on First Night is available at firstnightocnj.com.
Judy Collins and Richard Thompson to join 2026 Summer Concert Series
The first concert announced for the 2026 Summer Concert Series at the Ocean City Music Pier will feature Judy Collins and Richard Thompson. The performance is scheduled for Monday, July 20, and tickets will go on sale on Friday (Dec. 12, 2025) with a special pre-sale on Wednesday and Thursday (Dec. 10-11).
Inspired by artists such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, singer-songwriter Judy Collins hit stardom in 1967 after her cover of Joni Mitchell’s ‘Both Sides, Now’ gained international recognition. The single peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard charts, and Collins won her first Grammy for Best Folk Performance as a result. She then released singles such as ‘Someday Soon’ and ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’ During her career, Collins has released over 25 studio albums and numerous live and compilation albums.
Richard Thompson is a world-renowned singer-songwriter who was named by Rolling Stone as one of the “Top 20 Guitarists of All Time.”
The presale (use code BRE) will be open from 10 a.m. Wednesday through 10 p.m. Thursday online at etix.com. Use the same link when regular ticket sales open at 10 a.m. Friday.
OCTC performs ‘Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition’
The Ocean City Theatre Company (OCTC) will present “The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. Featuring colorful costumes, iconic songs and a talented cast of students in grades 3 to 8, this is a performance you won’t want to miss.
OCTC is proud to receive a Youth Art Program Grant from the Cape May County Commissioners: Leonard C. Desiderio (director), Andrew Bulakowski (vice director), Bobby Barr (commissioner), Melanie Collette (commissioner) and Will Morey (commissioner).
Tickets ($15) are available at oceancitytheatrecompany.com.
Registration open for Holiday House Decorating Contest
Registration is now open for the annual Ocean City Holiday House Decorating Contest. The contest awards prizes based on creativity, special effects, lighting, theme and overall appearance. A list of all contest participants will be posted, so everybody can enjoy the holiday displays. The deadline to register is at noon Dec. 11. For more information and to register, visit ocnj.us/HolidayHouse.
Also coming up in December
Dec. 13, 14, 20, 21 — Free Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides: Free rides available from noon to 3 p.m. with boarding at Sixth Street and Asbury Avenue.
Dec. 13, 14, 20, 21 — Santa Claus: St. Nick will visit with children and be available for photos on weekends. He will be downtown at Mark Soifer Park (Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue) from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., then outside the Music Pier from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Dec. 14-22 — Lighting of the Hanukkah Menorah: At nightfall on each night of Hanukkah, a candle will be lit on the menorah displayed on the front lawn of City Hall (861 Asbury Ave.) to celebrate the Festival of Lights.
Jan. 1 — First Day: Start the new year with a 5K run on the Boardwalk (register now) and a first dip in the Atlantic Ocean.
