The Christmas tree has long served as an iconic family staple and the centerpiece of the holiday season. For many Ocean City residents, that tradition now includes their own beach Christmas tree for the public to enjoy.
The ritual began in 2019 when Sue McElwee, along with other surfing and skate park mothers, decided to take family photos with a Christmas tree on the beach. This simple idea was not expected to become an annual occurrence for the community.
They decided on North Street because this it was where the group went to the beach in the summer, already holding many traditions and memories.
In 2020, the tree took on even greater significance. During the pandemic, it offered a cheerful, safe way for neighbors to gather. Young and old pitched in to collect 7,000 shells, drawing families and friends together to share a bit of holiday joy.
Over the past six years, the North Street Beach Christmas Tree has grown into a beloved community event. Each year, families, friends and neighbors gather the weekend before Thanksgiving to set up the tree, decorate it, place their personalized shells around it, take photos and enjoy its simple beauty. Care is taken to assemble the tree in a way that stands up to the shore’s elements while respecting the environment.
McElwee said she loves the simplicity of a Christmas tree, especially during a season when material distractions can take over. She hopes the tree reminds people how meaningful it is to slow down, gather with loved ones and share a tradition built from community effort. She also hopes the message resonates with her children, who look forward to continuing the event each year.
Residents have added their own natural, eco-friendly decorations, each with personal touches. Despite the tradition’s humble beginnings, it has become a destination holiday stop for many families. Other streets — and even other shore towns — have now created beach trees of their own, with some people making a “tree crawl” to visit several in a day.
Community is important to McElwee and her family. She is deeply involved in Ocean City’s surf culture, where her children often participate in contests that support charitable causes. She also encourages others to join in simple community-inspired ideas, such as “beach art.” Peace signs, hearts and other shapes made from shells have become a familiar sight, warming hearts and lifting spirits.
McElwee hopes the tradition continues to spark joy, bring people together and inspire others to share in these simple but meaningful traditions.
