Another great summer season is starting to come to a close, and country, Broadway music and rock concerts at the Ocean City Music Pier will help it go out in style.
The country-music Eli Young Band will perform on Wednesday, Aug. 21. Loren Allred will join the Ocean City Pops for an evening of modern Broadway and Hollywood music with Loren Allred on Sunday, Aug. 25. And Graham Nash will close the Monday-night Boardwalk Concert Series on Aug. 26.
College classmates formed the Eli Young Band 20 years ago, and the Associated Press has celebrated the group as “a smart, relevant antidote” to clichés in country music. The band has amassed 14 Billboard charting singles, including four No. 1 hits, including “Crazy Girl,” “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” “Love Ain’t” and “Drunk Last Night.” The band won an Academy of Country Music award for Song of the Year and received nominations for multiple Grammy, CMA, CMT, ACA and Teen Choice awards.
The musical band of brothers – Mike Eli, James Young, Jon Jones and Chris Thompson – play their own instruments, write their own songs and cling fast to their Texas roots. While selling out venues from coast-to-coast as strong headliners, the Eli Young Band has also shared the stage with Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, Chris Young, Darius Rucker and Dave Matthews Band.
Renowned singer-songwriter Loren Allred soared to fame with her captivating rendition of “Never Enough” from “The Greatest Showman,” achieving multi-platinum status and garnering widespread acclaim. Despite initially being relatively unknown, her Golden Buzzer performance on “Britain’s Got Talent” in 2022 propelled her into the limelight. Collaborating with icons such as Michael Bublé and embarking on global tours alongside Andrea Bocelli and David Foster, her vocal prowess knows no bounds. In 2024, Allred captivated audiences on NBC Primetime’s “America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League,” reaffirming her status as a musical powerhouse.
The Eli Young Band and Ocean City Pops concerts both begin at 7:30 p.m. Visit oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice, call 609-399-6111 or stop by the Music Pier Box Office to purchase tickets.
Graham Nash has performed for six decades and reached stardom as part of the Hollies, then of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. He will perform a mix of his group and solo hits. His 2024 tour is titled “More Evenings of Songs and Stories.” The show starts at 7 p.m., and tickets are available through etix.com.
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR LABOR DAY RUNNING RACE
Ocean City will celebrate Labor Day with its 33rd annual Labor Day Race on the beach at 23rd Street on Monday, Sept. 2. The beach runs include a 5-mile race on the beach from 23rd Street to 46th Street and back, along with a 1-mile health walk/run and a 1-mile kids’ course. The races start at 9 a.m., and race-day registration opens at 7:30 a.m. For more information, visit www.ocnj.us/race-events.
COMING UP IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER
Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and 200th Birthday of Ode to Joy (Aug. 28): The Ocean City Pops will perform Beethoven’s masterpiece for the first time. Concert at the Ocean City Music Pier, and tickets available atoceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or 609-399-6111.
The Strictly ’60s Band’ (Aug. 31): The band performs the best songs and sounds of the decade. Concert at the Ocean City Music Pier, and tickets available at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or 609-399-6111.
Maestro Lee at the Keys – Dueling Pianos (Sept. 4): Ocean City Pops Maestro Vince Lee and long-time colleague Eric Svejcar perform rock, pop, movies, Broadway, classical and more. Concert at the Ocean City Music Pier, and tickets available at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or 609-399-6111.
Street Rod Show (Sept. 7): Classic cars on display on the Boardwalk from noon to 4 p.m.
The Duprees With the Ocean City Pops (Sept. 7): The doo-wop legends join the Ocean City Pops. Concert at the Ocean City Music Pier, and tickets available at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or 609-399-6111.
Corvette Show (Sept. 8): More than 450 cars exhibited from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Ocean City Boardwalk.
The Atlantic City Ballet With the Ocean City Pops (Sept. 9): Return of an artistic partnership at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets available at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or 609-399-6111.
9/11 Remembrance Ceremony (Sept. 11): 6 p.m. outside Ocean City Fire Department headquarters (550 Asbury Avenue).
Ocean City Airport Festival (Sept. 14): Annual festival at the Municipal Airport (26th and Bay Ave.) features a ground display of unusual and classic airplanes and a parachute jump from Team Fastrax. Festival runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Parachute Pyrotechnic Show (Sept. 14): An 8 p.m. show includes the Team Fastrax parachute team creating a dazzling display of lights and pyrotechnics for spectators on the ground. The show is viewable along the entire Boardwalk with the landing area on the beach at Seventh Street.
Boardwalk Aerobatic Airshow (Sept. 15): Some of the best stunt pilots and aerobatic champions in the world put on a display starting at 1 p.m. and best viewed from the beach and boardwalk from Fifth Street to 14thStreet.
Kristin Chenoweth with the Ocean City Pops (Sept. 15): The Emmy- and Tony-winning singer helps the Ocean City Pops close the 2024 season. Tickets available at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or 609-399-6111.
Ocean City, NJ Jeep Invasion (Sept. 21): Jeeps will be displayed on the boardwalk between Fifth Street and 14th Street from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.NJJeepInvasion.com.
OCNJ Half Marathon, 5k & 10 Mile Non-Competitive Walk/Run (Sept. 22): Choose your distance and participate in one of New Jersey’s favorite race events. Advance registration required for the half marathon. Sign up early to save on registration fees at www.ocnj.us/Race-Events.
MS City to Shore Ride (Sept. 28-29): About 7,000 cyclists raise millions of dollars through a two-day charity ride from Philadelphia area to Ocean City and back. For more information, call 1-800-445-BIKE or visitwww.mscycling.org.
