Miss Crustacean, Little Miss Ocean City, Junior Miss Ocean City All to be Crowned
Congratulations to our new Miss Ocean City, 17-year-old Ocean City High School senior Mary Grace Jamison, who was crowned Saturday on the Ocean City Music Pier. Another week of pageantry in Ocean City included the Miss Crustacean Beauty Pageant that took place on Wednesday. The Little Miss Ocean City Pageant on Friday and the Junior Miss Ocean City Pageant on Saturday.
The original beauty contest for crustaceans returned as an evening event this year. In an annual tradition, Ocean City celebrates the beauty of hermit crabs with contestants vying for the coveted Cucumber Rind Cup. All families, kids, businesses and organizations were invited to enter their crustacean in the competition on Wednesday, August 14.
The pageant promotes responsible ownership of hermit crabs and features them displayed in elaborately themed dioramas. The winner gets to travel a flowery runway to take her reign.
“Ocean City is the only place in the world where you’ll see a crustacean beauty pageant,” event founder Mark Soifer said with his usual sense of understatement.
The pageant was followed immediately by the annual Hermit Crab Races with the speediest crustaceans competing for the King of Klutz Award. The results of the crustacean competition came after Shore Local press time.
The Little Miss Ocean City Pageant starts at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16 at the Ocean City Music Pier. The pageant will include 24 girls ages 8 to 11 competing in talent and other categories. This year’s pageant includes an “Aladdin” theme. Reigning Little Miss Stevie Wright will crown her successor at the conclusion of the pageant. Tickets for the event are $10 and will be available at the Ocean City Music Pier Box Office, by visiting oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or by calling 609-399-6111.
The Music Pier will host the 14th annual Junior Miss Ocean City Pageant at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17. Contestants will compete in interview, talent, evening gown and onstage question in a pageant with a Broadway theme. Junior Miss Ocean City 2019 Julia Wilson will crown her successor after a dynamic year of service. Junior Miss Ocean City serves as an ambassador for the City of Ocean City at iconic traditions like Night in Venice, Pamper Scamper, Baby Parade, Christmas Parade, Wacky Wednesday activities and more. Contestants range in age from 12 to 15 and are either year-round residents in Ocean City, attend or have graduated from Ocean City High School, or are the daughters of Ocean City property owners. Like the Little Miss Pageant, tickets for the event are $10 and will be available at the Ocean City Music Pier Box Office, by visiting oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or by calling 609-399-6111.
ALSO THIS WEEK
AUGUST 18 – Guts and Glory 5K Run/Walk: Annual family-friendly 5K Run/Walk features a festive-like atmosphere at the start/finish line. Proceeds support the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. Start is at 18th Street and Haven Avenue. Registration 7:30 a.m. Race 8:30 a.m. For more information, call 215-396-9100 or visit crohnscolitisfoundation.org.
AUGUST 18 – Movie Night in Ocean City: The Ocean City Pops celebrates the musical legacy of the silver screen with Maestro Vince Lee. Come hear blockbuster favorites from John Williams (“Star Wars,” “Harry Potter”) along with Oscar-winning classics (“Forrest Gump,” “Doctor Zhivago”) and even some classical music favorites made famous on the big screen. Maestro Lee makes his piano debut with the Ocean City Pops. Show is at 7:30 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets are $25/$20 and are available at the Ocean City Music Pier Box Office, by visiting oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or by calling 609-399-6111.
AUGUST 19 – The Zombies: This summer marks the “Time of the Season,” as 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and British invaders The Zombies bring their signature psychedelic rock to the Ocean City Music Music Pier. The concert begins at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $49. Visit www.ticketmaster.com or stop by the Music Pier Box Office.
AUGUST 20 – Walter Trout: Hometown hero Walter Trout sees a lifelong dream come true as the powerful and prolific blues guitarist returns to the city where he grew up to perform at the very venue that was commissioned to be built in the 1920s by Walter’s grandfather. Be sure to catch this emotional return to his roots as Walter is joined by special guest Vanessa Collier. The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets start at $39. Visit www.ticketmaster.com or stop by the Music Pier Box Office.
AUGUST 21 – Cheyenne Jackson with the Ocean City Pops: Grammy-nominated Cheyenne Jackson is a multi-talented actor, singer and songwriter. He was most recently seen in FX’s “American Horror Story: Apocalypse” and Disney’s “Descendants 3.” A veteran of the theater, he has performed in “The Most Happy Fella,” “The Performers,” “Finian’s Rainbow,” “Xanadu,” “All Shook Up,” “Aida” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” The show is 7:30 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets are $40/$35 and are available at the Ocean City Music Pier Box Office, by visiting oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or by calling 609-399-6111.
