Fourth of July festivities help kick off a month of family fun
Fireworks will cap off Ocean City’s Fourth of July festivities at 9 p.m. Friday, July 4. The display will help start a month filled with family fun.
The fireworks will be launched from a barge in the ocean near the Music Pier and will be best viewed from the beach or Boardwalk between Fifth Street and 14th Street. A musical simulcast will be broadcast over the boardwalk PA system. The beach curfew in Ocean City has been extended to 10 p.m. for July 4.
The Fourth of July in Ocean City always starts with a set of family bike parades. Participants are encouraged to dress and decorate their bikes in the spirit of the holiday. The events are free to join. The South Ocean City parade starts at 10 a.m. at 40th Street and Asbury Avenue with registration opening at 9 a.m. This parade ends at the playground at 52nd Street and Haven Avenue with refreshments and prizes for participants. The Gardens parade starts at 10 a.m. at the Longport Bridge parking lot (also with 9 a.m. registration). The route makes its way to East Atlantic Boulevard with a finish near Beach Road with refreshments and free T-shirts available. The Riviera Neighborhood parade starts at noon at the Rosemar Lane Park (with 11 a.m. registration).
A kite-flying competition will start at 7 p.m. July 4 on the beach near the Ocean City Music Pier.
The first of the summer’s Wacky Wednesdays was on July 2 and featured a good old-fashioned apple and cherry pie-eating contest. The next is July 9 and will feature taffy sculpting. Participants can use their creativity to shape and sculpt Shriver’s Salt Water Taffy into their very own unique masterpiece. Contest is free but open to the first 200 participants. It will take place at the Music Pier at 10:30 a.m.
Ocean City Pops performs three outdoor concerts this week
In addition to their Wednesday, July 2 show, the Ocean City Pops will also perform a pair of free outdoor concerts on July 3 and July 4 to celebrate Independence Day. The Pops will play patriotic classics and audience favorites in honor of our nation’s birthday during 8 p.m. shows at Carey Stadium. Free face-painting for kids will be available at both shows. The July 4 show will be followed immediately by the holiday fireworks, and Carey Stadium provides a great place to view the display.
Weekly family events start in July
A full summer of weekly events will begin in July. The lineup this year will include:
- Beach Exercise – Yoga (8 a.m. at 6th Street Beach) and Family Nights on the Boardwalk (7-9 p.m.) on Mondays.
- Beach Walks (9 a.m. at 59th Street and Central), Fantastic Tuesdays (10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Asbury Avenue)and Mummers Nights (7-9 p.m. on the Boardwalk) on Tuesdays.
- Beach Exercise – Pilates Yoga (8 a.m. at 6th Street Beach), Beach Walks (6:30 p.m. at 59th Street and Central),and Family Nights on the Boardwalk (7-9 p.m.) on Wednesdays.
- Market Days (10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Asbury Avenue)and Mummers Nights (7-9 p.m. on the Boardwalk) on Thursdays.
- Beach Exercise – Low Impact (8 a.m. at 6th Street Beach)and Walking Club (8 a.m. on the Boardwalk from the Music Pier) on Fridays.
Children’s Theatre Series opens with ‘Curious George’
The Greater Ocean City Theatre Company (OCTC) will present “Curious George: The Golden Meatball (TYA)” to kick off the 2025 Summer Children’s Theater Series at the Ocean City Music Pier at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 1. The family-friendly musical is based on the beloved books by Margret and H.A. Rey.
The summer series will feature four other productions, including:
- July 8 – ELEPHANT & PIGGIE: WE ARE IN A PLAY!: Get ready for a musical experience ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved, award-winning, best-selling children’s books that will leave audiences doing the “Flippy Floppy Floory” dance all night long.
- July 15 – PINKALICIOUS!: Based on the popular book by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann, this is the tale of Pinkalicious, who can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents.
- July 22 – PETE THE CAT: The show is based on the Pete the Cat series of books by Kimberly and James Dean. For Pete the Cat, life is an adventure no matter where you wind up.
- July 29 – A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD (TYA): A hit on Broadway, “A Year with Frog and Toad” was nominated for three Tony Awards – including Best Musical. Based on Arnold Lobel’s well-loved books and featuring a hummable score by Robert and Willie Reale, this whimsical show follows two great friends through four fun-filled seasons
Funding has been made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners through the Cape May County Division of Culture & Heritage. Tickets are priced at $11 in advance and $13 on the day of the show. They are available at oceancitytheatrecompany.com.
Also coming up soon
- July 6 – Good Witch/Bad Witch Performing with the Ocean City Pops: A concert of diva showstoppers featuring Glinda and Elphaba from the Broadway company of “Wicked.” Tickets are available at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice.
- July 7 – Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks: The next show in the Boardwalk Summer Concert Series features the former lead singer in the rock band Yes. The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets available at etix.com and the Music Pier Box Office.
- July 8 – Bicycle Auction: 10 a.m. to noon at Shelter Road (first left off of Tennessee Avenue). More than 70 bicycles to be sold. Registration begins at 9 a.m. A driver’s license, passport or valid ID. is required to register. For information, visit ocnj.us/bikeauction.
