Doo Dah Parade and Great Egg Hunt set for Saturday in Ocean City
Ocean City’s spring season will kick into high gear with two of its most popular events this weekend: the annual Doo Dah Parade and the first of two Great Egg Hunts on the Boardwalk. Both are scheduled for Saturday, April 12.
The Doo Dah Parade is Ocean City’s season-opening celebration of all things humorous. The procession features marching bands, floats and a brigade of hundreds of basset hounds. The parade begins at noon Saturday. The route starts at Sixth Street and travels downtown Asbury Avenue to 12th Street, then turns to the Boardwalk at 12th Street and finishes on the boardwalk at Sixth Street.
The First Ocean City Doo Dah Parade was held on April 19, 1986. It was based on the original Doo Dah Parade, a spoof of the Rose Bowl Parade, held in Pasadena, California. Ocean City’s event is always scheduled close to Tax Day, and it serves as a way to blow off steam during income tax filing season. It’s also a great way to welcome a new season in Ocean City.
Philadelphia Phillies great Tommy Greene will be the grand marshal of the parade.
Greene pitched for the Phillies from 1990 to 1995, and he posted a 16-4 record during the team’s memorable run to the World Series in 1993. He also played for the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros during his career. He has served as a post-game analyst for Phillies broadcasts.
Greene will be available for free autographs and pictures at the Ocean City Music Pier for an hour after the parade.
Some highlights will include the Hobo Band, the Jersey String Band, the Woodland String Band, Crescent Shriner’s Mini Cars, the Fred Hall Orchestra and the Atlantic City Fire Department Sandpipers Band.
Dietz and Watson returns as the event sponsor.
The first of two Great Egg Hunts will be held on the Boardwalk on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Participating merchants will invite children up to age 7 to visit stores with their families to collect eggs filled with toys, treats and prizes.
The free event will run for two hours or while supplies last. Flyers will direct families to 50 participating stores to collect eggs trick-or-treat-style. Rain date is April 13. A second Great Egg Hunt is scheduled for 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. April 19 with a rain date of April 20. More information is available on Facebook (@ocnjboardwalk) or Instagram (@oc_njboardwalk).
The Easter Bunny will be in town to visit with children 9 a.m. to noon on April 12, 13 and 19 at Mark Soifer Park at the corner of Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue. Families will be able to take photos with the Easter Bunny in an Ocean City Beach Patrol lifeguard boat at the park. The event also gives families a chance to take advantage of all that Ocean City’s downtown shopping and dining district has to offer.
Volunteers sought for Beach Sweeps on April 12
All organizations, individuals and families are encouraged to participate in the annual statewide Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweeps to help keep our beaches clean and safe and to protect our coastal environment. Volunteers are encouraged to join in the semi-annual beach cleanup in Ocean City from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12. Register at cleanoceanaction.org and pick up supplies at the Ocean City Music Pier (Boardwalk at Moorlyn Terrace) before heading out.
At the same time, a group of local residents is launching a pilot program called the Castaways Community Beach Bag. The group will sponsor a beach cleanup starting at 9 a.m. Saturday (April 12) at Surf Road Beach.
They will unveil Castaway Beach Boxes, where beachgoers and walkers can pick up bags to help collect any trash or plastics they may come across. The bags are designed to allow sand to sift through. They will be available this summer at Surf Road, 29th Street and 59th Street as part of the pilot program.
Tickets on sale for ‘A Bronx Tale’ on Aug. 19
Ocean City and producers BRE Presents and Bob Rose Productions announced another new show for the popular Summer Concert Series at the Ocean City Music Pier this year: “A Bronx Tale starring Chazz Palminteri.”
The show will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19. Tickets go on sale through etix.com at 10 a.m. Thursday (April 10). A special presale (use code BRE) will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m Wednesday (April 9).
In 1988, Palminteri wrote a one-man show about a killing he saw in the Bronx when he was nine years old. This is the original one-man show he wrote that made him an in-demand character actor and served as the basis of the acclaimed movie and Broadway musical.
More information and ticket links on the entire Summer Concert Series lineup is available at:ocnj.us/SummerConcertSeries.
More April events
in Ocean City
April 19 – Meet & Greet with The Easter Bunny: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Mark Soifer Park (9th Street and Asbury Avenue).
April 19 – The Great Egg Hunt: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at businesses from 6th Street to 14th Street along the Boardwalk. Rain date: April 20.
April 20 – Easter Sunrise Service: A traditional non-denominational service by the sea. All are welcome. 6:15 a.m. at the Music Pier.
April 20 – Dueling Pianos Show: The Philly Keys will be performing their hit dueling pianos show starting at noon. Free fun for the entire family in front of the Music Pier.
April 20 – Meet & Greet with The Easter Bunny: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Ocean City Music Pier (Boardwalk at Moorlyn Terrace).
April 26 and 27 – Sports Memorabilia Show: Purchase sports memorabilia and sports cards from various vendors and participate in meet-and-greets and Q&A sessions at the Ocean City Music Pier.
April 26 and 27 – Boardwalk and Downtown Merchant “Discount Days”: At businesses from 6th Street to 14th Street on the Boardwalk and Asbury Avenue.
