The Ocean City Pops will once again give a pair of free outdoor concerts on July 3 and July 4 to celebrate Independence Day. In 8 p.m. shows at Carey Stadium (just off Boardwalk between Fifth Street and Sixth Street), the Pops will perform patriotic classics and audience favorites in honor of our nation’s birthday. Bring a beach chair or blanket to sit on the field, and there will be seating available in the bleachers. The July 4 show will be followed immediately by the holiday fireworks, and Carey Stadium provides a great place to view the display.
At 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 3, the first of the summer’s Wacky Wednesdays will feature a good old-fashioned apple and cherry pie-eating contest. No hands allowed. The contest is free, and open to all ages, but it will be limited to 150 participants. Wacky Wednesdays invite families and individuals to participate in a series of different contests. They are held at the Ocean City Music Pier (Boardwalk at Moorlyn Terrace) at 10:30 a.m. every week of the summer.
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 Gardens parade starts at 10 a.m. at the Longport Bridge parking lot with registration opening at 9 a.m. The South Ocean City parade starts at 10 a.m. at 40th Street and Asbury Avenue (also with 9 a.m. registration). 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 fireworks begin at 9 p.m. July 4. The display will be launched from a barge off the Ocean City Music Pier, and it will be best viewed from the beach or Boardwalk between Fifth Street and 14th Street.
Weekly activities and events
Free beach exercise (yoga) classes are underway every Monday from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on the Sixth Street Beach volleyball courts. Free pilates classes take place every Wednesday at the same time and place. Friday classes are low-impact exercise. Bring a towel and a friend. For more information, call 609-398-6900.
Family Nights on the Boardwalk move this year to Mondays and Wednesdays. Free entertainment will include jugglers, music, characters and more from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. between Eighth Street and 12th Street. The first Family Night of the season will be on Monday, July 8.
Funtastic Tuesdays will bring entertainment, face-painters, balloon-sculptors and more to downtown Asbury Avenue on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., starting on July 9. Similar family fun will be part of Market Days from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Thursday.
Mummers Night will feature string bands strutting the Boardwalk between Sixth Street and 14th Street from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Tuesday starting on July 9. This year, the Mummers will return every Thursday evening during the same hours.
Free guided Beach Walks will feature information on shells, birds, animals and the shore ecosystem at 9 a.m. Tuesdays and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays starting July 2. Meet at the entrance to Corson’s Inlet State Park at 59th Street and Central Avenue.
Also coming
up soon
JULY 6 – Ocean City Sailing Foundation’s Annual Open House: Free sailboat rides help people experience the fun of sailing and learn about the OCSF’s weekly sailing camps for kids ages 8 to 14. The Open House is 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 6 at the Bayside Center (520 Bay Avenue). Visit ocnjsailingfoundation.org or call 609-418-3356 for more information about camps for kids or private lessons for adults.
JULY 7 – Ocean City Pops Present Greatest Hits: Back by popular demand, Maestro Vince Lee will take you on a whirlwind tour of the wide variety of genres that the Ocean City Pops is famous for. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets available at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice.
