Ocean City is planning a great lineup of special events leading up to and throughout Fourth of July weekend as our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.
Wednesday, July 1
- Beach Exercise — Pilates Yoga: Free program (no registration needed) on the beach at Sixth Street starts at 8 a.m. Bring a towel and a friend.
- Farmers Market: Local farmers sell seasonal fruits, vegetables, baked goods and specialty foods on the grounds of the Ocean City Tabernacle (Sixth Street and Asbury Avenue) from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Crafters set up in the adjacent street.
- Wacky Wednesday: Celebrate America with a good, old-fashioned pie-eating contest. The contest is free and open to all ages, but limited to the first 150 participants. Starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. This is the first in a series of weekly family-friendly contests throughout the summer.
- Freckle Contest: The free contest invites the sun-dappled of all ages to compare the number of freckles on their faces. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. in front of the Music Pier, and the contest starts at 6 p.m.
- Beach Walks: Free guided beach walk explores Ocean City’s coastal environment. Meet near the beach at 6:30 p.m. at 59th Street and Central Avenue.
- Family Night on the Boardwalk: A variety of family-friendly entertainers — including magicians, musicians, characters and more — will be stationed on the Boardwalk between Sixth Street and 14th Street.
Thursday, July 2
- Sand-Sculpting Contest: Open to kids, teens, adults and families. Registration is free and the sculpting begins at 9 a.m. at the Sixth Street Beach. Judging takes place by 11 a.m.
- Market Days: Ocean City’s downtown shopping district along Asbury Avenue features entertainment, face-painters, balloon-sculptors and more from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Mummers Night: String bands strut the Boardwalk between Sixth Street and 14th Street between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
- Ocean City Pops Free Patriotic Drone Show and Outdoor Concert: The Ocean City Pops will perform a free outdoor concert at 8 p.m. followed by a dazzling patriotic drone show presented by the Friends of the Pops organization above the beach and Boardwalk. The show will be at Carey Stadium (Sixth Street and Boardwalk). Our legendary local orchestra 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. Face-painters will be on hand for the kids. The drone show will feature hundreds of drones lighting up the sky and creating animations that salute America.
Friday, July 3
- Beach Exercise — Low Impact: Free program (no registration needed) on the beach at Sixth Street starts at 8 a.m. Bring a towel and a friend.
- Walking Club: Ocean City’s Walking Club invites people of all ages and fitness levels to join them to walk the length (or any portion) of the Boardwalk. Meet at the Ocean City Music Pier at 8 a.m.
- Broadway Under the Stars!: This outdoor show at Carey Stadium will be performed by the Vince League, a superstar band led by Pops Maestro Vince Lee. Hear the best of Broadway under the stars! Ocean City favorites Shannon Cochran and David Gordon-Johnson will take you on a whirlwind tour of some of the biggest hits of modern Broadway. The concert will be at Carey Stadium, just off the boardwalk between 5th and 6th streets at 8 p.m. Tickets available at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice.
Saturday, July 4
- Gardens Bike Parade: Sponsored by the Gardens Civic Association Registration 9 a.m. at the Longport Bridge parking lot. Parade begins at 10 a.m.
- South Ocean City Bike Parade: Sponsored by the South OC Improvement Association, City of Ocean City and the Chamber of Commerce. Registration 9 a.m. at 40th Street and Asbury Avenue. Parade begins at 10 a.m.
- Riviera Bike Parade: Sponsored by the Riviera Neighborhood. Registration at 11:30 a.m. at the Leyte Lane Park. Parade begins at noon.
- Mummers Band: The Greater Kensington String Band will perform two shows (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.) outside the Ocean City Music Pier.
- JULY 4 — Ocean City Pops Free Outdoor Concert: The Ocean City Pops will perform a free outdoor concert at 8 p.m. at Carey Stadium. Our legendary local orchestra 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. As the show ends, the fireworks display will begin.
- JULY 4 — Fourth of July Kite-Flying and Fireworks: Kite-flying competition at 7 p.m. adjacent to Music Pier. A spectacular fireworks display will top off the evening at 9 p.m. The fireworks will be launched from a barge moored off the beach at Ninth Street. The show will best be viewed from the beach or Boardwalk between Fifth Street and 14th Street. The Boardwalk PA system will simulcast a soundtrack during the show.
Sunday, July 5
- Direct from Sweden: The Music of ABBA Performing with the OC POPs: Some of Sweden’s most experienced and talented singers and musicians will deliver the closest ABBA experience you’ll ever get alongside the Ocean City Pops Orchestra. 7:30 p.m. at the Music Pier. Tickets available at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice.
Monday, July 6
- Bruce in the USA: The World’s #1 Tribute to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band!: The concert begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets available at etix.com or the Music Pier Box Office.
- “America 250: Lights Over Ocean City Drone Show”: Ocean City will celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation this summer with a weekly patriotic drone show over the beach and Boardwalk south of Sixth Street. The show will feature hundreds of drones lighting up the sky and creating animations that salute America. The 15-minute shows will be held after dusk on seven Mondays from July 6 through August 17. The weekly event is made possible through a $25,000 grant from the Cape May County Board of Commissioners, sponsorships from Boardwalk merchants and city funding.
Don’t forget: The Boardwalk flag-raising ceremony — a beloved tradition in Ocean City — is held at 9 a.m. daily outside the Ocean City Music Pier.
The new 34th Street Sandcastle Park Summer Entertainment Series will begin on Wednesday, July 8. The series will be on Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. July 8 through August 19. Events will feature themed entertainment, live performers, face painters and balloon makers. The first event (July 8) will feature the Pennsport String Band.
