Archive for Holiday Events

What's Happening in Ocean City, NJ 5/18/17 The colorful BUSINESS PERSONS PLUNGE will be held on Friday, May 27, at noon. It will be preceded by lifeguards and city officials gathering on the Ninth Street Beach by the Ocean City Music Pier. Their mission? To officially unlock the ocean for the summer season. This is accomplished by turning a large wooden key in the sand, the reverberations of which destroy any barriers that would keep either fish or bathers from Ocean City waters. Ocean City is not unique in relying on this ceremony. Atlantic City and other shore communities have also “turned the key” to free their waters. What’s unique is the celebration that follows the key-turning, the colorful Business Persons Plunge. Picture several hundred enthusiasts, some dressed in formal attire toting briefcases,... Read More

What's Happening in OCNJ - 5/11/16 (May 14) THE SPRING BLOCK PARTY will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday from 5th to 14th Streets on Asbury Avenue. More than 350 crafters, food vendors, music, free pony rides for children and more. Pony rides at the Ocean City Tabernacle grounds and entertainment at cross streets runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Public Service Booths will be located on 9th Street between Asbury and Central avenues. Event held rain or shine. For more information, call 1-800-BEACH-NJ. (May 13-14) There will be BOARDWALK AND DOWNTOWN MERCHANT TABLE SALES from 6th to 14th Streets on the Boardwalk and Asbury Ave. (No outside vendors.) (May 13) A NIGHT OF ROCK ’N ROLL, an oldies concert at the Music Pier, Boardwalk and Moorlyn Terrace, at 7... Read More

What's Happening in Ocean City, NJ 5/4/16 The 42nd annual Martin Z. Mollusk Day will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, May 7 on the Beach adjacent to the Music Pier, Boardwalk and Moorlyn Terrace. We have moved the event to a Saturday so that children of school age will be able to attend. Martin Z. Mollusk was first escorted to the beach on a pizza pie plate by me, Mark Soifer, his spiritual advisor and personal chef in 1974. Mayor B. Thomas Waldman and Commissioner Marilyn Moore jeopardized their reputations by attending the ceremony. On that historic day, a legend was established. It was that if Martin saw his shadow on the sand, summer would come a week early, much to the joy of bathers and business interests. Martin did see his shadow.... Read More

  Weather prognosticators and vacationers alike experience a tinge of excitement as Martin Z. Mollusk Day on May 7 nears.  Will the city’s relatively famous hermit crab see his shadow, thus assuring the populace that summer will arrive one week early? Born along the Great Zambezi River in Africa, Martin was deserted at an early age. Forced to fend for himself, Martin adopted the surname “Mollusk” from a sign he noticed on a passing commercial boat that read “Mollusks for Sale, $1.99.” The  “Z” stands for Zambezi, the river that coddled him. He selected the name Martin because it goes well with Mollusk. In his teens, he stowed away on a “red eye flight” to Tepid Swamp, Louisiana where he attended Tepid Tech, a school noted for environmental studies. There he majored in... Read More

What's Happening in Ocean City, NJ 4/13/16 Ocean City’s 31st annual DOO DAH PARADE is Saturday, April 16, starting at noon at Sixth Street and Asbury Avenue. The colorful march goes from 6th to 12th St. on Asbury turns to the Boardwalk and ends at the Music Pier. There the annual PieAsco is held. The Parade features the music of the Pitman Hobo Band, Atlantic City Bagpipe Band, two Dixieland Bands and other musical units. There will be group and individual entries including the Ghost Busters, a ladies skating contingent, clowns, a group of German Shepherds, radio stations and much more. Entry in the Parade is free. Call (609) 399-6111, email msoifer@ocnj.us or visit ocnj.us/doo-dah-parade.  All entrants receive a free Doo Dah T-Shirt from Dietz and Watson. To register a basset hound for... Read More

What's Happening in Ocean City, NJ (4/7/16) Residents and visitors will be treated to three special events in the next two weekends. The OC-CON Comic Book and Memorabilia Show and GIRLS WEEKEND are both set for April 9-10. The DOO DAH PARADE will be held on April 16 with the Basset Hound Olympics on April 15. The OC-Con event at the Ocean City Music Pier will give the public a rare insight into the colorful world of comics.  Visitors will be able to meet with noted comic book illustrators including Ron Wilson at discussion sessions during the weekend.  There will be comic creators from Disney Films, Marvel Comics, Archie Comics, DC Comics and many more.  Members of the 501st Legion of “Star Wars” fame will be in attendance both days.  On Sunday,... Read More

What's Happening in Ocean City, NJ 3/30/16 Here’s some very exciting news worth tweeting. If you don’t tweet, tell someone else, to tell someone else, to tell someone else, and soon millions will know. There will be two grand marshals of the 31st Annual Ocean City Doo Dah Parade on April 16. Yes, it’s true! There will be a community grand marshal and a regular “run of the mill” grand marshal. The community grand marshal will be Doug Jewell, owner of Air Circus, the kite and novelty store on the Boardwalk. Doug is receiving the recognition because of his many contributions to our special events including Doo Dah, Martin Mollusk Day, Miss Crustacean, Night In Venice, Weird Contest Week, etc. Doug has also brought the Eastern Regional Yo Yo Championships to Ocean City... Read More

What's Happening in Ocean City, NJ 3/23/16 A new category has been added to Ocean City’s annual Woof n’ Paws Pet Fashion Show on Saturday, March 26. It’s “Small Pets in Carriages,” a growing, national phenomenon. It seems that an increasing number of pet owners have taken to rolling their small dogs, cats and whatevers through town in baby carriages to show them off and keep them comfortable. In recognition of this growing trend, Woof n’ Paws has decided to add the category to its competition. The long-standing categories return: Best Dressed Dog, Best Dressed Cat, Swim Suit Division, Best Dressed Pet (Guinea Pigs, Turtles, Bunnies, Ferrets, etc.) Plus Best Bonnet, Pet/Owner Look-Alike and Intelligent Pet Tricks. Pet owners will be able to compete in three categories for $5. Entry fee is collected by... Read More