Archive for Holiday Events

Fifty-five years ago, City officials decided to hold a boat parade and bay front home celebration as part of the City’s Diamond Jubilee or 75thAnniversary.   It was to be based on a similar event in Venice, Italy. Art Watkins, the City’s Public Relations Director and Jack Jernee, captain of the lifeguards, organized the event. Watkins had been a tour director and witnessed the Venetian regatta before coming to this family resort.   Thanks to Watkins and Jernee and with funding from the City, the modern Night In Venice was born in the summer of 1954. An earlier event, also called Night In Venice, was held in Ocean City in the early 1900s. It consisted of Philadelphia debutantes accompanied by bands sailing through lagoons and greeting bay front homeowners.   The modern version has been held every year since 1954 and never once... Read More

Ocean City’s popular FIRST NIGHT on Dec. 31 followed by FIRST DAY AT THE BEACH on Jan. 1 are two economical ways to ring in the New Year. First Night, which features over 75 entertainment programs at nine locations, is priced at just $14 an admission button. First Day at the Beach is free unless you’re running the 5K and then there’s a $20 charge, but you receive a T Shirt at registration. First Night was initiated at Boston in 1976 as a safe, non-alcoholic way to keep families and individuals together on the holiday. Ocean City began First Night 17 years ago. That first year there were over 1,000 visitors, which we thought was astounding. Last year there were 10,000. Two additional locations have been added this year. Gillian’s will open its... Read More