A blustery and cool day provided the perfect backdrop on Monday for the start of the holiday decoration installation in the downtown shopping district.
An outside company — Downtown Decorations Inc. — began wrapping lampposts with garland and bows. Work will continue this week with the decorations of City Hall with wreaths and bows, the hanging of cross-street swags on Asbury Avenue from Sixth Street to 14th Street, and the additional decoration of the Ninth Street Gateway, Route 52 Welcome Center and Ocean City Music Pier.
The decorations mark the start of an important season for the downtown that will include:
- Earlier Than The Bird Downtown Shopping Extravaganza: Downtown merchants invite customers to shop in their pajamas 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 22, to get a jump start on holiday shopping. The event includes prizes and shopping discounts.
- Christmas in the Downtown: The downtown’s “Miracle on Asbury Avenue” celebration takes place 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28. The old-fashioned downtown Christmas event culminates with Santa descending from the roof of City Hall to visit with children.
- Free Horse and Carriage Rides: Weekends through Christmas (including Friday, Nov. 28) noon to 3 p.m. with pickup at Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue.
- Breakfast With Santa: A schedule of visits at Ocean City breakfast spots will be available soon.
City Council invested $129,000 in grant money in 2012 to purchase reusable decorations for the downtown, the Ninth Street, the new Welcome Center on the Route 52 causeway and the Ocean City Music Pier.
In their first year, the decorations took on additional meaning as they came to represent a quick recovery from Superstorm Sandy for many businesses. But the decorations continue to be an important attraction for visiting shoppers. At the time of the purchase, the city estimated it would spend about $19,000 each year putting up, taking down, storing and maintaining the decorations.
Temporary silver mounting poles for the cross-street swags were installed last week.
The Downtown Merchants Association is encouraging businesses to decorate with white lights in the windows to follow the theme, according to co-chairman Paul Cunningham.
