The Night In Venice boat parade in Ocean City, the oldest boat and bayfront celebration on the Jersey Shore, will go off for the 60th time at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 26.
Night in Venice is a traditional highlight of the summer season in Ocean City — with thousands of spectators lining the bayfront and thousands more attending private parties at homes along the route.
The theme this year is “Night at the Oscars.”
The parade goes off later than it has in the past two years to take advantage of a 7:48 p.m. high tide.
Here’s what you need to know to enjoy the event:
WATCHING THE PARADE
To view the Night In Venice boat parade, grandstands will be set up at street ends along the bay from Battersea Road to 16th Street and also at Tennessee Avenue. These are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Streets include: Battersea Rd., North St., 1st St., 2nd St. Marina, 4th, 6th, 11th, 13th, 5th, 16th Streets and the Tennessee Ave. Boat Ramp.
The Bayside Center, 520 Bay Avenue, will be open as usual with a picnic area, food for sale and bleacher seating plus entertainment by the Good Tymes Band. Tickets are now on sale, $3 for children (12-and-under) and $7 for adults. Gates open at 5 p.m. with entertainment 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. Children’s activities include crafts, games and face painting. Tickets may be purchsed by cash, check or charge at: City Hall, 861 Asbury Avenue, Room 214, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; or at the Music Pier Box Office, Moorlyn Terrace and Boardwalk, seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. No alcohol is permitted.
RULES FOR WATCHING FROM THE NINTH STREET BRIDGE
All pedestrians and bicyclists should use the Shared Use Bike Path and stay to the south side shoulder for viewing. No persons will be allowed to bring chairs for seating onto the bridge. At no time will persons block the free movement of the Shared Use Bike Path. No open alcoholic beverages are permitted on the bridge at any time. Persons are not permitted to walk along the bridge with motor vehicle traffic. Ocean City Police will be present monitoring the bridge while the parade is in progress for assistance.
PARKING AND SHUTTLE SERVICE
Free parking and shuttle service will run as in previous years starting at 5 p.m. Parking will be available at:
- Ocean City Municipal Airport: 25th Street and Bay Avenue
- Soccer Field at Tennessee Avenue: Off Shelter Road
- Ocean City Community Center: 1735 Simpson Avenue
Shuttles will drop off spectators at street ends where they can watch the parade and return them to the parking lots afterward. The shuttle also drops off at the Bayside Center. The service is free and will be available until midnight.
PARADE ROUTE
The parade starts at 7:30 p.m. near the Ocean City-Longport Bridge at the northern end of Ocean City. It proceeds southward looping in and out of the bayside lagoons along the way. The route will not include the Snug Harbor or Glen Cove lagoons on either side of the Ninth Street Bridge. The parade ends on the bay at Tennessee Avenue (near 22nd Street).
PARKING RESTRICTIONS
Parking restrictions begin at midnight Friday (July 25) through midnight Saturday (July 26) for the following locations:
- Both sides of Bay Avenue between 16th Street and 24th Street
- The east side of Bay Avenue between 14th Street and 16th Street.
HAPPY
The best three entries will be awarded a collector’s item cup with a happy face engraved on it. There will be safety precautions emphasized for dance entrants that will be reviewed at the mandatory Night In Venice boat captain’s meeting.
Regular categories in the decorated boat contest will include: Most Original, Best Decorated, Musical, Comic, Classic (25 years or older with historic value) and Children’s Division completely decorated by children 15 and under.)
Entries for boats and homes will be taken on line at www.ocnj.us/NIV until 4 p.m. on Wednesday. After that, call 609-525-9300.
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