The Ocean City Boardwalk will be the setting for two major events this weekend – one a local tradition and the other a first-time show in town.
The John R. Elliott HERO Walk and 5K Run on the Boardwalk, now in its eighth year, will take place on Sunday, Oct. 21. A professionally timed 5-kilometer (3.1 miles) run begins at 9:30 a.m. and the HERO Walk starts at 11 a.m. HERO ceremonies are at 10:30 a.m.
The event raises awareness of the importance of sober designated drivers. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Ocean City Sports and Civic Center at Sixth Street and the Boardwalk. For more information, visit www.HeroWalkRun.org or call 609-626-3880 or 609-233-4787.
Vintage (1948-1965) 356 series Porsche owners will roll into town this week for their “East Coast Holiday.” This is the first time Ocean City will host the event, and the public will have three opportunities to see these classic cars on display.
From 8 a.m. to noon Friday (Oct. 19) in the Boardwalk parking lot at Fifth Street, owners will participate in a unique autocross event, in which the drivers are blindfolded and guided through a low-speed course by fast-talking navigators. At 5 p.m. Friday, the Porsches will promenade down the Boardwalk from 14th Street to Sixth Street.
On Saturday (Oct. 20) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., more than 200 of the 356s will be lined up in a row on the Boardwalk between Fifth Street and 14th Street, with the ocean as a backdrop. Cars will be rated in “People’s Choice” balloting and by judges. Tentative classes for both judged and people’s choice cars will be:
- Class 1: 1948-1955 Pre A’s
- Class 2: 1956-1959 A’s
- Class 3:1960-1963 B’s
- Class 4: 1964-1966 C’s
- Class 5:All limited production and performance vehicles, to include Carreras, 904s, America Roadsters, etc.
- Class 6: Outlaws
All event times and dates are subject to change based on weather. For updated information, visit eastcoastholiday2018ocnj.org.
First Night Buttons on Sale Now:
All-inclusive admission buttons for Ocean City’s popular and family-friendly First Night New Year’s Eve celebration are on sale now. The price is a discounted $15 through Nov. 30, and they can be purchased at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or by calling 609-399-6111. Tickets may also be purchased at the Roy Gillian Welcome Center on the Ninth Street causeway, City Hall’s Welcome Center at 861 Asbury Ave. or the Welcome Center at 46th Street and West Avenue.
First Night includes more than 70 shows and activities at venues throughout Ocean City. The Spinners will provide headline entertainment during three shows at the Ocean City Music Pier.
With more than 60 million records sold in their career, the Spinners have performed for U.S. presidents and received six Grammy nominations.
The group has 18 solid gold Top 40 hits. Their Top 10s include: “Then Came You,” “Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl,” “Cupid (I’ve Loved You for So Long),” “The Rubberband Man,” “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love,” “I’ll Be Around,” “They Just Can’t Stop It,” “One of a Kind (Love Affair)” and “It’s a Shame.”
Look for more First Night entertainment profiles in the weeks to come.
Halloween Events:
Ocean City rolls into late October on Thursday, Oct. 25, with its 71st annual Halloween Parade. The event is a favorite on the fall calendar and features local children, families, bands, entertainers, businesses and organizations costumed for the occasion. The parade starts at 7:15 p.m. and proceeds down Asbury Avenue from Sixth Street to 11th Street.
The event is sponsored by the Ocean City Exchange Club. To register to participate, call 800-813-5580 or visit ochp.blogspot.com. Watching the parade is free – with great spots to catch all the action from either side of downtown Asbury Avenue.
The Greater Ocean City Theatre Company’s annual Halloween Costume Party is set for 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, at the Ocean City Yacht Club. Tickets are $65 until Oct. 13 then go up to $75. The party is for adults (21 and over) and includes food, dancing and prizes. To purchase tickets, visit the Theatre Company’s website at www.oceancitytheatrecompany.com.
Traditional trick-or-treating hours in Ocean City will be 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Halloween – Wednesday, Oct. 31.
Also coming up:
Children’s Author at the Library (Oct. 23): The Ocean City Free Public Library will present a special program on friendship featuring author Marie Unanue at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, in the Children’s Activity Room. Children ages 7 to 10 are invited to come for activities related to the book “Phatty and Payaso: Central Park.” A reception to meet the author will follow and include light refreshments.
Ocean City Chamber of Commerce Annual Welcome Night (Oct. 24): Ocean City Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Welcome Night invites the community to the Ocean City Sports & Civic Center 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 24. Meet Ocean City groups, businesses and organizations. Free to attend. For more information, call 1-800-BEACH-NJ.
Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament (Oct. 27): The Ocean City Fishing Club invites families and individuals to compete in its 50th Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 27.
“Residents and vacationers should know that you don’t have to belong to a team to participate in the tournament,” Tournament Co-Chairman Bobby Dever said. “Each year we have family members and individual anglers who register to fish on our beautiful Ocean City beaches — and some go home with trophies and bragging rights.
Registration for the fishing tournament will take place from 5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. Oct. 27 at the Ocean City Intermediate School, 18th Street and Bay Avenue. It costs $80 for a six-member team, while individuals can sign up for $15. For more information, call Dever at 267-251-2306 or email bdever65@comcast.net (or contact Mike Collins at 215-595-7261 or hkmike3@gmail.com).
Cape Shore Chorus (Oct. 27): The Cape Shore Chorus Sweet Adelines International will perform 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Ocean City Music Pier. The concert features special guest Gimme Four! Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children and students. Proceeds benefit the Cape Shore Chorus Scholarship Fund. Call 609-628-2846 for more information.
