The Trail of Two Cities 5-kilometer run-walk will be held for the 23rd time on Saturday, Nov. 3. The popular 3.1-mile race offers spectacular views over the length of a point-to-point course from Ocean City to Somers Point. The route travels the length of the Route 52 causeway in the lanes usually reserved for cars.
Registration is open and long-sleeved race T-shirts are guaranteed for the first 500 to sign up. Pre-registration fee is $25, and participants can sign up online until Oct. 31 at www.ocnj.us/race-events.
Race-day registration runs at 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. at the Ocean City Transportation Center (10th Street and Haven Avenue in Ocean City). The race starts there at 8 a.m. and finishes at Kennedy Park in Somers Point.
Buses will be available at the finish line in Somers Point to transport runners to the start in Ocean City before the race from 6:45 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Buses also will be available transport runners back to Ocean City from Somers Point after the race. The awards ceremonies will be held at JFK Park after all participants have completed the course.
Awards will go to the top overall male and female finishers, as well as to the top male and female runners in the following age groups: 8-and-under, 9-11,12-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and 80-and-over.
Packet pick-up will be available 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2 at the Ocean City Aquatic and Fitness Center (1735 Simpson Avenue) and at the Transportation Center until 7:45 a.m. on race morning.
No pets, bikes, skateboards or roller blades are permitted. Event is held rain or shine. Course is police-controlled, and the causeway will be closed to inbound traffic that morning. For more information, call 609-399-6111, ext. 9300.
Ocean City once again will welcome the calmer season with its annual Quiet Festival. This year’s event will take place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4, at the Ocean City Community Center at 1735 Simpson Ave.
Activities will include:
- Create-your-own Ocean City puzzle and guided tour of the Ocean City Historical Museum.
- Royalty Storytime with Miss Ocean City, Junior Miss Ocean City and Little Miss Ocean City: Young princes and princesses are invited to come in costume.
- Building Block and Stuffed Animal Contest: Display your favorite stuffed animal and tell the judges a story about it. Or bring your own toy brick/block creation and register for a demonstration and competition.
- Quiet Pet Competition: The traditional showcase event of the Quiet Festival takes place at the Senior Center.
- Bubble-Blowing Bonanza: Our quiet version of a fireworks finale.
All of the events are free. For more information and a schedule, visit www.ocnj.us/quietfestival.
TICKETS FOR JACKIE EVANCHO CHRISTMAS SHOW ON SALE:
Platinum-selling, 18-year-old vocal sensation Jackie Evancho will return to the Ocean City Music Pier for a Christmas show 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24. Jackie will perform a selection of songs from her critically acclaimed “Someday at Christmas” album. Jackie’s Christmas show is filled with classic Christmas and popular holiday songs. Jackie will join musicians from the Ocean City Pops Orchestra to celebrate the holiday season in America’s Greatest Family Resort.
Tickets are $45 and $35, and starting at 9 a.m. Thursday (Sept. 20), they can be purchased at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or by calling 609-399-6111. You can also purchase tickets person by visiting the Roy Gillian Welcome Center on the Ninth Street causeway or City Hall’s Welcome Center at 861 Asbury Avenue. Evancho performed to a sold-out Music Pier during Night in Venice weekend this summer, so get your tickets while they last.
COMING UP IN NOVEMBER:
“CLUE” ON STAGE (Nov. 2 and 3): The Ocean City Theatre Company presents a comedy based on the cult classic film and popular board game. It’s a dark and stormy night, and you’ve been invited to a very unusual dinner party. Each of the guests has an alias, the butler offers a variety of weapons, and the host is, well . . . dead. So whodunit? “Clue” features a cast of student performers in grades 6 to 12. Show time 7:30 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier Tickets are $12. Call 609-399-6111 or visit oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice.
VETERANS DAY PROGRAM (Nov. 12): Ocean City’s annual Veterans Day ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 12 at the Ocean City Tabernacle (550 Wesley Avenue). The event honors all the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Ocean City’s ceremony is always well-attended and will include music, remarks, prayer and the placing of a memorial wreath. Ocean City’s Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion posts sponsor and participate in the event. This year’s keynote speaker is Thy Nguyen Cavagnaro. Thy came to the U.S. in 1975 after Saigon fell to the Communists. She has been inspired to do more for the Vietnam veterans who helped her.
“EARLIER THAN THE BIRD” (Nov. 17): Ocean City’s downtown shopping extravaganza takes place 8 a.m. to noon on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Jump-start your holiday shopping and shop in your pajamas for early-bird shopping specials. For more information call 1-800-BEACH-NJ.
FREE HORSE AND CARRIAGE RIDES (Nov. 17 and 18): Ride the downtown the old-fashioned way noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Board in front of City Hall at Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue. For more information, call 1-800-BEACH-NJ.
INVITATIONAL SURF FISHING TOURNAMENT (Nov. 17): The Ocean City Fishing Club invites families and individuals to compete in its 50th Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 17. This event was originally scheduled for Oct. 27 but was postponed due to a coastal storm. Registration for the tournament will take place from 5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. Nov. 17 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 only $15. For more information, call 267-251-2306.
11th ANNUAL FAST AND FURRIEST 5K TURKEY TROT (Nov. 22): The course for this 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) race is on the Ocean City Boardwalk. Sponsored by the Humane Society of Ocean City. For more information, call 609-398-9500 (ext. 4) or visit www.hsocnj.org.
