Dr. Martin Luther King Celebrations in Ocean City
Ocean City celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at two different events this weekend: the annual King Ceremony on Saturday (Jan. 13) at the Bill and Nancy Hughes Performing Arts Center and the King Day of Service on Monday (Jan. 15).
The ceremony at 1 p.m. on Saturday brings the community together to remember King through words, song and dance. This year’s celebration includes a keynote address from the Rev. Marcia Stanford of Macedonia United Methodist Church in Ocean City and songs from Michelle Harris-Anderson, a former Miss Ocean City, former Miss Delaware and member of the Ocean City High School Class of 1989.
Two Ocean City residents will be honored for their community service: Robert Rowell, a volunteer who has helped clean and maintain the grounds of the Ocean City Housing Authority properties; and Julia Wilson, an Ocean City High School freshman and vocalist who is a friend to and advocate for veterans.
The Rev. Beth Mallozzi of The Shores at Wesley Manor will deliver the invocation and Joe Pratt of the Ocean City Ecumenical Council the closing prayer. Ocean City Intermediate School Principal Geoff Haines will announce the winners of a student essay contest. Nia Andrews, the current Miss Philadelphia and a runner-up to Miss Pennsylvania, will perform a liturgical dance selection.
After the program, everybody is invited to a free soul food dinner in the high school cafeteria. The menu includes fried chicken and other comfort food. Donations will be accepted and benefit OCNJ CARE. The Hughes Performing Arts Center is at Ocean City High School, and the entrance is on the beach block of Sixth Street.
Volunteers are invited to join others nationwide in a Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 15 to honor Dr. King’s contributions. In Ocean City, citizens are asked to participate in a citywide cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon. Sign-up, supply distribution and lunch will take place at the Howard S. Stainton Senior Center, located in the Community Center, 17th Street and Simpson Avenue. All volunteers are invited back to the Senior Center for complimentary food and refreshments after the event. To participate or for more information, please call 609-399-6111.
MADAGASCAR – A MUSICAL ADVENTURE
Based on the hit DreamWorks animated film, this musical adaptation follows Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the Hip Hip Hippo as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to Madagascar. All shows for this Ocean City Theatre Company production are free. Times are 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14 at the Chris Maloney Lecture Hall at the Ocean City Free Public Library.
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES TICKETS ON SALE
The lineup for the 2018 Summer Concert Series on the Ocean City Music Pier is still taking shape, but tickets for these shows are already on sale at www.ticketmaster.com.
- Aimee Mann: 7 p.m. June 18.
- The Hooters: 7 p.m. June 19 and June 20
- Get the Led Out: 7 p.m. June 25 and June 26
- America: 7 p.m. July 16
- Straight No Chaser: 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. July 23
- The Beach Boys: 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. August 20 and August 21
