By MADDY VITALE
Mermaids, “Toy Story,” Ocean City-themed strollers and even a future Prom King and Queen sitting in a wagon at the historic Flanders Hotel gave spectators along the Boardwalk a lot to smile about during the city’s 110th annual Baby Parade, one of the oldest in the country.
The procession began Thursday morning at Sixth Street with children finishing at the Music Pier and all other entries headed to 14th Street with baby entries, musical acts, jugglers and pageant title holders.
Crowds delighted in seeing Sky Brown, an 11-year-old skateboarding sensation from Japan, who served as the parade grand marshal.
Sky and her brother, Ocean Brown, 7, rode in a bright red gleaming vintage car, driven by Dan Hanly.
“It’s really cool here. I love how the Boardwalk is right next to the beach,” Sky said before the start of the parade. “I’m excited to be in Ocean City.”
After the parade, Sky was doing a meet-and-greet with fans and skateboarding and surfing demonstrations.
She waved at the crowds who jumped up to take cellphone pictures of her and her brother.
A steady flow down the Boardwalk of children in decorated strollers, floats and wagons kept other little ones amused.
Kim Wise, of Hersey, Pa., brought along her daughter, Waverly, 1, to watch the parade with her friend, Allie Pepe, of Ocean City, and her three children, 6-month-old daughter Senna, Aura, 2, and 5-year-old Orion.
“We are watching for our husbands. They are lifeguards in the parade. We were in it a few years ago. We were all superheroes. It is a lot of fun,” Wise said.
Lynne Desmond, of Ocean City, was the first entry in the parade with her grandson, 7-month-old Cameron Higbee.
He was dressed as “Woody” from “Toy Story.”
Although Desmond said Cameron is a bit young to tell which is his favorite “Toy Story,” he seems to love them all.
Judging from the reaction of the crowds, they liked the little boy adorned in a mini-cowboy hat on his horse.
If the “oohs” and “aahs” from watching children dressed in cute costumes weren’t enough, there was a lot more to see at the event.
Marching bands from Pitman High School and Wildwood High School participated as well as the Ed Coles Band and Fred Hall.
Other highlights of the parade included the Ocean City Theatre Company Spotlight Performers Show Choir, the cast of “Newsies,” Martin Z. and Mollie Mollusk, Queen Infanta 2019 Emma Rodriguez, the Ocean City Yacht Club and the current Ocean City pageant queens.
Among the parade participants were Miss Ocean City Megan Keenan and Junior Miss Ocean City Julia Wilson, as well as contestants for the 2020 titles in upcoming pageants this weekend and next weekend.
110th Annual Ocean City Baby Parade Results – Aug. 8, 2019 (Courtesy City of Ocean City)
DIVISION A: Children in FANCY decorated strollers, coaches, wagons, etc.
Section 1: Up to Two Years
- First: Dan and Luke Slizofski, 11 months old, Norristown, Pa, “Building a Family: Two at a Time”
- Runner Up: Alexandra Vitale, 20 months, Woodbridge, N.J., “Once and Future Miss Ocean City”
Section 2: Two to Five Years Old
- First: Giuliana (3) and Victoria LaMota (1) and Jacob Pensky (3), Middletown, N.J., “Cousins on Sesame Street”
- Runner Up: Victoria Selby, 2, Newtown Square, Pa., “Show Me Your Shoes”
Section 3: Six to Ten Years Old
- First: Teagan (8), Delia (6) and Jonas (1) Beyer, Fairfax, Va., “Ocean City Is Out of This World”
- Runner Up: Stella (7) and Scarlett (3) Carvin, Havertown, Pa., “Mystical Mermaids”
DIVISION B: Children in COMIC decorated strollers, coaches, wagons, etc.
Section 1: Up to Two Years
- First: Jacob Clydesdale, 10 months, Philadelphia, Pa., “Hundred Acre Wood”
- Runner Up: Arielle Kreuter, 11 months, Middletown, N.J., “Arielle’s Magical Lagoon”
- Runner Up: Joel Koffel, 9 months, Ambler, Pa., “Joel Story”
Section 2: Two to Five Years Old
- First: Jonathan Jones Carafa, 5, Ridley Park, Pa., “Our Little Meatball”
- Runner Up: Emma Axten (9 months), Asher Sabo (9 months), Lucille Gonzalez (9 months), Michael Gonzalez (23 months), Bensalem, Pa., “Painting the Roses Red”
- Runner Up: Nora Shute, 3, Woodbury, N.J., “Shirley Temple”
Section 3: Six to Ten Years Old
- First: Charlotte Manciu (6 months), Alex Manciu (6), Henry Manciu (9), Canonsburg, Pa., “Playland’s Castaway Cove: Two Pirates and a Baby Parrot”
- Runner Up: Thomas Downey (10), Rosemarie Downey (1) and Eileen Downey (1), Randallstown, Md., “Mini OCBP”
DIVISION C: Small Children’s Floats
- First: Elizabeth (2 months) and Eddie (3) Kloss, Crum Lynne, Pa., “Oh Golly, It’s the Ocean City Trolley”
- Runner Up: V’Italia Valecce, 9 months, Philadelphia, Pa., “Carousel Dreams”
- Runner Up: Ryan Medio, 7, Bridgeton, N.J.,”Gone With the Wind: O’ Fiddle Dee Dee, Ocean City’s Baby Parade It Will Be!”
BEST FLOAT
- OCTC Spotlight Performers Show Choir
BEST MUSICAL ACT
- Pitman High School Marching Band
GREATEST DISTANCE
- Blakely Douglas, 1, Solvang, Calif.
TWINS
- Dan and Luke Slizofski, 11 months old, Norristown, Pa, “Building a Family: Two at a Time”
HANSCOM AWARD
- Grace Crowley (8 months) and Sutton Swerline (15 months), Ocean City, N.J., “Future OCHS Prom King and Queen”
CANALE AWARD
- Zain Arif, 1 month old, Horsham, Pa., “Shrimply Irresistible”
DAHLHAUSEN AWARD
- Dan and Luke Slizofski, 11 months old, Norristown, Pa, “Building a Family: Two at a Time”
BAMBERGER AWARD
- V’Italia Valecce, 9 months, Philadelphia, Pa., “Carousel Dreams”
