By MADDY VITALE
There may have been rain, wind and less than balmy temperatures throughout much of the Memorial Day weekend, but that did not deter vacationers from heading to Ocean City to enjoy the holiday.
In fact, visitors began arriving Thursday to get a jumpstart on the festivities.
“There were great crowds in Ocean City. We saw the traffic picking up on Thursday. So many people were already here before the bad weather began,” Michele Gillian, executive director of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement Tuesday. “People were happy to be here and found plenty of activities and attractions to do.”
To kick off the celebrations, the city staged the zany companion events, the Unlocking of the Ocean and Business Persons Plunge, at the beach off Moorlyn Terrace on May 28.
Visitors watched the spectacle as members of the business community clad in suits and dresses made the slow march into the chilly ocean for the ceremonial opening of the business season.
Moments earlier, city dignitaries “unlocked” the ocean with a huge wooden “key.”
Afterward, families got back to doing what they love about Ocean City — the Boardwalk, shopping and dining.
“Downtown Ocean City had an outstanding Memorial Day weekend,” Gillian said. “The Boardwalk was a little more challenging due to the weather conditions, but people were still out and about.”
Bed and breakfasts and the larger hotels, such as the Flanders Hotel and the Impala Suites, were busy.
“Our accommodations were well-booked and restaurants were very busy. Guests and visitors love Ocean City and its small-town charm,” Gillian said.
City Councilwoman Karen Bergman, who is director of catering at the Flanders, said the hotel was busy all weekend.
“We were very busy in the hotel and busy in the restaurant and I had two weddings,” Bergman said. “It was a really good weekend. I think the whole season is looking like it will be busy.”
Impala Suites, a new hotel at 10th Street and Ocean Avenue, celebrated its grand opening for the holiday weekend. Amy Glancey, director of marketing, said in advance of the hotel’s grand opening on Friday that all but a few rooms were booked.
On Memorial Day itself, a crowd filled Veterans Memorial Park for a solemn tribute to fallen veterans hosted by the city.
Earlier that morning was a Flag Raising ceremony, a tradition that was held at a new location – the Music Pier.
A newly installed flagpole in front of the Music Pier was dedicated to the memory of three veterans from Ocean City: Joe Caserta, James “JR” Robinson and Bill Cruice.
People lined up on the Boardwalk as music played and families of the veterans gathered for the ceremony.
While it wasn’t exactly a beach weekend, visitors lined up at the Welcome Centers around town to purchase beach tags in anticipation of great beach days to come.
“Beach tag sales were spectacular, boding well for a great summer season,” Gillian said.
At one point during the weekend, City Hall, one of the locations to purchase beach tags, had a line out the door that wrapped around the sidewalk.
Ocean City Public Information Officer Doug Bergen pointed out that it would be a few days before city officials would have the final numbers on May beach tag sales and total preseason sales of beach tags.
“But anecdotally, yes, demand for beach tags has been very strong at all sales locations throughout the month and final weekend,” Bergen noted.
While some vacationers strolled along the beaches, not letting the rain bother them, others enjoyed amusements, shopping, eating food on the Boardwalk and the downtown.
Gillian said Ocean City is such a popular vacation spot because of all that it has to offer. Even with less than stellar weather, the city was bustling with crowds.
“We have eight miles of beaches, a 2.5-mile Boardwalk, and attractions that are second to none. Ocean City is truly America’s Greatest Family Resort,” she said, referring to the city’s marketing slogan.
