Ocean City’s small-town version of “Black Friday” takes place on Friday, Nov. 29. The Christmas in the Downtown – “Our Miracle on Asbury Avenue” – goes from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event will feature carolers and performers along downtown Asbury Avenue between Sixth Street and 11th Street.
Downtown stores will offer discount shopping for gifts, and many Asbury Avenue restaurants will be open. Free horse-and-carriage rides will be available. Entertainment and Christmas carols will begin at 4 p.m. on the steps of City Hall at Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue. The Ocean City Theatre Company Show Choir will perform, and the Phillie Phanatic will be on hand to greet fans.
The event culminates around 5 p.m. when Santa Claus will emerge on the rooftop of City Hall. With the help of an Ocean City Fire Department ladder truck, Santa will descend and help light the Christmas Tree and illuminate City Hall. After the illumination, Santa will be available to meet with children at Mark Soifer Park (across Ninth Street from City Hall).
The shopping discounts will continue on Nov. 24 as downtown merchants celebrate Small Business Saturday.
Music lovers can enjoy a special performance of the Ocean City Pops Orchestra on Saturday, Nov. 30. “Holiday Pops: Musical Sounds of the Season” will feature popular holiday and special performances by vocalist Scott Coulter and his cast of Broadway soloists. Children of all ages will enjoy the classic Christmas songs. Joining the show will be professional dancers from the Atlantic City Ballet’s production of the “Nutcracker.”
Selections will include “O Holy Night,” “The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year,” “When You Believe,” “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Santa Baby,” “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” “White Christmas,” “The Glory of Christmas,” “Polar Express,” “Carol Sing-Along,” “Sleigh Ride” and “Pas de Deux” from “The Nutcracker.”
The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets are $25 and $20. Call 609-399-6111 or visit oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice.
ALSO COMING UP:
FAST AND FURRIEST 5K TURKEY TROT (Nov. 28): The 12th annual Fast and Furriest 5K Turkey Trot goes off at 8 a.m. Thanksgiving morning. The course for this 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) race is on the Ocean City Boardwalk, and proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Ocean City. For more information, call 609-398-9500 (ext. 4) or visit www.hsocnj.org/events.
FREE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES (Nov. 29 to Jan. 1): Rides on downtown Asbury Avenue will be available noon to 3 p.m. on weekends through Dec. 22 and again on New Year’s Day. Board in front of City Hall at Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue.
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA (Nov. 30 to Dec. 22): Santa Claus will meet with children 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at local restaurants. The schedule is as follows:
- Saturday, Nov. 30: Sunrise Café (1200 Asbury Avenue, 609-398-9300)
- Sunday, Dec. 1: Arlene’s on Asbury (624 Asbury Avenue, 609-399-3639)
- Saturday, Dec. 7: Jon & Patty’s Coffee Bar and Bistro (637 Asbury Avenue, 609-399-3377)
- Sunday, Dec. 8: Yianni’s Cafe (841 Asbury Avenue, 609-391-1113)
- Saturday, Dec. 14: Arlene’s on Asbury (624 Asbury Avenue, 609-399-3639)
- Sunday, Dec. 15: Sunrise Café (1200 Asbury Avenue, 609-398-9300)
- Saturday, Dec. 21: Yianni’s Cafe (841 Asbury Avenue, 609-391-1113)
- Sunday, Dec. 22: Jon & Patty’s Coffee Bar and Bistro (637 Asbury Avenue, 609-399-3377)
PHOTOS WITH SANTA (Nov. 30 to Dec. 22): Pose for holiday photos with Santa Claus in an Ocean City Beach Patrol lifeguard boat. Noon to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 22 outside the Ocean City Music Pier (Boardwalk at Moorlyn Terrace). Photos are $10 each.
‘LE PETITE’ ART SHOW (Throughout December): The Ocean City Fine Arts League (711 Asbury Ave.) will go small with a “Le Petite” theme for its exhibition in December. There will be a “Meet The Artist” reception and awards presentation 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13. Light refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (609) 814-0308 or visit us at oceancityfineartsleague.org.
POTTERY & MOSAIC SALE (Dec. 2 to 14): The Ocean City Arts Center (1735 Simpson Avenue) will host its Pottery and Mosaic Show and Sale 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. A meet-the-artists reception will be held 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6.
CHRISTMAS PARADE (Dec. 6): Save the date for the annual parade at 6 p.m. along downtown Asbury Avenue.
TRAIN SHOW (Dec. 7 and 8): Model train displays and sales 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Ocean City Music Pier. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children. For more information, call 609-399-6111.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, CHRISTMAS: 2019 HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR (Dec. 13-22): Tickets are on sale now for Ocean City Theatre Company’s annual holiday show. Visit oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice.
HOLIDAY BOOK SALE (Dec. 13-14): The Friends and Volunteers of the Ocean City Free Public Library will hold a holiday book sale 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 13 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 14 in the atrium outside the library.
ANGELUS CHORUS AND TENOR JOHN TAYLOR (Dec. 14): Tenor John Taylor joins the 55-voice Angelus Chorus directed by Richard Stanislaw in a concert of traditional Christmas music at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec.14 at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, 8th Street and Central Avenue. The concert is free; an offering is received.
FROZEN JR (Dec. 14-15): Ocean City Theatre Company students in grades 3 to 8 will give two performances of the enchanting modern Disney classic: 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 14) and 2 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 15) at the Ocean City Music Pier. The show features all of the memorable songs from the animated film. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling 609-399-6111 or by visiting oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice.
FIRST NIGHT (Dec. 31): All-inclusive admission buttons for Ocean City’s family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration are on sale now at firstnightocnj.com and at welcome centers in town.
FIRST DAY (Jan. 1): Pre-register for the annual 1 p.m. New Year’s Day 5K boardwalk run at firstnightocnj.com, get ready for the First Dip in the Atlantic Ocean at 2 p.m. adjacent to the Ocean City Music Pier, and take advantage of bargains in downtown Ocean City’s First Day Shopping Extravaganza.
