The Christmas Parade that almost wasn't turned out to be pretty festive.
Small crowds of families lined Asbury Avenue on a damp December night on Friday to watch the annual procession and catch a glimpse of Santa.
Volunteer parade organizers had considered taking a year off to re-energize the event, but with only a few weeks of planning, the City of Ocean City, the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Merchants Association rallied to revive the event.
The parade featured the Ocean City High School marching band, the Pennsport String Band, Ocean City Theatre Company performers, themed cars, floats, pageant winners, Ocean City High School championship teams, student scholars and community businesses and groups — many of them tossing candy out to children watching the parade.
The star of the parade arrived last pulled by horse-and-carriage. Santa was the highlight for many of the shorter ones in the crowd.
Check out a short video of the parade above.
See full schedule of holiday events in Ocean City, NJ
