Ocean City's annual Night in Venice boat parade is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 26, and event organizers are looking for businesses, groups and boat owners who want to participate.
For more than 50 years, Night In Venice has been a highlight of the summer season in Ocean City, and it attracts thousands of spectators and an equal number of revelers at private parties at waterfront homes along the parade route.
But in recent years, the parade has seen diminished participation. The 2012 parade had 50 entries, and the 2011 parade saw 58 boats. Last year's lineup included 72 entries with the help of a partnership from the HERO campaign for designated driving, which added about 20 boats.
Entering a boat in the parade is free, and all participants will be given a $50 card to help cover gas expenses, a free photo of their boat in the parade and a commemorative mug featuring this year’s suggested theme, “Night at the Oscars.”
The parade this year starts later than in previous years to take advantage of a 7:48 p.m. high tide. The parade route starts at the north end of the island at the Great Egg Harbor Inlet and proceeds through the bayfront lagoons to Tennessee Avenue. The event also includes a contest for decorated homes along the parade route.
__________
To register and learn more, visit ocnj.us/niv/ or call 609-525-9300. __________
This year’s parade will feature a new category: “The Happy Dance Challenge.” The category challenges participants to dance to Pharrell Williams' contagious tune "Happy" in new and creative ways.
The best three entries will be awarded a collector’s item cup with a happy face engraved on it. There will be safety precautions emphasized for dance entrants that will be reviewed at the mandatory Night In Venice boat captain’s meeting. Regular categories in the decorated boat contest will include: Most Original, Best Decorated, Musical, Comic, Classic (25 years or older with historic value) and Children’s Division completely decorated by children 15 and under.)__________
Sign up for OCNJ Daily’s free newsletter “Like” us on Facebook
