Registration is open for the 2015 Baby Parade, which takes place at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13 on the Ocean City Boardwalk.
Ocean City’s 106th Baby Parade will be held on Thursday, August 13, starting at 5:30 p.m.
The parade route is from Sixth to 12th streets on the Ocean City Boardwalk. It is the longest continuously running Baby Parade in the country.
It is free to watch the parade.
The parade is famous for its creative entries. It usually features several hundred children. You may see them dressed as princesses, aviators, Cinderella, baseball players, “Jail Birds” and even crabs and fish.
Children from infants to 10 years of age may enter. Divisions include Children in Fancy Decorated Go Carts, Strollers, Coaches, Kiddie Cars, Express Wagons, etc. and Walking. There is a Comic Division, Small Floats Division and a category for floats entered by hotels, restaurants, and other business concerns.
Photo engraver Leo Bamberger, an organizer of Labor Day, founded the Parade in 1909. The event has featured many prominent grand marshals including baseball legend Joe DiMaggio. Movie star Grace Kelly, a summer resident of Ocean City in her youth, was a big fan of the parade.
Music is provided by The Pitman Hobo Band, a Dixieland Band, bagpipe band and others. Nicole Brewer of CBS-3 TV is this year’s grand marshal.
Numerous awards are given in all categories. Each child receives a memento for participating in the parade. There is a $5 entry fee per child. Registrations are taken at the Ocean City Music Pier Information Center, Boardwalk and Moorlyn Terrace. Entry list closes 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 11.
For information, call (609) 399-6111.
— News release from the City of Ocean City
