Spectators line the new Ninth Street Bridge to watch the 2014 Night in Venice Parade in Ocean City, NJ.
The Night In Venice boat parade in Ocean City, the oldest boat and bayfront celebration on the Jersey Shore, will go off for the 61st time at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 11.
"Angry Birds in Paradise" won "Best of Show" for small boats and took second in the "Comic Division" in 2014.
Night in Venice is a traditional highlight of the summer season in Ocean City — with thousands of spectators lining the bayfront and thousands more attending private parties at homes along the route.
The theme this year is “Dancing Under the Stars.”
The parade is scheduled earlier in July and earlier in the evening this year to take advantage of a 5:24 p.m. high tide.
Here’s what you need to know to enjoy the event:
WEATHER:
The National Weather Service forecast for Saturday afternoon calls for a mostly sunny afternoon with a high near 81 degrees. Saturday night will be mostly clear with a low around 67 degrees and a southeast wind around 7 mph.
WATCHING THE PARADE
To view the Night In Venice boat parade, grandstands will be set up at street ends along the bay from Battersea Road to 16th Street and also at Tennessee Avenue. These are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Streets include: Battersea Rd., North St., 1
st St., 2
nd St. Marina, 4
th, 6
th, 11
th, 13
th, 5
th, 16
thStreets and the Tennessee Ave. Boat Ramp.
A Jaws-themed entry was a hit in the 2014 Night in Venice boat parade in Ocean City, NJ.
The Bayside Center, 520 Bay Avenue, will be open as usual with a picnic area, food for sale and bleacher seating plus entertainment by the Good Tymes Band. Tickets are now on sale, $3 for children (12-and-under) and $7 for adults. Gates open at 4 p.m. with entertainment 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. Children’s activities include crafts, games and face painting. Tickets may be purchsed by cash, check or charge at: City Hall, 861 Asbury Avenue, any day 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. No alcohol is permitted, and no parking available.
RULES FOR WATCHING FROM THE NINTH STREET BRIDGE
All pedestrians and bicyclists should use the Shared Use Bike Path and stay to the south side shoulder for viewing. No persons will be allowed to bring chairs for seating onto the bridge. At no time will persons block the free movement of the Shared Use Bike Path. No open alcoholic beverages are permitted on the bridge at any time. Persons are not permitted to walk along the bridge with motor vehicle traffic. Ocean City Police will be present monitoring the bridge while the parade is in progress for assistance.
PARKING AND SHUTTLE SERVICE
Free parking and shuttle service will run as in previous years starting at 4 p.m. Parking will be available at:
- Ocean City Municipal Airport: 25th Street and Bay Avenue
- Soccer Field at Tennessee Avenue: Off Shelter Road
- Ocean City Community Center: 1735 Simpson Avenue
Shuttles will drop off spectators at street ends where they can watch the parade and return them to the parking lots afterward. The shuttle also drops off at the Bayside Center. The service is free and will be available until 10 p.m.
PARADE ROUTE
The parade starts at 6 p.m. near the Ocean City-Longport Bridge at the northern end of Ocean City. It proceeds southward looping in and out of the bayside lagoons along the way. The route will not include the Snug Harbor or Glen Cove lagoons on either side of the Ninth Street Bridge. The parade ends on the bay at Tennessee Avenue (near 22nd Street).
PARKING RESTRICTIONS
Parking restrictions begin at midnight Friday (July 10) through midnight Saturday (July 11) for the following locations:
- Both sides of Bay Avenue between 16th Street and 24th Street
- The east side of Bay Avenue between 14th Street and 16th Street.
- West 16th Street, West 17th Street and West 18th Street will have parking restrictions in place.
Parking regulations will be strictly enforced. Violators will be ticketed and in severe cases, the vehicles will be towed if public safety is affected. This is to allow for safe passage of all pedestrian and vehicle traffic and emergency vehicle access to isolated areas of the bayfront.
GRAND MARSHAL and SPECIAL GUESTS
Grand Marshal will be John Stauffer, owner of Johnson's Popcorn, celebrating its 75th anniversary in Ocean City. The Action News Weather Team will also be featured in the parade.
Honored by the honor, Stauffer is donating tubs of popcorn to all participating boats and decorated homes.
NOT TOO LATE TO PARTICIPATE
Entries for boats and homes will be taken on line at
www.ocnj.us/NIV until 4 p.m. on Wednesday. After that, call 609-525-9300.
All boat owners will receive a complimentary photo of their boat in the parade and a $50 decoration card. The dancing theme will be represented in a commemorative mug given to all boat and home contestants. 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.)
FAN FAVORITE CONTEST
Use hashtag #OCNJNIV to post photos of your favorite boats (if you're watching from the shore) or photos of your favorite decorated homes (if you're on a boat) during the parade. Make sure boat or home entry number is visible somewhere in your photo. The top vote-getter gets a year's supply of Johnson's Popcorn (one bucket per month for 12 months). Learn more and "like"
Night in Venice Ocean City NJ Facebook page. Read more:
Vote With Photos for Your Night in Venice Favorites.
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"Angry Birds in Paradise" won "Best of Show" for small boats and took second in the "Comic Division" in 2014.
Night in Venice is a traditional highlight of the summer season in Ocean City — with thousands of spectators lining the bayfront and thousands more attending private parties at homes along the route.
The theme this year is “Dancing Under the Stars.”
The parade is scheduled earlier in July and earlier in the evening this year to take advantage of a 5:24 p.m. high tide.
Here’s what you need to know to enjoy the event:
WEATHER:
A Jaws-themed entry was a hit in the 2014 Night in Venice boat parade in Ocean City, NJ.
The Bayside Center, 520 Bay Avenue, will be open as usual with a picnic area, food for sale and bleacher seating plus entertainment by the Good Tymes Band. Tickets are now on sale, $3 for children (12-and-under) and $7 for adults. Gates open at 4 p.m. with entertainment 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. Children’s activities include crafts, games and face painting. Tickets may be purchsed by cash, check or charge at: City Hall, 861 Asbury Avenue, any day 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. No alcohol is permitted, and no parking available.
RULES FOR WATCHING FROM THE NINTH STREET BRIDGE
All pedestrians and bicyclists should use the Shared Use Bike Path and stay to the south side shoulder for viewing. No persons will be allowed to bring chairs for seating onto the bridge. At no time will persons block the free movement of the Shared Use Bike Path. No open alcoholic beverages are permitted on the bridge at any time. Persons are not permitted to walk along the bridge with motor vehicle traffic. Ocean City Police will be present monitoring the bridge while the parade is in progress for assistance.
