Michael Hartman, right, the city's director of special events, joins with the contestants in a holiday fashion show.
By Donald Wittkowski
After spending long days and nights working over the winter, especially in preparation for Christmas, a visitor from the North Pole finally was able to get away for a much-needed summer vacation in Ocean City.
But this was no ordinary tourist soaking up the sun on the powdery beaches.
His flowing white beard, avuncular demeanor and penchant for calling out “Merry Christmas … Ho, Ho, Ho!” whenever he greeted children were a dead giveaway.
So, you better watch out, you better not cry and you better not pout because Santa Claus came to town Wednesday during a “Christmas in July” celebration that brought the spirit of the holidays to Ocean City a mere five months early.
Santa is joined by some of his admirers on the Boardwalk.
The festivities included four performers from the Ocean City Theatre Company singing Christmas carols outside the Music Pier. Carolers Jon Kreamer, Colleen Rieders, Elizabeth Toal and Joey Alan serenaded the crowds with such classics as “Jingle Bells” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” while Santa served as their conductor.
“This is a good reminder of what’s to come,” Rieders said of the holiday season. “Everyone here loves it. Ocean City does a great job of holding events like this one for the families.”
For the children, it didn’t matter that it wasn’t truly Christmas. They formed long lines at the Music Pier just to have their picture taken with Santa, although some of them admitted it was a bit strange seeing him cavorting on the Boardwalk in the middle of summer.
“Crazy,” exclaimed 8-year-old Jasper Bickley after spying Santa dressed in a short-sleeved tropical shirt.
“Weird,” added Jasper’s 10-year-old brother, Travis.
But Travis and Jasper’s 3-year-old sister, Naomi, marveled over Santa when he came over to visit with the three of them and pose for pictures.
“I only see him once a year,” Naomi said, referring to Christmas. “It’s kind of funny.”
Santa pays a visit with, from left, Jasper, Travis and Naomi Bickley and Louisa Nicholl, all of Ocean City.
Nathan Beadling, a 3-year-old who received a hug from Santa, guessed that Santa was in Ocean City “because he loves the Boardwalk.”
“Were you surprised to see Santa?” Matt Beadling, of Wayne, N.J., asked his son.
“Isn’t he supposed to be at the North Pole?” Nathan replied, drawing a laugh from his father.
Even in summer, the portly Santa was instantly recognizable by his trademark beard, bushy white eyebrows and wire-rimmed glasses. He wore a red Christmas cap and red-and-white socks adorned with the words “Ho, Ho, Ho,” but the rest of his outfit screamed shoobie, not Santa.
Instead of his usual plush, red suit trimmed in white velvet, he wore a Margaritaville-style tropical shirt perfect for a Jimmy Buffett concert. His summer getup also included beige shorts and black sneakers.
Children and their parents waited in a long line to see Santa at the Music Pier.
Santa confessed that even he needed a vacation after racking up plenty of overtime overseeing his toy-making operations at the North Pole during the winter holidays.
“I love Ocean City,” he said. “I’m new to surfing, and the waves here are just big enough for me. The town is perfect for vacations. The people are so friendly.”
Santa noted that Mrs. Claus was also vacationing in Ocean City. She was spending most of her time on the beach and baking cookies, Santa said.
But what about Rudolph and the rest of the reindeer?
“They are still at the North Pole. The reindeer don’t like the heat,” Santa said.
Santa was played by JT Williams, an Ocean City resident. Williams is considered “the official Ocean City Santa” and has been entertaining the town in that role for the past 16 years.
Santa was the main attraction during the “Christmas in July” celebration, a part of Ocean City’s “Wacky Wednesdays” summer entertainment series. Wacky Wednesdays feature kid-friendly events that help to promote the city’s image as “America’s Greatest Family Resort.”
Michael Hartman, right, the city's director of special events, joins with the contestants in a holiday fashion show.
Wacky Wednesdays, launched this summer, grew out of the city’s former “Weird Week” and “July Jubilee” special events. This was the first time ever for the “Christmas in July” celebration.
“It’s a win-win,” Michael Hartman, the city’s director of special events, said of the “Christmas in July” promotion. “It’s a great opportunity to highlight Ocean City during the summer, but it also puts the thought in people’s minds to think of Ocean City for the holidays. It lets them know that we are also open during the holidays.”
