Ocean City Happenings: Chili Chowder Fest, Fire Department Open House

Ocean City restaurateurs will be cooking up their favorite recipes for the third annual Chili Chowder Fest 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, at the Ocean City Music Pier. The feast features a wide variety of chilis and chowders and is set up under the roof of the Music Pier loggia with great ocean views. A DJ and kids’ activities will add to the fun. For the second year in a row, Ocean City firefighters will have their own Chili Cook Off with proceeds benefiting the Ocean City Fire Foundation. Admission ($15 for adults and $5 for children) is good for unlimited samples. Wrist bands can be purchased at the door or in advance at Randazzo’s, Varsity Inn, Johnny B. Goode Ice Cream Parlor (weekends only) or at any of Ocean City’s fire stations. For more information, visit eatinocnj.com. The Ocean City Fire Department and IAFF Local 4032 will hold their annual Open House at the station at 550 Asbury Avenue from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 12. The event had originally been scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 11, but it was moved due to the weather forecast. Everyone in the community is invited to this free event. It will feature a live burn demonstration, a “smoke house” where kids can safely learn to navigate a dark and smoky structure, tours of trucks, a helicopter landing, a “Jaws of Life” demonstration, free hot dogs, pretzels and more. The annual event coincides with national Fire Prevention Month and gives the community a chance to learn more about how the department works. Off-duty firefighters from the local firefighters’ union volunteer their time to produce the event. For information, call (609) 525-9182. Firefighters will let kids try out the fire hose on "smoke houses." (Courtesy City of Ocean City) Jeeps will be displayed on the Boardwalk between Fifth Street and 14^th Street from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13, during the Ocean City NJ Jeep Invasion. For more information, visit www.NJJeepInvasion. The Cape May County Bar Association 5-Kilometer Run is set for Saturday, Oct. 13. Pre-registration is at runsignup.com and race-day registration begins at 7 a.m. at the Music Pier. The race starts at 8 a.m. For more information, call Pam Kaithern at 609-463-0313. The American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk will be held on Sunday, Oct. 14. Register at 9 a.m. at Sixth Street and the Boardwalk. Walk starts at 10 a.m. For more information, visit www.cancer.org or call 1-800-ACS-2345.  Also coming up in October Hundreds turned out in Ocean City for a fundraising walk benefiting the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers in 2016. This year's walk is Oct. 21. OC READS (Oct. 10 to 17): OC Reads is a program designed to bring people together through literature by encouraging them to read the same book. This year’s book is “Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust” by Michael Hingson. A book discussion will be held 6:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Ocean City Free Public Library. The “Thunder Dog Learning Showcase” 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 13, will feature speakers discussing how they train their therapy dogs and seeing-eye dogs. Hingson will present a meet-the-author talk, Q&A and book-signing at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at the library. Fridays With Friends (Oct. 12): Ocean City students in grades 8 to 12 are invited to the Ocean City Civic Center 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday to hang out, eat pizza, play ping pong, pickleball, dodgeball, basketball, shuffleboard and more. The event is free to attend. For more information, call 609-398-6900. Porsche 356 East Coast Holiday (Oct. 19 and 20): Vintage (1948-1965) 356 series Porsches will roll into town and will be displayed on the Boardwalk between Fifth Street and 14^th Street. For more information, visit www.eastcoastholiday2018ocnj.org. John R. Elliott Hero Walk (Oct. 21): The annual 5-kilometer HERO walk and run on the Boardwalk will take place at 9:30 a.m. Hero ceremonies are at 10:30 a.m. The event raises awareness of the importance of sober designated drivers. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Sports and Civic Center, Sixth Street and Boardwalk. For more information, visit www.herocampaign.org or call 609-626-3880. Ocean City Chamber of Commerce Annual Welcome Night (Oct. 24): Ocean City Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Welcome Night invites the community to the Ocean City Sports and Civic Center 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 24. Meet Ocean City groups, businesses and organizations. Free to attend. For more information, call 1-800-BEACH-NJ. The city's 71st annual Halloween Parade is sure to scare up some laughs. Halloween Events Ocean City rolls into late October on Thursday, Oct. 25, with its 71^st annual Halloween Parade. The event is a favorite on the fall calendar and features local children, families, bands, entertainers, businesses and organizations costumed for the occasion. The parade starts at 7:15 p.m. Oct. 25 and proceeds down Asbury Avenue from Sixth Street to 11th Street. The event is sponsored by the Ocean City Exchange Club. To register to participate, call 800-813-5580 or visit ochp.blogspot.com. Watching the parade is free – with great spots to catch all of the action from either side of downtown Asbury Avenue. The Greater Ocean City Theatre Company’s annual Halloween Costume Party is set for 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, at the Ocean City Yacht Club. Tickets are $65 until Oct. 13, then go up to $75. The party is for adults (21-and-over) and includes food, dancing and prizes. To purchase tickets, visit the Theatre Company’s website at www.oceancitytheatrecompany.com.  Traditional trick-or-treating hours in Ocean City will be 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Halloween – Wednesday, Oct. 31.