Two players who helped bring championship rings to Philadelphia will be part of the second annual Sports Memorabilia Show on Saturday, March 30, at the Ocean City Music Pier. Philadelphia Eagles star Darren Sproles and former Phillies slugger Matt Stairs will greet fans and lead Q&A sessions at the show.
The show will feature vendors and table sales dedicated to athletes, fans and collectors. It also will include interactive sporting activities for kids. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission for the show is $7 for adults and $3 for 12-and-unders with tickets available at the door. Admission includes a free Q&A session with Sproles (11 a.m.) and with Stairs (2 p.m.) Sproles is one of the NFL’s career leaders in all-purpose yards. Though he was injured early in the season, he was part of the Eagles’ Super Bowl championship team in the 2017-18 season. Stairs helped bring the 2008 World Series title to Philadelphia in 2008. He holds the record for most pinch-hit home runs in Major League Baseball history. Sproles will be available for a meet-and-greet session at 11:45 a.m. Tickets for an autograph (on a photo or item you supply) and a selfie photo with the player are on sale for $40. A meet-and-greet with Stairs ($20 for autograph and selfie with the player) is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. A combination package that includes both players is available for $55. Visit oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice, call 609-399-6111 or stop by City Hall (861 Asbury Avenue) or the Roy Gillian Welcome Center (on the Route 52 causeway) to purchase tickets. COMING UP SOON: EDIBLE BOOK FESTIVAL (April 1): Book lovers and food lovers are invited to unite at the 6th annual Edible Book Festival 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 1 in the atrium outside the Ocean City Free Public Library (1735 Simpson Ave.). The event asks contestants to come up with food that offers a play on book titles. The public can compete or just see the entries and vote on favorites. Winners will be announced at 3:30 p.m. – followed by an open invitation to sample the edible books. Entry registration deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, March 29. Register at https://tinyurl.com/YXV9YQUW. POETRY READING AND OPEN MIC (April 3): Celebrate National Poetry Month at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 3 at the Ocean City Free Public Library. Readings at 6:30 p.m. will feature poets Echezonachukwu Nduka and Nancy Reddy. Following a short intermission there will be an open mic for performances of two minutes or less. Sign-ups begin at 6 p.m. Ocean City's Girls Weekend brings hundreds of shoppers to town to enjoy good buys. From left, Joanne Kowall, of Ocean City, and friends Cathy Randazzo, Lacye Ciccarelli and Ines Casado, all of Pennsylvania, in 2018. GIRLS WEEKEND (April 5 to 7): The fourth annual Girls Weekend from April 5 to April 7 will showcase all that Ocean City’s downtown retail district has to offer and provide a great reason to escape to the shore early in the season. The event kicks off with a fashion show at 7 p.m. Friday, April 5 at Glazed Over Studios (704 Asbury Avenue). It features clothes and accessories for sale in Ocean City’s retail shops and modeled by local men and women, including members of City Council. The lighthearted event will be catered by local restaurants. Advance tickets ($20) are required and on sale now at City Hall, the Route 52 Welcome Center, Ta-Dah (1040 Asbury Ave.), the 7th Street Surf Shop (720 Asbury Ave.), the Sneaker Shop (704 Asbury Ave.) and Making Waves (836 Asbury Ave.). Tickets also can be purchased online this year (click on the “Buy Now” button on the event blog). For a detailed schedule of Girls Weekend events, accommodations and participating businesses, call 609-399-1412, visit the Girls Weekend blog or the Facebook event page. OC-CON COMIC BOOK AND MEMORABILIA FESTIVAL (April 6 to 7): Ocean City’s tribute to comics and memorabilia returns to the Music Pier. “Star Trek,” “Roots” and “Reading Rainbow” icon LeVar Burton will highlight this year’s event. Now in its fourth year, the festival will return to early spring after being held in June last year. The star of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” will be a special guest for both days, and tickets are on sale now for exclusive photo and autograph sessions.