Primary School students recite the Pledge of Allegiance in American Sign Language at the 2018 Ocean City Veterans Day service.
Ocean City’s annual
Veterans Day ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11 at the Ocean City Tabernacle (550 Wesley Avenue). The event honors all of the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The ceremony is always well-attended and will include music, remarks, prayers and the placing of a memorial wreath. Ocean City’s Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion posts sponsor and participate in the event.
This year’s keynote speaker is E-4 Lance Corporal Rickey R. Arce. He joined the Marines just out of high school and fought the Taliban in Afghanistan during a deployment in 2009-2010.
After returning to the U.S. and leaving active duty, Arce faced new battles against mental health symptoms. He is now committed to sobriety and addressing his health through therapy and support group meetings.
Ocean City Primary School students will make remarks, and American Sign Language classes from Ocean City High School will sign the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance and “God Bless America.” The Ocean City High School Choir, Ocean City High School Band and OCHS student Julia Mary Wilson will perform music.
Free horse and carriage rides are part of the holiday celebration in downtown Ocean City.
HOLIDAY EVENTS IN OCEAN CITY
On Monday, work crews began hanging the lights, garland, wreaths and bows that will adorn downtown Asbury Avenue for the holidays. A full schedule of special events is coming up quickly.
The celebrations in Ocean City begin with
“Earlier Than the Bird” on Saturday, Nov. 23. The annual downtown shopping extravaganza takes place 8 a.m. to noon on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
Jump-start your holiday shopping and shop in your pajamas for early-bird shopping specials at stores on Asbury Avenue between Sixth Street and 11
th Street.
Free
horse-and-carriage rides will be available starting on the weekend of Nov. 23 and 24. Ride the downtown the old-fashioned way noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Board in front of City Hall at Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue.
The 12
th annual
Fast and Furriest 5K Turkey Trot goes off at 8 a.m. Thanksgiving morning on Nov. 28. The course for this 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) race is on the Ocean City Boardwalk, and proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Ocean City. For more information, call 609-398-9500 (ext. 4) or visit
www.hsocnj.org/events.
Ocean City’s small-town version of “Black Friday” takes place on Friday, Nov. 29.
The Christmas in the Downtown – “Our Miracle on Asbury Avenue” – takes place 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event will be a warm and entertaining time featuring carolers and performers throughout downtown Asbury Avenue between Sixth Street and 11th Street.
Pajama-clad shoppers enjoy "Earlier Than the Bird" in 2018.
Downtown stores will offer discount shopping for gifts, and many Asbury Avenue restaurants will be open. Free horse-and-carriage rides will be available. Entertainment and Christmas carols will begin at 4 p.m. on the steps of City Hall at Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue.
The event culminates around 5 p.m. when Santa Claus will emerge on the rooftop of City Hall. With the help of an Ocean City Fire Department ladder truck, Santa will descend and help light the City Hall Christmas Tree and illuminate City Hall.
The shopping discounts will continue on Nov. 30 as downtown merchants celebrate
Small Business Saturday.
On the evening of Nov. 30, music lovers can enjoy a special performance of the Ocean City Pops Orchestra.
“Holiday Pops: Musical Sounds of the Season” will feature popular holiday and special performances by vocalist Scott Coulter and his cast of Broadway soloists. Children of all ages will enjoy the classic Christmas songs.
Joining the show will be professional dancers from the Atlantic City Ballet's production of the “Nutcracker.”
The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets are $25 and $20. Call 609-399-6111 or visit
oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice.
The festivities continue with the annual
Christmas Parade (Dec. 6),
Ocean City Theatre Company’s “Lights, Camera, Christmas: 2019 Holiday Spectacular (Dec. 13-22, see
oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice for information and tickets) and the
First Night (Dec. 31) and
First Day (Jan. 1) New Year’s celebrations.
A fireworks display lights up the sky at midnight, ushering in the new year. (Courtesy Ocean City)
FIRST NIGHT BUTTONS ON SALE NOW
All-inclusive admission buttons for Ocean City’s popular and family-friendly First Night New Year’s Eve celebration are on sale now. The price is a discounted $15 through Nov. 30, and they can be purchased at
oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or by calling 609-399-6111.
You can also purchase tickets in person by visiting the Roy Gillian Welcome Center on the Ninth Street causeway, City Hall’s Welcome Center at 861 Asbury Avenue or the Welcome Center at 46
th Street and West Avenue.
First Night includes more than 70 shows and activities at venues throughout Ocean City. Visit
firstnightocnj.com for more information.
ALSO COMING UP
OC READS (Nov. 9): OC Reads and the Ocean City Free Public Library will welcome Delia Owens, author of “Where the Crawdads Sing.” Owens will be giving a book talk, Q&A, and book-signing at the Ocean City Music Pier.
Doors will open at 1 p.m. No tickets or advanced registration required. Seating is first-come, first-served and open to the public. For additional information, call 609 399-2434, ext. 5222 or visit
www.oceancitylibrary.org.
Ocean City Free Public Library Director Karen Mahar will be honored as a "Woman of Wonder" on Nov. 14.
WOMEN OF WONDER LUNCHEON (Nov. 14): The Atlantic Cape Community College Foundation and the Cape May County Women’s Commission invite the public to the 2019 Women of Wonder Luncheon 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 at the Flanders Hotel in Ocean City.
Ocean City Free Public Library Director Karen Mahar will be honored, along with Stormy Freese and Shirley “Becki” Wilson. Tickets for this scholarship fundraiser are available by visiting
www.atlantic.edu/wow or calling 609-463-3621.
BOZ SCAGGS (Nov. 16): Rescheduled from July 1, this concert featuring Grammy Award-winner and chart-topping songwriter Boz Scaggs will bring unforgettable hits to the Ocean City Music Pier.
The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets start at $49. Visit
www.ticketmaster.com.
