Fall Block Party, Fireworks Coming Oct. 12

Ocean City’s premier autumn event – the Fall Block Party – will go off rain or shine from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12. More than 400 crafters, food vendors and entertainers will line a mile of downtown Asbury Avenue between Fifth Street and 14th Street. The Block Party helps draw tens of thousands of people to Ocean City for Columbus Day weekend. Entertainers and bands will perform at various spots along the Avenue between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Just a few of the perennial favorites include the Tidal Wave Band (at 10th Street) and the Pennsport String Band (at 13th Street). The cast of “The Marvelous Wonderettes” will perform from the steps of City Hall. Pony rides for children will be available on the grounds of the Ocean City Tabernacle (at Sixth Street and Asbury Avenue) during the same hours. Vendors including Asbury Avenue restaurants will offer food of every variety. Street parking will be free at all metered spots and municipal parking lots in Ocean City, including at the Transportation Center lot (Ninth Street and Haven Avenue) and at the municipal lots on the 700 and 800 blocks of Central Avenue. At 9 p.m., a fireworks display over the ocean caps off the evening. The show will be launched from a barge off the Ocean City Music Pier and will be best viewed from the Boardwalk and beach between Fifth Street and 14th Street. Fireworks will light up the sky. (Photo courtesy City of Ocean City) The Indian Summer Weekend (Oct. 12 to 14) celebration also includes seafood vendors at the Ocean City Music Pier. Downtown and Boardwalk merchants will hold table sales with discounted merchandise set up between Sixth Street and 14th Street on the Boardwalk and Asbury Avenue throughout the weekend. Fire Department Open House (Oct. 10) 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 Thursday, Oct. 10. Everybody 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, “stop-drop-and-roll,” hot dogs and pretzels. 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. Rain date will be Oct. 11. For information, call (609) 525-9182. An Open House at the Ocean City Fire Department headquarters Oct. 10 will feature kid-friendly activities. (Photo courtesy City of Ocean City) ALSO COMING UP: Daytime/Nighttime Exhibition (through Oct. 31): It’s all about lights and darkness as the seasons change in the October “Daytime/Nighttime” themed exhibition at the Ocean City Fine Arts League (711 Asbury Avenue). There will be a "Meet The Artist" reception and awards presentation on Friday, October 11 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public. Renee Leopardi Exhibition (through Oct. 31): Renee Leopardi brings her beautiful pastel paintings to the Ocean City Arts Center (1735 Simpson Avenue). A “Meet the Artist” reception will be held 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11. It is free and open to the public. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Ocean City (Oct. 13): The American Cancer Society sponsors a fundraising 5K walk honoring more than 300 survivors in Ocean City. Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the practice field at Sixth Street and Boardwalk. Opening ceremonies begin at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. For more information, visit www.makingstrideswalk.org/Oceancitynj or call 856-673-5729. Car lovers admire a vintage Porsche displayed on the Ocean City Boardwalk in 2018. Bingeing on Bolling (Oct. 18): The Ocean City Free Public Library will host Pamela Whitman’s Playmates Quartet performing the music of Claude Bolling at 7 p.m. on October 18 in the Chris Maloney Lecture Hall. Admission is free to the public. Porsche Boardwalk Reunion (Oct. 19): All Porsche models built since 1948 be on display on the Ocean City Boardwalk between Fifth Street and 14th Street starting at 11 a.m. For more information, call (703) 992-4519 or visit www.boardwalkreunion.org. John R. Elliott HERO Walk and 5K Run (Oct. 20): A 5-kilometer walk and run on the Boardwalk promotes the use of sober designated drivers to reduce the number of drunken driving tragedies and raises funds for educational and awareness programs. It is also a time to remember those who have been affected by a drunken driver. Registration begins at the Civic Center (6th and Boardwalk) at 8:30 a.m. The run begins at 9:30 a.m. The ceremony starts at 10:30 a.m., and the walk begins at 11 a.m. For more information, visit www.HEROcampaign.org or call 609-626-3880. Ocean City Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Welcome Night (Oct. 23): Meet Ocean City groups, businesses and organizations 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ocean City Sports and Civic Center. Free event. For more information, call 1-800-BEACH-NJ. The Elliott family leads the procession in the 2018 Hero Walk/Run. Halloween Parade (Oct. 24): The annual parade begins at 7:15 p.m. and travels Asbury Avenue from Sixth Street to 11th Street. Sponsored by the Ocean City Exchange Club. For more information, call 800-813-5580 or visit ochp.blogspot.com. Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweep (Oct. 26): All organizations and families are encouraged to participate in this annual statewide event to help keep our beaches clean and safe and protect our coastal environment. Check in at the Ocean City Music Pier for cleanup supplies. The event is from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Ocean City Fishing Club’s 51st Annual Surf Fishing Tournament (Oct. 26): For updated information, visit oceancityfishingclub.com.