Not Too Early to Plan for 2020 Fun in O.C.

Punxsutawney Phil just predicted an early spring, and we have a sneaking suspicion (based on his unblemished record) that Ocean City mascot Martin Z. Mollusk will predict an early summer when he seeks his shadow on May 9. That all means it’s time to get planning for another great year of fun in Ocean City. Reserve your spots now to make sure you don’t miss out on these great events. A season of non-stop special events will kick into high gear on April 3 with the start of the three-day Girls Weekend. The Flanders Hotel, Port-O-Call, Biscayne Suites, Northwood Inn, Ocean City Mansion and Inn the Gardens Bed-and-Breakfast are taking reservations for special package deals, and tickets will go on sale soon for the Fashion Show kickoff. Look for details and new announcements on the Girls Weekend event page on Facebook. The same weekend brings us OC Con 2020, Ocean City’s annual comics and memorabilia festival, scheduled for April 4 and 5 at the Ocean City Music Pier. More information is available at ocnjcon.com. Registration opened on Saturday for Ocean City’s 2020 race events, including the OC Con Super Hero Run & Dash (April 4), the Ocean City Triathlon/Duathlon (May 17), the OCNJ Labor Day Run (Sept. 7), the OCNJ Half Marathon, 5K and 10-Mile Walk/Run (Sept. 27) and the Trail of Two Cities (Nov. 7). Start training now and visit www.ocnj.us/race-events to sign up. Get ready for races starting April 4 on the Boardwalk. (Photo courtesy City of Ocean City) Ticket sales opened on Monday for the summer Broadway Series with the Ocean City Pops and the Ocean City Theatre Company presenting “The Producers” (July 7-10) and “The Sound of Music” (Aug. 4-8) along with OCTC’s “Broadway on the OC Boardwalk” (June 24). Tickets are also on sale for the annual Children’s Theater Series, which will bring five different morning shows to the Ocean City Music Pier (June 30-July 28). Visit oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice, call 609-399-6111 or stop by Ocean City’s welcome centers at City Hall and or the Route 52 causeway. Free tickets became available Monday for a concert by the brass ensemble of the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band. The concert is scheduled for 2 p.m. March 15 at the Ocean City Music Pier. The show will feature orchestral transcriptions, patriotic favorites, jazz standards, new compositions and distinctive arrangements. The seating will be general admission, and the doors will open at 1:30 p.m. Season tickets for 2020 Ocean City Pops concerts at the Ocean City Music Pier are now available by calling 609-525-9295. Tickets for individual shows will be available when the full schedule is announced in the spring. Tickets for a season-opening May 9 concert featuring Jackie Evancho are available at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice. Barry Williams, who starred as Greg Brady in the classic sitcom “The Brady Bunch,” will be grand marshal of the 2020 Doo Dah Parade in Ocean City on April 18 and return that night to emcee the Mr. Mature America Pageant. The pageant is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, April 18 on the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets are available at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice, 609-399-6111 or at Ocean City’s welcome centers at City Hall and on the Route 52 causeway. Registration also is open for any individuals, groups or businesses who want to participate in the Doo Dah Parade at noon that day. Joining the parade is a great way to bring awareness to your business or cause before the summer season. Sign up at www.ocnj.us/Doo-Dah-Parade. A brigade of basset hounds leads the parade on the wet Boardwalk in the 2019 Doo Dah Parade. The 2020 Summer Concert Series at the Ocean City Music Pier is nearly complete, and tickets are on sale at www.ticketmaster.com for the following shows: Get the Led Out (June 22), Los Lobos and Alejandro Escovedo (June 23), Judy Collins and Arlo Guthrie (June 29), Killer Queen (July 13), Straight No Chaser (July 20), Marshall Tucker Band and Pure Prairie League (Aug. 24). The schedule for some of Ocean City’s marquee events in 2020 includes:

• May 2: Spring Block Party
• May 9: Martin Z. Mollusk Day
• May 22: Unlocking of the Ocean and Business Persons Plunge
• June 15-20: Restaurant Week
• July 18: Night in Venice
• August 13: Baby Parade
• September 19-20: Ocean City Airport Festival and Boardwalk Aerobatic Air Show
• October 10: Fall Block Party 

ALSO COMING UP: BOOK SALE (Feb. 7): The Friends and Volunteers of the Ocean City Free Public Library will hold a one-day book sale 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7. The sale will be held in the atrium of the Ocean City Free Public Library, 1735 Simpson Avenue. Shop for specially-priced books, DVDs and more. NATURE FUN-DAY (Feb. 15): All are invited to a free “Family-Friendly Nature and the Environment Fun-day” featuring zoo animals, crafts, games, music and stories. The event will be held 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 15 in the Howard S. Stainton Senior Center within the Ocean City Community Center (1735 Simpson Avenue). Activities will include making your own pine-cone birdfeeder. Sponsors include the Cape May County Park and Zoo, the Ocean City Environmental Commission and the Ocean City Free Public Library. A book sale will be held Feb. 7 in the atrium of the Ocean City Free Public Library.