Lights and seasonal decorations are going up throughout Ocean City this week as the city gets into the spirit of the holidays.
The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce will welcome the season with the second annual Winterfest by the Sea Holiday Shopping Extravaganza 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13.
The event will takes place inside the Ocean City Civic Center (Sixth Street and the Boardwalk) this year. Winterfest features fine hand-crafted items and specialty food gifts for sale, along with activities for kids, including visits from Santa Claus and the Grinch.
Free parking will be available in the adjacent municipal parking lot (entrance on Fifth Street). For more information, call 609-399-1412.
Ocean City’s annual Veterans Day ceremony will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 11 at Veterans Memorial Park (between Fifth Street and Sixth Street on Wesley Avenue).
The ceremony will include music, remarks, prayer and the placing of a memorial wreath. For more information, call 609-399-6111.
COMING UP IN NOVEMBER:
“Earlier than the Bird” Downtown Shopping Extravaganza (Nov. 20): 8 a.m. to noon. Get out earlier than the bird and jump-start your holiday shopping the weekend before Thanksgiving. Shop in your pajamas for early-bird shopping specials. For more information, call 1-800-BEACH-NJ.
Horse and carriage rides help create a festive atmosphere in the downtown business district
Free Horse and Carriage Rides (weekends Nov. 20-21 through Dec. 18-19): Noon to 3 p.m. with boarding at Sixth Street and Asbury Avenue. For more information, call 1-800-BEACH-NJ.
Fast & Furriest 5k Turkey Trot (Nov. 25): The annual Thanksgiving morning 5-kilometer run begins at 8:30 a.m. and follows a course down the Ocean City Boardwalk.
The event also includes a 5K walk and a one-mile fun run. Sponsored by the Humane Society of Ocean City. Online registration is a runsignup.com, and race-day registration opens at 7 a.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. For more information, call 609-398-9500 ext. 4 or visit
hsocnj.org.
Christmas in the Downtown – “Our Miracle on Asbury Avenue” (Nov. 26): 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Join Ocean City’s downtown merchants and the Chamber of Commerce in kicking off an old-fashioned Downtown Christmas.
As part of tradition, the Ocean City Fire Department will be on hand with a ladder truck in case Santa Claus decides to land atop City Hall to pay a visit. For more information, call 1-800-BEACH-NJ.
Visits With Santa (weekends Nov. 27-28 through Dec. 18-19): 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Mark Soifer Park (Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue). For more information, call 1-800-BEACH-NJ.
Photos With Santa in an OCBP Lifeguard Boat (weekends Nov. 27-28 through Dec. 18-19): Noon to 3 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. For more information, call 1-800-BEACH-NJ.
Jill Kozakowski, of Ocean City, and daughter, Sydney Chin, 10, get a start on their holiday shopping in 2020 for Earlier Than The Bird.
