By MADDY VITALE
Ocean City will be Block Party-less no more, with the return of the blockbuster event that draws thousands of visitors to the resort for a day filled with deals galore, food vendors and music throughout the downtown.
The Fall Block Party, which stretches along Asbury Avenue from Fifth to 14th streets, is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 9 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be 400 crafters to give visitors an abundance of merchandise, artwork, crafts and more to browse.
The event also features many tantalizing foods from barbecue to garden greens, homemade jams and other goodies. And throughout the day there will be live entertainment.
The event attracts families such as the Hall family, of Newtown Square, Pa., in 2019.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the event each year, had to cancel the Spring Block Party in 2020, the Fall Block Party of 2020 and the Spring Block Party of 2021.
But officials assured that this year's party will make up for lost time.
“Block Party coordinator, Rose Savastano, has been tirelessly working with our participating vendors to ensure a fun day for all,” Michele Gillian, executive director of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, said Monday.
Gillian continued, “After missing three consecutive Block Parties, we are over-the-top happy that this year’s Fall Block Party is full of wonderful vendors, local businesses, downtown merchants, along with great food and entertainment.”
Visitors fill Asbury Avenue during the biggest Fall Block Party in decades in 2019.
The event has grown each year and is the traditional kickoff to a bustling shoulder season in Ocean City. The 2019 event had record crowds.
“Ocean City’s Block Party is truly the envy of all other festivals,” Gillian noted. “With weather on our side, we are expecting a fabulous turnout. We are excited to see all of the families returning to our traditional event.”
The festivities will be capped off by a popular attraction -- fireworks -- scheduled for 9 p.m. over the Boardwalk from Fifth to 14th streets.
The city assists with the Fall Block Party. The Ocean City Police Department handles the traffic and crowd control and the city’s Public Works Department handles the cleanup.
“We are certainly partners with the Chamber in the event,” said Michael Allegretto, aide to Mayor Jay Gillian. “We are excited to have an anchor event back for the fall. It kicks off all of our fall events.”
Crowds will be entertained.
The weekend continues the lineup of family-friendly activities in the resort. The merchant table sales will take place on the Boardwalk and the downtown from Sixth to 14th streets from Saturday, Oct. 9 through Monday, Oct. 11.
And there are a lot more events coming up.
The fall calendar is filled with things for visitors to do on just about every weekend leading up to November’s Earlier than the Bird celebration, a mega-shopping extravaganza in the downtown for holiday shoppers to grab some good deals, Allegretto noted.
Ocean City Public Information Officer Doug Bergen summed up the sentiment of people who have made the Fall Block Party their annual tradition.
“The Fall Block Party is one of the most popular events of the year in Ocean City, and I’m sure everybody is excited for its return,” he said.
For more information about Ocean City and its events call 1-800-BEACH-NJ or visit www.ocnj.us or www.OceanCityVacation.com.
The event gives shoppers a variety of vendors to browse.
