Boardwalk Art Shows, Sand Sculpting and Twins Contest

The 59th annual Boardwalk Art Show will be held Friday through Sunday (August 5 to 7) on the Boardwalk between Seventh Street and 11th Street. More than 50 artists from New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York will exhibit and sell works in oils, acrylics, watercolor and mixed media, as well as photography and jewelry. There is something for everyone at the show, and it’s a great opportunity to start or increase your art collection with a purchase from the show. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Awards are given to the top entries in the show. The event is sponsored by the Ocean City Arts Center and made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. For further information, call the Ocean City Arts Center at 609-399-7628 or visit www.oceancityartscenter.org. The celebration of the arts will include the 21st annual Art of Surfing Festival – Thursday to Saturday (August 4 to 6) at the Ocean City Music Pier. The festival features the display and sale of surf-related art, memorabilia, books and clothing. The event includes live music and meet-the-artist sessions. Admission is free to the show 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday (August 4) and noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday (August 5 and 6). TICKETS ON SALE FOR ‘THE SOUND OF MUSIC’ IN AUGUST The Ocean City Pops Orchestra and the Ocean City Theatre Company (OCTC) will team up to present eight performances of “The Sound of Music” at the Bill and Nancy Hughes Performing Arts Center (beach block of Sixth Street) from Aug. 3 to Aug. 12. The timeless musical features cherished songs and a memorable story. It earned five Tony awards and five Oscars. Ocean City's adaptation is being staged by Shannon Agnew. Elizabeth Worley serves as the choreographer and Debbie Rolland oversees musical direction with Jonathan Kreamer as the musical’s conductor. After a nationwide casting process, OCTC selected an impressive cast of performers to lead the Ocean City production. Emily Cochrane (Maria Rainer) returns to OCTC after previously being seen in “Annie” and “Mamma Mia!” Christopher Davis (Captain von Trapp) has an extensive regional theater resume, including roles in “42nd Street,” “Titanic,” “Little Mermaid” and “Cabaret,” among others. Show times will be at 7:30 p.m. on August 3, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 12, and at 2 p.m. on Aug. 4 and 11. Visit the Ocean City Music Pier Box Office, call 609-399-6111 oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice for more information and to purchase tickets ($25 to $30).  Check out the Art of Surfing Festival. CONTESTS AND WEEKLY HAPPENINGS Ocean City’s “Wacky But Not Tacky” series of Wacky Wednesdays continues at 10:30 a.m. August 3 at the Ocean City Music Pier with “That’s How the Cookie Crumbles,” a cookie shaping and sculpting competition. No advance registration is required for this free family event. The popular weekly Farmers Market on the grounds of the Ocean City Tabernacle is open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Wednesday through Sept. 14. The market features the best of fresh produce from local farms in the region, along with a variety of craft vendors. The Ocean City Twins Contest awards prizes to those who look the most and least alike. The contest takes place on Wednesday, August 3, and is open to all ages. Registration is free and begins at 5:30 p.m. in front of the Music Pier. The contest begins at 6 p.m. A Sand Sculpting Contest on Thursday, August 4, will be open to kids, teens, adults and families. Registration is free and begins at 9 a.m. at the Sixth Street Beach.  Family Night on Thursday, August 4 will bring a variety of bands and entertainers to the Ocean City Boardwalk from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the event will continue on Thursdays through the season. On Tuesday, Aug. 9, Mummers Night will return to the Boardwalk from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. with string bands providing entertainment. Cars and Coffee from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 6 will combine two of everybody’s favorite things. More than 100 classic and unique cars will be on display on the grounds of the Ocean City Tabernacle at 550 Wesley Avenue. Rain date is August 13. The Ocean City Pops will present Symphony Night on Sunday, August 7. The musicians of the Ocean City Pops take center stage as featured soloists. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Music Pier Visit the Ocean City Music Pier Box Office, call 609-399-6111 or visit oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice for more information and to purchase tickets. Sound of Music performances begin Aug. 3 at the PAC in the Ocean City High School. (Photo courtesy of OCTC)