Ocean City Announces “Phan” Favorite for Night in Venice

The latest addition to the 2023 Night in Venice boat parade lineup is a 6’6” 300-pound Philadelphia icon with a svelte 90-inch waistline. Ocean City is proud to announce that the Phillie Phanatic will bring his manic energy to the parade to help celebrate this year’s “It’s a Philly Thing” theme. The 68th annual Night in Venice is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, July 29, and retired Action News anchor Jim Gardner will serve as grand marshal. The Phanatic will join the grand marshal as grand mischief-maker for the parade. The Phanatic visited the Coast Guard station in Ocean City this week to help remind everybody of the importance of safety on the water, especially during Night in Venice. He also served as coxswain for an OCBP lifeguard boat on the Night in Venice route. Watch the following videos of the Phanatic in Ocean City: Short Promo: https://youtu.be/E8fj3CD_19w Safety Video: https://youtu.be/XXqQ1-gZ3RQ Stay posted for an upcoming announcement about one of the Phanatic’s best mascot friends also joining Night in Venice. Entries are still open to anybody who wants to participate in the excitement of the annual bayfront celebration. The optional theme of “It’s a Philly Thing” provides a chance to celebrate the rich history and culture of the Philadelphia region in sports, music, food, education, government and more. Entries for boats and homes are currently being accepted online at ocnj.us/niv or by calling (609) 399-6111. Presenting sponsors for 2023 Night in Venice are ACME Markets and the Jet Drive Exchange Boat Club. They’ve helped put together a package of prizes for participating boat and homeowners.