Christmas Parade Rolls Down Asbury Avenue in Grand Style

Ocean City held its annual downtown Christmas Parade, bringing joy, laughter and holiday cheer to families Friday night along the way.

Local bands, dance teams, festive floats and Santa himself paraded downtown under the twinkling lights, wreaths and garland decorating Asbury Avenue. The parade began at 6 p.m., rolling down Asbury from Sixth to 11th streets.

“It’s an amazing small town Christmas parade,” said Amy King, who was visiting from Virginia with her family to enjoy the festivities. “All of the downtown decorations are absolutely beautiful, too.”

The Salvation Army Brass Band, Ocean City High School Marching Band, the Interboro High School Marching Band from Prospect Park, Pennsylvania, and the Absegami High School Marching Braves played everybody’s favorite holiday hits.

The Ocean City, Sea Isle City and Longport Fire Departments all drove trucks down Asbury to add to the excitement.

    Santa arrives in grand style in a horse-drawn carriage.
  

The Seashore Dog Training Club marched with more than 20 well-behaved, four-legged friends, greeting families for a quick pet along the way.

Club President Ellen Porter was walking two English Setters, named Atta Boy and Telly, that were dressed in holiday attire. She said the organization has participated in the parade for more than 30 years.

“I really enjoy seeing the crowd each year, and their reaction that our dogs are so well-behaved, not barking or carrying on,” Porter said. “It’s really a wonderful parade. We always look forward to it.”

Frosty the Snowman, characters from Frozen, Buddy the Elf, the Grinch, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse all appeared on floats. One float even featured a Grinch cold-air balloon, towering 10 feet tall.

Ocean City High School’s Drama Guild, color guard and boys’ cross-country team, which recently won the South Jersey Group III Cross-Country Championships, also had a float.

    The Grinch makes a comical appearance in balloon form.
  

Dominick Dougherty, who attends the parade with his family each year, set up a table on Eighth Street with boxes of cookies and a huge jug of hot chocolate for other parade-goers to enjoy for free, spreading some extra holiday cheer and helping to chase away the chill in the North Pole-like weather.

“My favorite part about setting this table up is watching people come and be surprised that it's free, someone is just giving it away,” Dougherty said. “It's cool to watch families and kids just come and gather around the table and get some hot chocolate and go enjoy the parade.”

Sean and Christine Simonds sipped on hot chocolate with their son and daughter, Reilly and Brooklyn, as they watched floats, dance teams and bands travel down Asbury. Christine Simonds said Reilly was thrilled to go to the parade this week.

“He’s been super-excited to see all of the fire trucks. And, of course, the big guy at the end,” she said of her son’s reaction to Santa.

    Members of the Mitchell and Adamiak families enjoy the parade.
  

Grace Mitchell, who was enjoying the parade with her mother, Kate Mitchell, her aunt, Steph Adamiak, and cousins Teagan and Kayla Adamiak, was also particularly excited to see Santa Claus for the parade finale.

“We’ve had lots of fun. We got to see Santa and we got lots of candy,” Grace Mitchell said, also speaking about her cousins.

The parade concluded with Santa waving, chuckling and spreading smiles to hopeful children as he was pulled down Asbury Avenue by a horse-drawn carriage.

    Parade spectators Sean and Christine Simonds bundle up along with their son and daughter, Reilly and Brooklyn.
  

    Free hot chocolate is available during the parade on a chilly night courtesy of Dominick Dougherty.
  

    Amy, Peter and Michael King watch the parade from a prime spot along Asbury Avenue.
  

    The Ocean City High School Drama Guild marches down Asbury Avenue past City Hall.