The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce will present the fifth annual Winterfest by the Sea Holiday Shopping Extravaganza from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Ocean City Civic Center, Sixth Street and the Boardwalk.
The event offers a great opportunity to kick off the holiday season at the shore. Fine handcrafted items and specialty food gifts from local vendors will be available to buy.
Tom Turkey and characters from “Frozen” will pay a visit.
Free parking will be available in the adjacent municipal parking lot (entrance on Fifth Street). For more information, call 609-399-1412.
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR HOLIDAY HOUSE DECORATING CONTEST AND CHRISTMAS PARADE:
Registration is now open for the annual Ocean City Holiday House Decorating Contest. The contest awards prizes based on creativity, special effects, lighting, theme and overall appearance. A list of all contest participants will be posted, so everybody can enjoy the holiday displays. For more information and to register, visit ocnj.us/HolidayHouse.
Registration is also open for the annual Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. Anybody who would like to enter a walking unit, float, musical act, car or dance/cheer team, can register by Nov. 29 at ocnj.us/christmas-parade.
Ocean City's Christmas Parade features colorful floats. (Courtesy of Ocean City)COMING UP IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER:
“Earlier than the Bird” Downtown Shopping Extravaganza (Nov. 23): 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.
Horse and Carriage Rides (Nov. 23, 29, 30 and Dec. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22): Free rides along decorated downtown Asbury Avenue from noon to 3 p.m., with boarding at Sixth Street.
Lucinda Williams and Her Band (Nov. 23): The concert begins at 8 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets are available at etix.com.
Fast & Furriest 5K Turkey Trot (Nov. 28): Annual 5K running race on the Ocean City Boardwalk benefits the Humane Society of Ocean City. For more information call 609-398-9500 ext. 4 or visit hsocnj.org.
Christmas in the Downtown – “Our Miracle on Asbury Avenue” (Nov. 29): 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Join the merchants and Chamber of Commerce in kicking off an old-fashioned Downtown Christmas and tree-lighting. The Ocean City Fire Department will be ready in case Santa makes his usual landing on the roof of City Hall at 5 p.m.
Old-fashioned carriage rides will add to the festive spirit of the holiday season. Photos with Santa in a Lifeguard Boat (Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22): 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier.
Santa in the Downtown (Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22): 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Mark Soifer Park (9th Street and Asbury Avenue).
Ocean City Pops Holiday Show (Nov. 30): The annual holiday show at the Ocean City Music Pier will feature the Ocean City Pops orchestra performing classic Christmas song favorites and modern hits, led by conductor Vince Lee. The show starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice.
Christmas Parade (Dec. 6): 6 p.m. on Asbury Avenue from 6th Street to 11th Street.
Train Show (Dec. 7 and 8): 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Ocean City Music Pier. Admission is free.
Festive Fridays Along Downtown Asbury Avenue (Dec. 13 and 20): Join downtown Ocean City merchants as they celebrate the holiday season with shopping specials. Enjoy horse-and-carriage rides from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. through the downtown adorned with thousands of Christmas lights and shop for some for the best gifts this holiday season. Two pickup locations include the Tabernacle (Sixth Street and Asbury) and OceanFirst Bank (10th Street and Asbury).
Bathers splash in the chilly surf for the traditional plunge on New Year's Day.Anastasia: The Musical (Youth Edition) (Dec. 14 and 15): Presented by the Ocean City Theatre Company’s Junior Company, the musical is a 60-minute adaptation of the Broadway hit specially tailored for young actors. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets can be purchased at www.oceancitytheatrecompany.com.
Jolly Trolley Lights Tour (Dec 17): Tickets are sold out for a new holiday trolley tour geared toward families with young children.
First Night New Year’s Eve Celebration (Dec. 31): A complete schedule of entertainment and tickets for this family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration are available at www.FirstNightOCNJ.com.
First Day (Jan. 1, 2025): Celebrate New Year’s Day with a Shopping Extravaganza on downtown Asbury Avenue, a 5K run on the Boardwalk (1 p.m.) and the annual First Dip in the Atlantic Ocean (2 p.m.).
