Ocean City Welcomes 2025 in Style

Ocean City held its 32nd annual First Night New Year’s Eve celebration Tuesday, bringing smiles and laughs to families across town.

The event featured over 70 activities and entertainment programs across 23 different venues throughout the city, beginning at 4 p.m. and concluding with a fireworks show at midnight.

For many, the event is a beloved family tradition to celebrate ringing in the New Year.

“It’s always a good time. The kids absolutely love it,” said Terry Scullin, who was there with his wife, Salina, and two daughters, Braylee and Avey.

“There’s always plenty of fun things to do. We walk through all the different entertainment areas without a specific plan and always have a great time,” Scullin added.

Braylee and Avey said their favorite part of the night was watching the Ocean City Theatre Company’s performance of “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive The Bus, The Musical!” in the high school auditorium, where hourly showings were held from 5 p.m. through 8 p.m.

Afterwards, Atlantic City Ballet had hourly shows from 9 p.m. until midnight in the auditorium.

    Line dancing in the high school gym is a big hit.
  

In addition to ballet and theater performances in the auditorium, Ocean City High School hosted trivia and karaoke games in the cafeteria, telescope observations inside the planetarium, concerts in the community room, and line dancing activities and basketball performances in the gymnasium.

The Mickey Mouseketeer Show kicked off a night of performances at the Music Pier, followed by a Minion Mayhem show based on the movie “Despicable Me,” a Royal Prince and Princess Showcase, two Eagles tribute concerts by Best of the Eagles, and two Yacht Rock GoldExperience concerts.

Inside the Civic Center were a variety of inflatable bounce-houses from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Then, the Sensational Soul Cruisers, an 11-man horn group with four vocalists, performed from 9 p.m. until midnight, playing Classic Soul, Motown, Disco and R&B hits.

The outdoor basketball courts at the Civic Center offered ice skating, while a DJ played music.

    The Eagles tribute band, Best of the Eagles, performs at the Music Pier.
  

Admission for First Night required a $25 button. Buttons were available for purchase at the City Hall Welcome Center, Roy Gillian Welcome Center and the 46th Street Welcome Center.

The event was sponsored by Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Cape May County Division of Culture and Heritage, McMahon Insurance Agency, Ocean City Free Public Library, Uncle Bill’s Pancake House and Atlantic City Electric.

All municipal parking lots and metered parking spots were free, and jitneys provided free transportation from 5 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. for button holders, operating continuously between all venues.

Colleen Kelly enjoyed the New Year’s celebration with her husband, Kevin, and sons, Luke and Jack for their fifth time in a row.

“This is such a good family-centered kind of thing to do with our kids, and our friends along with their kids,” Colleen Kelly said. “It's just a really positive way to ring in the new year.”

    Inflatables are part of the family fun in the Civic Center.
  

The Kellys started their night watching Dustin Dean Mentalist at the Senior Center, then enjoyed numerous shows and activities at the high school, including one of singer Keith Hickman’s musical performances at the Community Room, BrainWash Game Show and Karaoke at the cafeteria.

Luke and Jack Kelly both agreed that their favorite part of the night was being blown away by Dustin Dean’s psychic capabilities.

Jim and Dawn Anderson attended First Night for their first time this year, with their daughter, Amy Larson, and granddaughters, Pearl Larson and Brielle Larson.

“It's our first year, so we didn't know what to expect,” Dawn Anderson said. “It's been really good. This is a really nice event for the city.”

They attended the 4 p.m. Mickey Mouseketeer Show at the Music Pier, inflatable bounce houses at the Civic Center, and a Harlem Wizards basketball trick show in the high school gymnasium, which impressed Jim Anderson.

Brielle Larson said the inflatables inside the Civic Center were by far her favorite activity of the night.

“The unicorn and the Mickey Mouse inflatables were my favorite,” she said.

First Night concluded with a fireworks show at midnight between 5th and 6th streets, officially marking the beginning of 2025.

    An ice rink creates a winter wonderland.