The Ocean City Fishing Club will welcome the public to tour its pier for the first time since visits were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Two open houses will coincide with the city’s Family Nights on the Boardwalk. The first will be held Thursday, July 27, and the second will be Thursday, Aug. 10. The pier, located on the Boardwalk at 14th Street, will be open to the public both evenings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The public is encouraged to bring non-perishable food or make a cash donation that will be given to the Ocean City Food Cupboard, a tradition that began in 2013, when the fishing club celebrated its centennial anniversary.
This year all the food items and cash will be given in memory of Bob Roth, a long-time OCFC member who died in 2022 and had a strong commitment to the Food Cupboard throughout his life.
Fishing club members will be on hand to guide visitors, answer questions and demonstrate casting and fishing techniques. The pier extends nearly 750 feet from the Boardwalk, over the beach and the ocean.
The club began a pier extension project in December 2020 to add about 113 feet to the structure. The addition was completed in spring 2021.
The Ocean City Fishing Club, founded in 1913, has a strong commitment to community involvement through its youth fishing tournaments, awarding scholarships and advocating for recreational fishing. OCFC is the oldest continually operating fishing club in the nation.
The club’s Boys and Girls Surf Fishing Tournament will be held Saturday, Aug. 12, rain or shine, at the city’s north end beach near the Ocean City-Longport bridge.
Registration will begin at 9 a.m. for youth ages 8 to 16. Fishing will start at 10 a.m. and end at noon, followed by awards presentations.
CONTESTS AND WEEKLY HAPPENINGS
Ocean City’s “Wacky But Not Tacky” series of Wacky Wednesdays continues at 10:30 a.m. July 26 at the Ocean City Music Pier with Christmas in July.
No advance registration is required for this free family event in which families can make a special craft and enjoy a visit from Santa. The event is free, but it will be open to only the first 150 participants.
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.
Family Night on Thursday, July 27 will bring two Mummers bands to the Ocean City Boardwalk from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the Greater Kensington String Band strutting between Sixth Street and 10th Street and the Quaker City String Band performing between 10th and 14th streets.
On Tuesday, July 25, Mummers Night will return to the Boardwalk from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. with more string bands providing entertainment.
Downtown Asbury Avenue will feature entertainment, face-painters, balloon sculptors and more from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday (July 27) for Market Days and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday (Aug. 1) for Funtastic Tuesday.
OCEAN CITY POPS CONCERTS ON THE MUSIC PIER
At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 27, The Jersey Tenors will take the stage with the Pops at the Ocean City Music Pier. The four perfomers will bring music from Frank Sinatra to Frankie Valli to Figaro.
They are Jersey-born and bred and Jersey-proud, and they have lots of Broadway and operatic credits to their names. The latest opera and rock mash-up sensation will include some of opera’s greatest works alongside the best of Josh Groban, ABBA, Queen, Journey, Elton John, Kool and the Gang, Bon Jovi, Springsteen and Whitney Houston.
At 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 30, one of the most dynamic performers on Broadway today, Michael James Scott, returns to Ocean City. Scott has played the Genie in Disney’s “Aladdin” internationally, including Broadway, London, the North American Tour, and originating the role in the Australian production for which he won the prestigious Helpmann Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.
He’s also known for originating the role of the Minstrel on Broadway in “Something Rotten” and originating Dr. Gotswana (aka The Maggots Guy) in “The Book of Mormon.”
For tickets to either show, visit oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice, call 609-399-6111 or stop by the Music Pier Box Office.
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES FEATURES AIMEE MANN
Aimee Mann will take the stage at the Ocean City Music Pier at 7 p.m. Monday, July 31. Grammy-nominated artist Aimee Mann has released 12 solo albums since the group ‘Til Tuesday disbanded in the early 1990s.
Check the Music Pier Box Office for ticket availability or visit Ticketmaster.
FAMILY THEATER SERIES FEATURES ‘RAPUNZEL’
The Greater Ocean City Theatre Company (OCTC) will conclude its family-friendly theatrical series on Tuesday, August 1 with a performance of “Rapunzel.”
The show is at 10:30 a.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. From the Emmy-winning team behind the mega-hit television series “Friends,” comes a familiar tale with a fantastic new spin.
Visit oceancitytheatrecompany.com for more information and to purchase tickets.
