The original beauty contest for crustaceans returns as an evening event this year. In an annual tradition, Ocean City celebrates the beauty of hermit crabs with contestants vying for the coveted Cucumber Rind Cup. All families, kids, businesses and organizations are invited to enter their crustacean in the wacky competition on Wednesday, August 15.
The pageant begins at 6 p.m. on the beach at Sixth Street with registration for competitors opening at 5:30 p.m. The pageant promotes responsible ownership of hermit crabs and features them displayed in elaborately themed dioramas. The winner gets to travel a flowery runway to take her reign.
“Ocean City is the only place in the world where you’ll see a crustacean beauty pageant,” event founder Mark Soifer said with his usual sense of understatement.
The pageant is followed immediately by the annual Hermit Crab Races with the speediest crustaceans competing for the King of Klutz Plaque. Both events are free to watch or join. For more information, call 609-399-6111.
The Little Miss Ocean City Pageant starts at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17 at the Ocean City Music Pier. The pageant will include more than 18 girls ages 8 to 11 competing in talent and other categories. This year’s pageant includes a Hawaiian theme. Reigning Little Miss Ginger Mumman will crown her successor at the conclusion of the pageant. Tickets for the event are $10 and will be available at the Ocean City Music Pier Box Office, by visiting oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or by calling 609-399-6111.
The Junior Miss Ocean City Pageant starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18. Contestants will compete in interview, talent, evening gown and onstage question in a pageant with a “Dancing Queen” theme.
Junior Miss Ocean City 2018 Hope Aita will crown her successor after a dynamic year of service. Junior Miss Ocean City serves as an ambassador for the City of Ocean City at iconic traditions like Night in Venice, Pamper Scamper, Baby Parade, Christmas Parade, Wacky Wednesday activities and more.
Contestants range in age from 12 to 15 and are either year-round residents in Ocean City, attend or have graduated from Ocean City High School, or are the daughters of Ocean City property owners.
Like the Little Miss Pageant, tickets for the event are $10 and will be available at the Ocean City Music Pier Box Office, by visiting oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or by calling 609-399-6111.
Wacky Wednesday (August 15): Paperclip Sculpting and Little Miss/Mister Chaos and Miss/Mister Miscellaneous are the events this week. Use your creativity to shape and sculpt paper clips into your very own unique masterpiece.
The contest is free and open to all ages. As the sculptors work, who will win the titles of Miss and Mister Miscellaneous? This hidden and unique talent competition is for anyone over the age of 6. Judges are looking for unusual and unique talents.
Plus, Little Miss and Little Mister Chaos, which requires boys and girls from 3 to 5 years of age to make as much noise as possible by banging on supplied pots and pans. Contest is free and open to all ages. Start time is 10:30 a.m. at the Music Pier. For more information, call 609-399-6111.
Jerry Herman: The Broadway Legacy Concert (August 15): The Ocean City Pops Orchestra celebrates Jerry Herman, a legendary songsmith and a master of the show tune. From “Hello, Dolly” and “Mame” to “La Cage Aux Folles,”
Herman has lit up Broadway for decades with toe-tapping, soul-stirring musical moments. Now, he’s sharing his legacy with a new generation, a cast of New York’s top Broadway and concert vocalists celebrating the songs and the stories of one of the giants of musical theater.
The show is at 7:30 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets for the event are $20 and $25 and available at the Ocean City Music Pier Box Office, by visiting oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or by calling 609-399-6111.
Summer Book Sale (August 18): Used hardbacks, paperbacks and audio items for sale. Sponsored by the Friends and Volunteers of the Ocean City Free Public Library, the sale is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the atrium outside the Ocean City Free Public Library at 1735 Simpson Avenue. Visit friendsvolunteersocfpl.com for more information.
Guts & Glory 5K Run/Walk (August 19): This 5-kilometer event benefits the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Early registration ($25) includes a T-shirt. Day of event sign-ups are $30. The course starts and ends at the Ocean City Community Center at 1735 Simpson Avenue. For more information, visit crohnscolitisfoundation.org or call 646-276-1732.
“The Best of Opera to Broadway” (August 19): The Ocean City Pops concert on Sunday will be conducted by Vince Lee with soloists Cody Austin and Larisa Martinez. “Our Three Tenors” favorite Cody Austin makes his exciting return to the Music Pier alongside debuting Soprano sensation Larisa Martinez, who is fresh off of a concert performance tour with Andrea Bocelli.
This concert has lots of laughs, along with a few surprises, including a fiery Spanish-language Zarzuela and a finale that will bring the house down. Tickets for the event are $18 and $20 and available at the Ocean City Music Pier Box Office, by visiting oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or by calling 609-399-6111.
The Beach Boys (August 20 and 21): The Beach Boys return to the Music Pier, bringing their feel-good summertime pop classics to Ocean City for four great shows in two nights. The concerts begin at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets start at $59.50. For tickets, visit Ticketmaster, call 1-800-745-3000 or stop by the Music Pier Box Office.
