By MADDY VITALE
Families took to Ocean City to ring in the new year and enjoy an array of entertainment for First Night 2022, an annual celebration that boasted 70 shows and events over 20 venues.
The annual family-friendly event, in its 29th year, was canceled last year due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions.
But Friday’s First Night more than made up for it, as revelers enjoyed ice skating, inflatables, bands, amusement rides, the booming sounds of the drums from the Japanese Drummers, jugglers and even a Hawaiian Luau show.
“It is a testament to the traditions of Ocean City,” Mayor Jay Gillian said of the successful non-alcoholic event. “It is about tradition, a way of life. Twenty-nine years ago this event was started by a bunch of good people.”
The eclectic mix of shows and events began at 4 p.m. and went to midnight.
First Night seemed to give everyone something or somethings to enjoy. People filled the entertainment venues and at midnight came an impressive fireworks display seen from the Boardwalk and the beach.
Kelly Hudak, of Ocean City, took some of her children to the ice-skating rink outside of the Sports & Civic Center to start off the night of festivities.
The Hudaks were among many First Night button holders who waited in a quickly moving line to get their skates and hop on the ice. The rink was installed especially for the event.
“We are so excited,” Kelly Hudak said. “We are locals, but this is actually the first time we have come to First Night. We didn’t know what to expect. It is awesome.”
Hudak, who is a mom of eight, brought Clay, 3, Ollie, 6, Poppy, 9, Sebastian, 12, and 14-year-old Charlie for the night of fun.
“Ollie couldn’t wait to try out ice skating,” Hudak added. “We are at the beach so much, but we don’t go ice skating.”
There were 10,000 admission buttons to First Night, and they sold out by Friday.
City officials made sure to keep the number of button holders in any event within the allowable limits amid the continuing pandemic.
First Night volunteers handled the flow of traffic in and out of the Music Pier, the high school and other venues as per COVID-19 precautions.
There were also hand-sanitizing stations situated throughout the different locations.
For those who did not purchase buttons, there was still plenty to do as they strolled along the Boardwalk on a mild, misty night.
A popular attraction for many of the kids, were indoor rides at Gillian’s Wonderland Pier.
Children laughed as they went around on the famous carousel. Others zipped along in race cars around a track.
Outside the Music Pier, people posed next to ice sculptures that celebrated the New Year with the words “Happy New Year Ocean City” and 2022.
Before the event began, Mayor Gillian cut a ceremonial ribbon to start First Night.
Michele Gillian, the executive director of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, City Council members, local dignitaries and others attended the ribbon cutting.
Later on, inside the Music Pier, the Give & Take Jugglers kept the crowd amused. The duo even brought some children up to the stage to participate to the applause of the audience.
Tim Kubart and The Space Cadets also had an interactive performance. Kubart asked the crowd to join in, clap along, tap along, wiggle their arms and get into the beat.
Kubart even asked the crowd to help him to bring fellow band member, Felipe Galganni, who is a tap dancer, up on stage.
After a few calls to Felipe he rushed out on stage to the delight of the audience and began to tap dance.
Julie Carlisi, of Marmora, and her children, Curren, 10, and 13-year-old Kai and their cousins Emily, 6, and 10-year-old Logan Carlisi, of Raleigh, N.C., were amused by the show.
“We’ve been to First Night a bunch of times,” Julie Carlisi noted, as she listened to the band. “It is always a great time. My sister-in-law and my husband’s brother come at this time each year and we go to First Night.”
She added, “I love Ocean City and what they do for families. I’m sure people are happy they held it this year.”
Later in the evening, the event headliner, Grammy-winning group Tavares performed their hits for the crowd including “It Only Takes a Minute,” and “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel.”
Mayor Gillian said that the night was all about families getting to enjoy a night together to celebrate and ring in the new year.
He credited someone very special with helping to make First Night possible 29 years ago.
When looking out at the bustling Boardwalk, he spoke of Mark Soifer.
Soifer was the city’s public relations genius who came up with many of the zany and clever events Ocean City continues to host year after year. He retired from the city at the end of 2016 after decades of service.
Soifer died in June of 2021 at age 89.
“First Night continues to grow each year and get more and more successful,” Gillian said. “To see Mark’s dream continue is really a testament to him.”
