By MADDY VITALE
Everyone loves a parade, and at Night in Venice in Ocean City on Saturday thousands of spectators viewed the procession of decorated boats along the bayfront in this year’s theme, “It’s a Philly Thing.”
From retired Action News anchor Jim Gardner, the grand marshal, to just about all the Philly sports mascots, the Flyers Gritty, the Phillie Phanatic, Eagles Swoop and Philadelphia Union’s Phang, it was definitely a “Philly Thing” in the resort.
Families filled the bleachers at Bayside Center as others watched from house parties along the bayfront.
In all, 110 boats made up the parade, making it one of the biggest in its 68-year history, with 175 decorated homes.
“Go Phillies” and “Philly!” were shouted from the Bayside Center.
But not all the shouts and oohs were for the zany parade. A few were reserved for the lighting strikes seen overhead when a thunderstorm swept through the area. As the claps of thunder came, along with the flashes of lightning and looming black clouds, the city called for a delay.
The parade, which went off just after 6 p.m., went until about 7 p.m., before boats were called in to dock until the storm passed. Not only did many of the boats return to the parade, but the fireworks went on afterward.
Maryann “Mac” McElroy acted as the emcee and when the skies looked ominous, she told everyone to head for cover.
Crowds left and others stayed, some retreating to the pavilion at the Bayside Center until the rain stopped.
But before that, families gathered on the lawn at the center, on bleachers and in lounge chairs to watch the parade. They had front row seats to the entertainment.
In addition to watching the spectacle of decorated boats, there was food and music and even face-painting.
Barbara and Jim Raihall, of Glen Mills, Pa., and their son, James, 9, were excited for their first Night in Venice parade.
The family takes a weeklong vacation in Ocean City every summer. They spent the Fourth of July in the resort and decided to come back for the parade.
“We’ve been coming for 10 years and never saw the parade,” Barbara said. “We always heard so much about it.”
Jim said he was excited about the night. “I really want to see the decorated boats,” he said.
“I want to see the fireworks,” James exclaimed.
Yvonne Album, of Philadelphia, brought her children, Hannah, 7, and 11-year-old Liam to town for a family night out.
“We love the parade and the fireworks. We are really looking forward to it,” Yvonne said.
The Night in Venice boat parade takes the same route each year. It begins near the Ocean City-Longport toll bridge and travels along the bayside to Tennessee Avenue, looping in and out of lagoons along the way.
Among the celebrities appearing in the parade, Broadway performer Michael James Scott flashed a smile and waved to the crowd from his boat.
Among the boats were the Miss Night in Venice pageant contestants, string band members who serenaded the crowd from a small, yellow boat, emergency personnel boats, and Tiki boats with dancing passengers.
City dignitaries, including Mayor Jay Gillian and his wife, Michele Gillian, executive director of Ocean City’s Chamber of Commerce, along with members of City Council, also had boats in the parade.
The parade was only half of the entertainment.
In addition to the bayfront parade viewed from myriad areas of the island, the house decorating contest was a main attraction.
Judges pick winners among the boats and homes. The city typically announces the winners in the following couple of days.
