Ocean City rolls into late October on Thursday, Oct. 24 with its 72nd annual Halloween Parade. The event is a favorite on the fall calendar and features local children, families, bands, entertainers, businesses, and organizations costumed for the occasion. The parade starts at 7:15 p.m. Thursday and proceeds down Asbury Avenue from Sixth Street to 11th Street.
The event is sponsored by the Ocean City Exchange Club. Watching the parade is, of course, free with great spots to catch all the action from either side of downtown Asbury Avenue. Late registration for participants in the parade will be available at a table staffed from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on parade night at Sixth Street and Asbury Avenue in front of GGs Diamond Tailor Shop. For more information, call 800-813-5580 or visit ochp.blogspot.com.
The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerces Welcome Night invites the community to the Ocean City Sports and Civic Center 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23. The annual event allows residents to meet Ocean City groups, businesses, and organizations and learn more about their products, services and missions. Welcome Night is free to all attendees. For more information, call 1-800-BEACH-NJ.
All organizations, individuals, and families are encouraged to participate in the Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweep on Saturday, Oct. 26. The semi-annual statewide events invite the public to help keep our beaches clean and safe and protect our coastal environment. Volunteers can check-in at the Ocean City Music Pier and pick up supplies there. The event is from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
51ST ANNUAL SURF FISHING TOURNAMENT ON SATURDAY
The Ocean City Fishing Club invites families and individuals to compete in its 51st annual Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 26. Teams and individuals are welcome to participate and vie for trophies and bragging rights.
Even if someone doesnt belong to a fishing club, they can register on the morning of the tournament, and well put them together with other individuals to create a fishing team, tournament chair Ed Parkinson said.
Registration for the tournament will take place from 5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. Oct. 26 at the Ocean City Primary School (550 West Avenue), a new location this year. It costs $65 for a six-member team, while individuals can sign up for only $15. The fishing sessions start at 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and the tournament will span beaches from 23rd Street to 40th Street, using vehicle access points at 23rd Street and 34th Street.
For more information, call Parkinson at 215-680-6652 or email eparkinson718@gmail.com.
ALSO COMING UP
TRICK-OR-TREATING (Oct. 31): Hours for traditional trick-or-treating in Ocean City will be 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Halloween Thursday, Oct. 31.
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (Nov. 1-2): The Ocean City Theatre Companys Junior Company will perform two shows of the Broadway and Hollywood musical that has devoured the hearts of theater-goers for more than 30 years. The show features 25 students from area schools in grades 7 to 12. Performances start at 7:30 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier (Moorlyn Terrace and Boardwalk). Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling 609-399-6111 or by visiting oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice.
TRAIL OF TWO CITIES (Nov. 2): The annual 5-kilometer run/walk travels a point-to-point course over the Ninth Street causeway from Ocean City to Somers Point. Registration opens at 7 a.m. at the Ocean City Transportation Center (10th Street and Haven Avenue). The race starts at 8 a.m. For more information and pre-registration, visit www.ocnj.us/race-events or call 609-525-9317.
OC READS (Nov. 9): OC Reads and the Ocean City Free Public Library will welcome Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads Sing. Owens will be giving a book talk, Q&A, and book-signing at the Ocean City Music Pier. Doors will open at 1 p.m. No tickets or advanced registration required. Seating is first-come, first-served and open to the public. For additional information, call 609 399-2434, ext. 5222 or visit www.oceancitylibrary.org.
VETERANS DAY PROGRAM (Nov. 11): Ocean Citys annual Veterans Day Program will be at 11 a.m. at the Ocean City Tabernacle, 550 Wesley Avenue. For more information, call 609-399-6111.
WOMEN OF WONDER LUNCHEON (Nov. 14): The Atlantic Cape Community College Foundation and the Cape May County Womens Commission invite the public to the 2019 Women of Wonder Luncheon 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 at the Flanders Hotel in Ocean City. Ocean City Free Public Library Director Karen Mahar will be honored, along with Stormy Freese and Shirley Becki Wilson. Tickets for this scholarship fundraiser are available by visiting www.atlantic.edu/wow or calling 609-463-3621.
BOZ SCAGGS (Nov. 16): Rescheduled from July 1, this concert featuring Grammy Award-winner and chart-topping songwriter Boz Scaggs will bring unforgettable hits to the Ocean City Music Pier. The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets start at $49. Visit www.ticketmaster.com.