Ocean City Starts Season ‘Earlier Than the Bird’

Ocean City’s downtown shopping district kicks off the holiday season with a unique small-town event on Saturday, Nov. 18.

The “Earlier Than the Bird” Downtown Shopping Extravaganza invites everybody to shop in their pajamas to take advantage of early-bird shopping specials from 8 a.m. to noon. The event gives everybody a chance to beat the crowds, avoid the malls and get some shopping done on the weekend before Thanksgiving.

In addition to taking advantage of hourly discounts and specials, shoppers can enter in stores to win door prizes and gift certificates. Free coffee will be available at Jon and Patty’s Bistro (637 Asbury Ave.), Ocean City Coffee Company (Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue) and Starbucks (11th Street and Asbury Avenue). Drip and Scoop (960 Asbury Ave.) will offer free standard doughnuts.

WAYV-FM 95.1 will broadcast live from Mark Soifer Park at Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue, and that’s where the door prize winners will be announced at about 11 a.m. Ocean City’s own turkey mascot will be strolling the Avenue and awarding free turkeys to the best-dressed. Later in the day, free horse-and-carriage rides will be available from noon to 3 p.m. in front of City Hall.

For more information, call 1-800-BEACH-NJ.