By ELIZABETH LITTLE/Sentinel staff
OCEAN CITY — Independence Day is right around the corner. In addition to barbecuing and going to the beach and boardwalk, residents and visitors to Ocean City have the opportunity to take part in some fun family events such as a sand sculpting contest, bike parade and concerts.
Start Thursday, July 1, by registering for the sand sculpting contest on the beach at Sixth Street. Registration begins at 9 a.m. The contest is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon with judging starting at 11 a.m. It is free and open to all.
Family Nights on the boardwalk will also start up July 1. Every Thursday night throughout the summer, strolling musicians and other performers will walk the wooden way entertaining the crowd.
The city’s Summer Concert Series at the Ocean City Music Pier begins Friday, July 2, with Don McLean, known for his hit 1970s classic “American Pie.” That begins at 7 p.m.
On July 3, the Ocean City Pops will perform a free outdoor concert at Carey Stadium, between Fifth and Sixth streets just off the boardwalk. It is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.
“There will be patriotic favorites and it will give people a chance who may have never seen the Pops to see how cool they are,” Ocean City Public Information Officer Doug Bergen said, adding that it will be the first free Pops performance for the public.
For those who like to bike, these next events are right up their alley. Ocean City and the Chamber of Commerce are putting on a bike parade formerly run by the South Ocean City Improvement Association (SOCIA). Registration will begin at 9 a.m. in the Our Lady of Good Counsel parking lot, located on 40th Street and Asbury Avenue. The parade starts at 10 a.m. and will end at the playground at 52nd Street and Haven Avenue.
A longtime tradition continues Sunday, July 4, when the Ocean City Gardens Civic Association hosts its annual bicycle parade.
“Traditionally we have the bike parades in the morning,” Bergen said. “They decorate their bikes and themselves patriotically and take a ride down the beach blocks where East Atlantic meets Beach Road.”
Registration for the bike parade is set to begin at 9 a.m. and the parade is scheduled to roll off at 10 a.m. They meet in the parking lot by the Longport Bridge.
Festive family events continue in the evening after taking a break for beach time and dinner. At 7 p.m., the kite-flying competition begins at Ninth Street beach.
The city will be hosting a Skate Bash at the Ocean City Skate Park, 550 Asbury Ave. The free event is open to all and scheduled for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will be a DJ, snacks and prize giveaways. Participants should show up in their most patriotic apparel since there will be a costume contest as well.
Of course, no Fourth of July would be complete without the sights and sounds of fireworks. This year the show starts at 9 p.m., when it gets dark outside. Bergen had some insider secrets to share in order to enhance the viewing experience.
“They’re launched from the barge off the Music Pier, so the best place to watch is between Fifth and 14th Street on the boardwalk,” he said.
The weekend wraps up Monday, July 5, with Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes at the Music Pier. The band is known for its performances with Bruce Springsteen and was featured on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.”