OCEAN CITY — What’s more American than a good, old-fashioned bicycle parade to celebrate the nation’s founding? Two good, old-fashioned bicycle parades in America’s Greatest Family Resort, that’s what.
The tradition continues this year with parades on both ends of the island.
The South End Fourth of July Bike Parade, previously hosted by the South Ocean City Improvement Association, will include a special tribute to its longtime organizer, John Fallon, who passed over the winter.
Registration is set to begin at 9 a.m. Monday, July 4, in the parking lot of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church at 40th Street and Asbury Avenue. The event is scheduled to roll off at 10 a.m. heading south to the playground at 52nd Street and Haven Avenue, where festivities continue.
The Gardens Civic Association will again host the North End parade, complete with decorated conveyances on two, three and even four wheels. Participants gather at 9 a.m. at Wesley and Newcastle roads, in the parking lot next to the entrance to the Ocean City-Longport Bridge.
Ocean City Public Information Officer Doug Bergen said the city and Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, along with volunteers from the neighborhood, will sponsor the event this year.
“We’re going to add a special award this year honoring John Fallon, a longtime president of SOCIA and parade organizer who passed away this year,” Bergen said.
Participants are encouraged to dress themselves and their bicycles in the spirit of the holiday.
Miss Ocean City Maddyn Randazzo, Junior Miss Ocean City Makenna Fleming, Little Miss Ocean City Arianna DiAntonio, all of the Miss Night in Venice contestants, Martin Z. Mollusk and Ocean City Police and Fire vehicles will participate in the parade. The South End parade also invites small floats from participants.
Mike Dattilo, who held various roles with the city including business administrator, said Fallon was active in SOCIA for many years and they worked together “on a lot of good community projects they undertook.” He said SOCIA would conduct beautification projects in the South End, including planting flowers and maintaining the welcome sign at 55th Street and awarding a college scholarship.
“A lot of good, positive community service-type of stuff,” Dattilo said. “He advocated for their section of town.”
He said the biggest event, without question, was the annual bike parade.
“It’s been going on for decades,” Dattilo said. “It’s one of those community events that people look forward to — a lot of years of tradition — and we want to make certain that it keeps going.”
Dattilo said last year, even in poor health, Fallon helped with registration “and saw the parade off on time” after a couple of years off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We thought it was important to recognize all of his years of involvement,” Dattilo said.
Fallon’s family members are expected to be in attendance and the John Fallon Award will be presented for the first time at the conclusion of the parade.
“The focus is on the kids and the families having fun with the patriotic theme,” Dattilo said.
Duane Sonneborn, treasurer of the Gardens Civic Association, said they had a banner year last year with close to 1,200 people participating.
“The overflow came down Gardens Parkway on the service street for about three blocks,” he said. “I think everybody was feeling good — it was a good day — and decided to come out and participate.”
He’s hoping the big year translates into renewed interest in the event, as well as membership on its board.
Sonneborn said the organization was founded in the 1950s and holds several events each year to raise money for a scholarship and to benefit four local charities — the Ocean City Ecumenical Council, which hosts a food bank at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church; the Ocean City Clothes Closet; Covenant House; and HOPE Pregnancy Center.
In addition to the bicycle parade, the Gardens Civic Association holds an Easter egg hunt at the playground on North Street.
Sonneborn said people like to decorate their bikes with red, white and blue streamers and crepe paper for the parade. Children receive a free T-shirt while adults get one for a small donation. He said this year they are giving out sheets of reflector stickers to help motorists see bicyclist in this busy city.
“Other than bad weather, I think we will have a big year again,” he said, noting the event would not be possible without the help of fellow board member Greg Donahue, who arranges for the treats at the end of the parade at Beach Road and East Atlantic Avenue, and volunteer coordinator Pete Peterson.
The parade is scheduled to roll off at 10 a.m. at Wesley and Newcastle roads, next to the entrance to the Ocean City-Longport Bridge.
“Everybody seems to enjoy it, it’s been a lot of fun,” Sonneborn said.
Weekend events
Other weekend events include two free patriotic Ocean City Pops concerts at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 3, and Monday, July 4 at Carey Stadium on the beach block of Fifth Street. A Fourth of July Skate Bash is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. July 4 at the Ocean City Skate Park, Fifth Street and Asbury Avenue. A kite-flying contest will fill the sky with color at 7 p.m. July 4 on the beach and boardwalk near the Music Pier. The fireworks are scheduled for 9 p.m. July 4, with the display launched from a barge off Ninth Street.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff