OCEAN CITY – Ocean City’s annual Christmas Parade travels down Asbury Avenue at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. Lights, garland, wreaths and bows adorn “The Avenue” for the season, and the parade will bring a variety of bands, floats and other entries to add a little warmth to the winter.
The event gives spectators time to shop and dine on downtown Asbury Avenue before and after the 6 p.m. start time. The parade starts at Sixth Street and proceeds to 11th Street.
This year’s parade will feature entries including the Ocean City High School Marching Band, the Interboro High School Marching Band (of Prospect Park, Pa.), and the Absegami High School Marching Braves. Characters from “Frozen,” Frosty the Snowman, Buddy the Elf, Mickey and Minnie Mouse will be on floats. Cold-air balloons – including the Grinch – will be part of the fun. Three string bands, the Salvation Army Brass Band, Martin and Mollie Mollusk and a variety of floats also will participate.
As part of the annual tradition, Santa Claus provides a finale to the parade, greeting boys and girls from a horse-drawn carriage.
Model trains will be on display and for sale at the annual Train Show 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 7 and 8) at the Ocean City Music Pier. Admission is free. For more information, call (609) 399-6111.
Registration is now open for the annual Ocean City Holiday House Decorating Contest. The contest awards prizes based on creativity, special effects, lighting, theme and overall appearance. A list of all contest participants will be posted, so everybody can enjoy the holiday displays. For more information and to register, visit ocnj.us/HolidayHouse.
Coming up in Ocean City
Horse and Carriage Rides (Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22): Free rides along decorated downtown Asbury Avenue from noon to 3 p.m. with boarding at Sixth Street.
Photos with Santa in a Lifeguard Boat (Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22): 1 to 3 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier.
Santa in the Downtown (Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22): 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Mark Soifer Park (9th Street and Asbury Avenue).
Festive Fridays Along Downtown Asbury Avenue (Dec. 13 and 20): Join downtown Ocean City merchants as they celebrate the holiday season with shopping specials. Enjoy horse-and-carriage rides from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. through the downtown adorned with thousands of Christmas lights and shop for some for the best gifts this holiday season. Two pickup locations include the Tabernacle (Sixth and Asbury) and OceanFirst Bank (10th and Asbury).
Anastasia: The Musical (Youth Edition) (Dec. 14 and 15): Presented by the Ocean City Theatre Company’s Junior Company, the musical is a 60-minute adaptation of the Broadway hit specially tailored for young actors. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets can be purchased at www.oceancitytheatrecompany.com.
Jolly Trolley Lights Tour (Dec 17): Tickets are sold out for a new holiday trolley tour geared toward families with young children.
First Night New Year’s Eve Celebration (Dec. 31): A complete schedule of entertainment and tickets for this family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration are available at www.FirstNightOCNJ.com.
First Day (Jan. 1, 2025): Celebrate New Year’s Day with a Shopping Extravaganza on downtown Asbury Avenue, a 5K run on the Boardwalk (1 p.m.) and the annual First Dip in the Atlantic Ocean (2 p.m.).