OCEAN CITY – The early forecast calls for clear skies and mild temperatures on Saturday – ideal conditions to kick off the holiday season along downtown Asbury Avenue.
In Ocean City, that means shopping in pajamas during the annual Earlier Than the Bird celebration.
The downtown shopping extravaganza takes place 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 23 – the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Anybody (pajama-clad or not) can take advantage of early-bird shopping specials at stores on Asbury Avenue between Sixth Street and 14th Street. Free turkeys will be awarded to the best-dressed, and shoppers can text in to win gift certificates and prizes from downtown merchants. Free coffee will be available at Jon & Patty’s, 637 Asbury Ave., and Ocean City Coffee Company, 917 Asbury Ave. Downtown Asbury Avenue will be decorated for the season.
More holiday events
Free horse-and-carriage rides will be available Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. It’s a chance to ride the downtown the old-fashioned way with boarding at Sixth Street and Asbury Avenue.
The downtown will be celebrating “Festive Fridays” again this year. The fun will start on Nov. 29 with Ocean City’s traditional Christmas in the Downtown – “Our Miracle on Asbury Avenue.”
This Black Friday event includes shopping, horse-and-carriage rides, street entertainment and carolers.
The event will culminate around 5 p.m. when Santa Claus will emerge on the rooftop of City Hall. With the help of an Ocean City Fire Department ladder truck, Santa will descend and help light the Christmas Tree and illuminate City Hall.
Festive Fridays will continue on Dec. 6 with the annual Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. on Asbury Avenue from Sixth Street to 11th Street. Festive Fridays will then continue on Dec. 13 and 20 with shopping, carolers, and free horse-and-carriage rides from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.