OCEAN CITY — Bryan O’Malley was putting the finishing touches on his 2021 ice sculpture Friday as the city’s popular New Year’s Eve celebration began at the Ocean City Music Pier.
By the next day, when hundreds lined up to take the traditional First Dip in the ocean — and many more just to watch — both the work of art and the year were gone forever. Good or bad, the memories will remain.
Sure to evoke good memories were events to wrap up the year at multiple venues throughout America’s Greatest Family Resort, which welcomed back First Night, an alcohol-free event that offered more than 70 opportunities to catch 30 different shows and activities at 21 venues.
The city’s First Night was founded 29 years ago and modeled after a celebration in Boston that marked the nation’s bicentennial in 1976. Its first celebration included 25 entertainment acts at five locations with about 800 people attending. Today, attendance is capped at 10,000.
On the Music Pier stage, headliner Tavares, a Grammy Award-winning group, played hits such as “It Only Takes a Minute,” “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel” and “More Than a Woman.” Earlier in the evening, Tim Kubart and the Space Cadets swapped performance time with the Give & Take Jugglers.
Local magician Chad Juros pulled off some sleight of hand alongside Japanese drummers, Hawaiian dancers and the Harlem Wizards basketball team at Ocean City High School.
In the gym, sisters Ashley Berdel, 19, and Samantha Berdel, 22, of Hatfield, Pa., watched as Harlem Wizards Broadway and Loonatik handed out prizes. Wizard Richard McCalop, of Odessa, Texas, got the crowd going with a slam dunk.
Mike and Kayla Iames of Ocean View brought children Easton, 10, and Taylee, 6, to their first First Night.
“I think it’s awesome. I think the city does a great job organizing everything and putting it all together,” Mike Iames said. “It was simple to get the tickets and even easier to come, so I think everybody is having a blast.”
“There’s something for all ages,” Kayla added.
The rides at Gillian’s Wonderland Pier were open and drew a large crowd. Buddies Julian Tavares and Mark Linnehan, both 3, shared a car ride.
Standing with his daughter Loriella, Linwood’s Joel Caplan was waiting for his wife, Oranit, and daughter Shailee, 10, to finish on the Tilt-A-Whirl.
“It’s a great activity for families, and with the weather you can’t beat it,” Caplan said, noting it was their first time attending.
Twin sisters Stephanie Agger of Delaware and Lindsey Selby of Cape May brought their children to enjoy the rides.
“It’s a good environment for the kids to hang out and see their cousins,” Agger said.
Sawyer Carideo, 7, and Carson Carideo, 3, enjoyed the antique fire engines.
“I think all of the rides are very unique — they’re old but very well-kept — and it’s outside,” Selby said.
There was ice skating and bouncy houses at the Civic Center, where Gerry and Carole Foley, of Huntington Valley, Pa., were spending time with grandson Silas Foley, 5, of Beesleys Point.
The Ocean City Arts Center joined the fun this year with a social music listening activity called “Hear Here!” Other events took place throughout the Community Center at the library, Aquatic & Fitness Center, Historical Museum and Senior Center.
At Saint Peter’s United Methodist Church, the Ocean City Pops performed “RESPECT: A tribute to Aretha Franklin.”
Salazar the Magician and Dueling Pianos played the primary school, while Ocean City Tabernacle and Ocean City Life Saving Station No. 30 also hosted events.
“First Night has become one of our biggest family traditions, and we’re thankful that it returned. A nonalcoholic arts and entertainment event is what Ocean City is all about. First Night continues to grow each year and get more and more successful. To see Mark Soifer’s dream continue is really a testament to him,” Mayor Jay Gillian said, referring to the longtime city publicist who created many of the city’s most popular events.
First Night sold out of 10,000 admission buttons, but venues were management, public information officer Doug Bergen said.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff