57 °F Ocean City, US
November 4, 2024

Night In Venice

Storm dampens boat parade, doesn’t stop Ocean City’s big summer party night

OCEAN CITY — Vacationers and locals filled the bayside and lagoons Saturday evening to see the iconic Night in Venice boat parade, which came to a bit of an early end because of a short but powerful thunderstorm that scattered some spectators but didn’t stop the partying. 

The grand marshal and parade leader was Jim Gardner, retired Action News anchor. People on land cheered and celebrated when they recognized Gardner’s familiar mustachioed face.

Boats began their journey at the Longport Bridge and made their way along the bay and through the lagoons until they arrived at their final planned destination, Tennessee Avenue. 

Spectators shouted, waved and laughed as the decorated boats passed.

The spirit of Philadelphia was alive and well with the theme this year being “It’s a Philly Thing.” 

There was Philadelphia sports team representation: Phillies, Eagles, Flyers and 76ers. Even sports teams mascots were present: the Eagles’ Swoop, the Phillies Phanatic, the Flyers’ Gritty and Philadelphia Union’s Phang. The decorated houses along the bay and lagoon also showed off Philly pride and culture featuring the Liberty Bell, Mummers, cheesesteaks and the famous movie, “Rocky.” 

Aside from the boat carrying the grand marshall, others carried Mayor Jay Gillian, Ocean City Council members, pageant queens and Miss Night Venice and her court.

Prizes were awarded to the best decorated boats and houses. 

The best boat in show 25’ and over was the Shanti, by the Toner family, “No One Likes Us, We Don’t Care.” The best boat in show 24’ and under was the Dsea V of the Callahan family with a “Philly Cheesesteak” theme. 

Among the decorated houses were a lot of Philadelphia sports teams and “Rocky” represented.

There also were three different houses that were decorated as Barbie’s dream house in honor of the hit “Barbie” movie. 

Even partiers were dressed to match the house themes, wearing sports jerseys, Mummers and Rocky costumes and looking like Barbie girls.

As the parade carried on, lightning was spotted and a powerful thunderstorm brought the parade to a screeching halt. The water became rough and the storm so bad boats were docked all along the Bayside Center and the Ocean City Yacht Club. Because of the lack of boat slips some boats had to dock at people’s bayside houses. Spectators also tried their very best to take cover. 

The storm took about 20 minutes to pass and once it did some boats headed back to shore to enjoy the parties and others decided to continue on with the parade. The rain didn’t stop them and it sure didn’t stop the fireworks either. 

Night In Venice is one of the busiest summer nights on the island with thousands of people crowding bulkheads to see the parade pass and make it to the parties that went on until well into the night. 

NIV DECORATING BOAT RESULTS

Boat Number, Name of the Boat, Family’s Name and Theme

Best in show 25’ and overà #263, Shanti, Toner, No One Likes Us, We Don’t Care

Best in show 24’ and under à #248, Dsea V, Callahan, Philly Cheesesteak

1st Place Lead Boat à #202, Icona, Hilferty, Gritty & Dan Hilferty

2nd Place Lead Boat à #203, Gone Fishin’, Elliott, Philly Phanatic

3rd Place Lead Boat à #216, OC Parasail, Richards, Ferko String Band

Best Commercial à #251, Keeper, Herron, Barbie Party

Best Non-profità #220, Reel Addiction, Eachus, Local Elected Officials

Best Decorated 25’ and over

1st Place: #289, Lusea Rose, Badagliacco, Barbie Dream Boat

2nd Place Place: #237, Salty Fish, Fisher, Move Closer to Your World

3rd Place: #291, Master Baiter, Smith, Luau

Best Decorated 24’ and under

1st Place: #229, That’s What Sea Said, Young/Beiswinger, Salty Peanuts

2nd Place: #282, Heading West, Gillespie, Whiz Wit

3rd Place: #246, Delivering Shims, Staley, Lets Go Phillies!

Best Comic 25’ and over

1st Place: #253, Tipsy, Pau Hana, The Geator with the Heater

2nd Place: #241, Brook Sea III, Brook, It’s A Philly Thing

Best Comic 24’ and under

1st Place: #264, No Name, Carleton, Grease The Poles

2nd Place: #287, No Name, Randazzo, All Things Rocky

3rd Place: #242, Dozens of Dollars, Pace, Llamas Love Cheesesteaks 

Best Musical 25’ and over

1st Place: #208, Moover, Moss, Night In Venice Tributes Jerry Blavat

Best Musical 24’ and under

1st Place: #279, The Three “C”s, Lawless, South Philly Menu

2nd Place: #223, No Name, Cates, Tribute to Jerry Blavat

Most Original 25’ and over

1st Place: #245, Eliza – Gail, Higgins, Phildelphia’s Channel 6 – Action Cruise

2nd Place: #297, Luna Tuna, Senatore, Union Construction Workers

3rd Place: #244, Shore Bet, Mancill, 76 Traffic, Always a Shore Bet in Philadelphia

Most Original 24’ and under

1st Place: #258, Reel Nauti, Pitman, It’s Always Sunny with Noreaster Nick!

2nd Place: #271, Reeling Rocco, Leo, The Best of Philly

3rd Place: #280, Brown eyed Girls, Terry, American Girls

HOUSE RESULTS

#, Last Name, Theme

Zone 1:

1st Place: #72, Allen, Grease The Poles

2nd Place: #31, Weckerly, It’s A Philly Thing

3rd Place: #76, Delibertis, 6ABC On The Wooder

Zone 2:

1st Place: #143, McMahon, Philly Phans

2nd Place: #132, Gabriel, Come On Barbie, Let’s Go Party!

3rd Place: #105, Greene, Philly Love

Zone 3:

1st Place: #22, Kelly, We Love Philly!

2nd Place: #33, Jenkins/Burgess, It’s A Philly Thing

3rd Place: #20, Kelly/Fitzpatrick, It’s Always Chilly in Philly

Zone 4:

1st Place: #36, Hernandez, Crazy Philly Phans

2nd Place: #13, Wiegand, It’s A Philly Thing

3rd Place:  #46, Walker/LoSasso, Philly Twist

Zone 5:

1st Place: #79, Thornton, A Magical Night in Venice

2nd Place: #71, Lawver/Weber, It’s A Shore Thing

3rd Place: #52, Sage, Chez Phanatic & Phriends

3rd Place: #30, Reardon/O’Connells, Philly Pever

Zone 6:

1st Place: #26, Myers, The Moshulu – A Taste of Philly

2nd Place: #85, Smith, It’s A SWOOP Thing

Zone 7:

1st Place: #111, Miller, Rocky Philadelphia’s Hometown Hero

2nd Place: #102, Davidson, The Steaks Are High, It’s A Philly Thing…Bring Us A Championship!

3rd Place: #92, Scanlons/Brandenberges, Game On!

Zone 8:

1st Place: #67, Redmond, It’s A Philly Thing

2nd Place: #82, Seitzinger/Boyle, Night in Dublin

3rd Place: #118, Dorney, Boat House Row

Zone 9:

1st Place: #41, Wiggins/Moffet, Traditions

2nd Place: #89, Rosenberg, It’s A Philly Thing

3rd Place: #88, Marshall/Rombola, Dilly Dilly

Zone 10:

1st Place: #171, Vaules, Grease The Pole

2nd Place: #16, Handen, It’s A Philly Thing – Cheesteaks

3rd Place: #64, Sutera, #WeAreOCNJ

Zone 11:

1st Place: #23, Huber, Motown

2nd Place: #134, Ruh, Tailgate Like OC Sunny Harbor – It’s A Philly Thing

3rd Place: #169, Pellegrino, It’s A Philly Thing

Zone 12:

1st Place: #147, Votta, Pizza Party!

2nd Place: #146, Hill, It’s A Philly Thing/Eagles

3rd Place: #163, Seeburger, Phanatic About OC!

Zone 13:

1st Place: #35, Murphy, It’s A Philly Thing: Celebrating Philly Things

2nd Place: #49, Rafetto, Xfinity Live!

3rd Place: #63, DeLeo, Philly Sports

Zone 14 (Best Condo/Commercial):

1st Place: #75, Harbor House Condo, Philly Love Is In The House: The Harbor House

2nd Place: #165, Marina Mews Condos, It’s A Knock Out

3rd Place: #87, Bay Club Condos, Bay Club Celebrates “It’s A Philly Thing!”

3rd Place: #164: 10th Street Wharf, Pretzels on the Bay

By CAMRYN SCHULTHEIS /For the Sentinel 

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