OCEAN CITY — Andrea Carew was up and out early with her three daughters — Maddie, 10, Grace, 5, and Molly, 4 — to take advantage of the sales and festive spirit Saturday along Asbury Avenue during Ocean City’s annual Earlier than the Bird Downtown Shopping Extravaganza.
The Ocean View residents were decked out in matching plaid pajamas complete with fur-lined nightcaps and looking for bargains, breakfast and some free hot chocolate at the 10th annual event.
Carew said she and the girls make it a point to attend the event every year.
“We wear matching Buffalo plaid pajamas every year. We have a blast, and we get hot chocolate and keep going,” Carew said.
Maddie, a fourth-grader at Upper Township Elementary School, said she likes “that you can walk around in your PJs and everyone else is doing it so it’s fun to see what everybody’s wearing. And I like the decorations.”
Shopping her mother and three sisters at Mia’s Christmas Gallery, Leah Patrick of Philadelphia, who was excited to note that she would be getting married next year in Ocean City, said she and her family visit their shore house every year for the event.
“We try to match, so you’ll see everyone in a matching sweatshirt,” Patrick said. “I love being able to support local and it’s the first shopping that I do for the season.”
She said what makes Ocean City so special is all of the window displays.
“Last night we were walking on Asbury when it was dark and we were getting excited and making a plan for where we were going to go today,” Patrick said.
What started as a promising morning turned windy and cold but Madison Derbyshire was dressed for “fowl” weather in her turkey outfit. It wasn’t so much a choice of Thanksgiving over Christmas as it was one of convenience. The primary school teacher said she already had the costume.
It was the second year at Earlier than the Bird for the island resident, who said she “wore nothing last year.” It’s unclear how that went over in family-friendly Ocean City.
Rosalyn Lifshin and Nancy Miller were doing brisk business at Sun Rose Words and Music, where Sam Swetra of Petersburg was buying books with her son AJ, almost 2.
The store owners said they opened at 7 a.m. and were having some sales success.
“We’ve been busy since we came in,” Lifshin said.
While AJ enjoyed a chocolate chip cookie, Swetra said she likes the event because “it promotes local shopping, it’s fun, it’s whimsical and there are good sales.” She said Sun Rose is her first stop every year because it offers 30 percent off.
Roseanne Nicolucci, manager of LEH Soap on Asbury Avenue, was busy ringing up customers.
“I’m super grateful, we’ve been busy since the door opened,” she said, noting it’s the best sale of the year, a tiered discount on everything of as much as 40 percent off.
She said LEH Soap makes 12 special scents for holidays and the products are all natural.
Teresa Riendeau, sitting with daughter Rachel outside Stainton’s, was sporting her holiday best. She said she is part of a small group that attends the event each year, pointing out she was featured in The Sentinel’s holiday guide in a picture from 2022.
“I love it. Everybody’s so happy walking around. It’s just nice, really nice,” Riendeau said.
Inside Stainton’s gallery, owner Brad Jacobson was wearing matching PJs with his wife, Bridget.
“It’s our favorite day, the second-biggest day of the year to July 4,” he said.
“This is the kickoff to the holiday season,” Bridget Jacobson added. “We look forward to this all year long. This is one of the most fun days to come out shopping.”
She said she likes that “it brings the whole family out, dressed in the same PJs,”
Bridget Jacobson, vice president of the Downtown Merchants Association, said the city is offering even more this holiday season with Festive Fridays.
“There is no better place to come and visit right now the way that the city is all set up. City Hall and the streets are decorate, it has that small-town Hallmark feel,” she said. “We’re really excited to partner with the Chamber of Commerce in promoting these events.”
Michele Gillian, executive director of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, called Earlier than the Bird “ a great time to shop and start going down your list.”
“We have lots of people in great outfits. It’s a great tradition,” she said.
Gillian said free horse-and-carriage rides will be available that day from noon to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from Nov. 25 through Dec. 23. It’s a chance to ride the downtown the old-fashioned way with boarding at Sixth Street and Asbury Avenue.
New this year, the downtown will be celebrating “Festive Fridays.” The fun will start Nov. 24 with Ocean City’s traditional Christmas in the Downtown – “Our Miracle on Asbury Avenue.”
The Black Friday event includes shopping, horse-and-carriage rides, street entertainment, carolers and visits with Santa. 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 Dec. 1 with the annual Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. from Sixth to 11th streets on Asbury Avenue. Festive Fridays will then continue from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 8, 15 and 22.
Other upcoming events include
— the annual Fast & Furriest 5K Turkey Trot on Nov. 23 down the Boardwalk.
— Holidays with the Ocean City Pops at 6 p.m. Nov. 25 led by conductor Vince Lee and featuring soloist Sara Maimone at the Ocean City Music Pier. For tickets, visit OceanCityVacation.com/BoxOffice.
— Photos with Santa in Lifeguard Boat (Nov. 25-Dec. 23): Noon to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at the Ocean City Music Pier.
— Visits with Santa in the Downtown (Nov. 25-Dec. 23): 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays at Mark Soifer Park, Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue.
— Train Show (Dec. 2-3): Free admission to model train show 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
— “Finding Nemo JR” (Dec. 8-10): Ocean City Theatre Company students in grades 3 to 8 will present this stage adaptation of Disney’s classic story. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8-9 and 2 p.m. Dec. 10. More information and online ticket sales are available at oceancitytheatrecompany.com.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
