OCEAN CITY — America’s Greatest Family Resort marked the 33rd anniversary of its popular family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration this year, drawing as many as 10,000 people to the island.
First Night offers more than 70 activities and entertainment programs at 20 different venues throughout the city, from the intermediate school and Community Center to the high school and Ocean City Tabernacle.
Fireworks welcomed the new year at midnight.
Mayor Jay Gillian, along with city officials and other island ambassadors such as Miss Ocean City Antonella DiAntonio, Junior Miss Ocean City Arianna DiAntonio and Little Miss Ocean City Harper Juelg, kicked off the event on the stage at the Ocean City Music Pier, where entertainment this year included a tribute to the music of Journey and Motor City: the Motown Revue.
Following the kickoff, many families headed to the Sports & Civic Center to take advantage of the indoor activities.
Friends Katie Senycz and Kim Bowman brought their children to take part in the event.
“It was just something fun for the kids to do,” Senycz said, noting she rents her island home in the summer and enjoys staying there in the off-season.
“We’re right up the street, so it’s a fun family-friendly thing,” she said.
It was her second year taking part in the alcohol-free New Year’s Eve event.
“I like how it’s just like an easy option for the kids to do. I like how it’s indoors and like super family-friendly. It feels safe coming here, you know,” Senycz said.
Newtown Square, Pa., resident Andrew McGillian was taking in the scene as his son Jesse, 3, played on the bounce house. He and his wife have a house on 50th Street and enjoy spending time in the city all year.
“We love it up there; it’s nice and quiet. It’s a different world, it absolutely is,” he said of the Southend.
It was their first time at the event.
“I think it’s great. I can’t believe you guys can fit so many of these things in here,” he said.
Philadelphia resident Amanda Simiriglio was visiting her in-laws’ home on 33rd Street for the holiday. She was chaperoning son Joey, 7, and friend Lucas Dempsey, 8, as they played basketball while waiting for the Harlem Wizards to take the court at the high school.
“They want to see the Harlem Wizards — that’s what they’re excited about — and the girls want to go ice skating,” Simiriglio said.
The cold did not deter a crowd from lining up to take part in the perennial favorite skating just outside.
Victoria Tuterice wasn’t brave enough to put on the skates but her husband, Drew, and daughters Mason, 8, and Marley, 5, were cruising around the rink.
They were staying at her parents’ house on 19th Street for their second time at the event.
“This is our first stop; we’re having a lot of fun,” she said, noting they planned to take in the Chad Juros magic show, hit the bounce houses and the drone show over Carey Stadium.
Tuterice said they love the city.
“It’s just such a nice community, you know. It’s comfortable, it’s safe, it’s fun. There’s a lot of things to do for the kids,” she said.
Other offerings included a mentalist, brain games and a variety of shows for children and adults.
Jeff and Christina Ungermah brought daughters Anna, 11, and Adelyn, 8, from Horsham, Pa., for the festivities. It was their second time at the event, and they were watching the Ben Lipman Variety Show at the Primary School.
“We had such a great time, even though it rained last year, but we knew we had to give it a second chance,” Christina Ungermah said.
She said the likes that there is a wide variety of activities
“It’s just fun; we just enjoy having a good time together,” Ungermah said.
Last year her husband was part of mentalist Dustin Dean’s show at the Community Center.
“It was crazy. We’re still like, ‘how did that happen?’ We still talk about it,” she said.
– STORY and PHOTOS by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
