Tourism Officials Talk Fall Events Additions Planned For OC Festivals

OCEAN CITY – Officials say a slew of festivals and activities will highlight the fall special events calendar in Ocean City

On Monday, officials presented members of the Ocean City Tourism Commission with an update on events slated for the fall calendar Special Events Director Frank Miller said residents and visitors to Ocean City can expect events to take place nearly every weekend

“We’re about to roll into a very busy couple of months, September and October,” he said “For us at special events, it’s our busiest time of year in terms of large events ”

Upcoming events include Wine on the Beach, Bikefest, Bronco Beach Bash and Oceans Calling

Tourism and Business Development Director Tom Perlozzo noted the promoter, C3 Presents, has recently secured a license that includes the Boardwalk inside the festival footprint

“We will be able to move 50,000 people from one end to the other,” he said “It should be a great experience and an enhancement from what the footprint ori- ginally started out to be All we need to do is, everyone needs to do a dance so that it doesn’t rain, or at least not a hurricane ”

Officials noted that the town was also working with C3 Presents to share transportation and parking plans, as well as other important messages, with the public

“Like we’ve done in the past, when we have big things we need to communicate, we create a little toolkit,” said Jessica Waters, director of marketing and communications “We’re in the process of creating a toolkit for Oceans Calling

Essentially it’s like an FAQ sheet of what the residents need to know, what the hotel workers and hotel guests need to know, and what our visitors need to know ”

She said all information would be available by early September

“We’re working with the promoter to make sure our messages are in sync, and we’re hoping to get all the questions answered ahead of time,” she said “We know there’s going to be a lot of people in town, and parking is going to be limited and transportation is going to be a little challenging We’re just trying to prepare people ahead of time so they’re not surprised by any of those things ”

Miller said the fall events calendar will also see the return of Endless Summer Cruisin and Sunfest, which will include bicycle- and pet-related activities He said Halloween festivities will also take place throughout the weekend

“Just like last year, everything is free at Sunfest this year,” he added

Miller told commission members special events will continue all the way to November, when Winterfest is slated to return to Northside Park He said new displays, as well as a new layout, will highlight the annual event

“The large tent comes back, and the tram does come back as well as a true Winterfest Express,” he explained “It’s more of a trolley ride to get you around the park than the experience that it used to be The walking experience is still our primary experience, and the displays are laid out as such So if you need the tram, you can actually take it and get off at multiple locations throughout the park ”

Miller said the town will also be partnering with the Art League of Ocean City to feature a Parade of Trees at this year ’s Winterfest The artscape will be located inside the tent

“I think it’s going to be a very big value for the visitor experience as you enter into the Winterfest grounds,” he said

Perlozzo agreed, noting that it was one of many additions being explored for Winterfest

“We are looking to create a different experience inside the tent, so there is some potential for amusement rides, working with one of the local amusement parks , ” he added “It should be really good ”