May 2023 OCDC

Downtown Ocean City has everything

gorgeous, FREE, soft, sandy beach and 2.5-mile Boardwalk.

the multitude of shops along the boardwalk and side streets in Downtown.

Spring is a special time of year in Ocean City. The town starts to “wake up” and certain events like Crusin’ Ocean City and Springfest really jump start the season here at the beach.

We invite you to a walk or run along our beach and Boardwalk, shop on our city streets or discover all the adventures that await along the bayside.

Ocean City is the perfect place for family fun — offering great hotels, restaurants, rides, arcades, festivals and sporting events.

All that is in addition to our main attraction, our

Whether you’re an early riser who enjoys the quiet sunrise over the ocean each morning, or part of the late-night crowd looking for night life in a tropical setting, downtown is the place to be.

Family-friendly activities abound.

After a day of playing on the beach building sandcastles, children will marvel at the bright lights and sounds of the carnival rides that run throughout the afternoon and evening hours.

Endless varieties of pizza, ice cream, french fries and other summer treats are available. You’re sure to find the perfect T-shirt or souvenir while visiting

If your tastes are more of the gourmet variety, we have that covered too.

Visit one of the many sit-down restaurants, offering many variations of seafood, steak, pasta and more.

Don’t go home without sampling our famous Maryland blue crabs, steaming hot, coated with Old Bay, or a delicious crab cake prepared the Eastern Shore way.

The Boardwalk Tram starts operating this month. You can board the tram anywhere along the Continued on page 4

Index

Discover Downtown Ocean City

OCEAN CITY TODAY is the leading newspaper publisher on the Maryland coast, with Ocean City Today publishing weekly on Friday, Bayside Gazette and Ocean City Digest publishing on Thursdays and Real Estate, the Coastal Real Estate Resource publishing key weekends throughout the year. On the Web: www.oceancitytoday.com

Editor .........................................................................Stewart Dobson

Managing Editor............................................................... Lisa Capitelli

Account Managers....................... Mary Cooper, Vicki Shrier, Renée Kelly

Classifieds/Legals/Production Manager .................... Nancy MacCubbin

Senior Designer .............................................................. Susan Parks

Graphic Artist ................................................................... Kelly Brown

Publisher..................................................................... Christine Brown

Admin. Assistant................................................................... Gini Tufts

Downtown Ocean City May Events

There’s always something going on in Downtown Ocean City. Here are some highlights of what’s happing this May:

Mayor’s Bike Ride

Boardwalk

Parade

Thursday, May 4 - Noon to 8 p.m.

Join the mayor for a Star Wars-themed bike ride and parade down the famous OC Boardwalk. More info at www.ococean.com

Springfest

Thursday, May 4 to Sunday, May 7

Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m./ Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Now in its 32nd year, Springfest is four days of food, live entertainment, and unique arts and craftsin the OC Inlet parking lot. Music highlights this year include Shadows of the 60’s, Collective Soul, and Marty Stuart and His Fabous Superlatives. Admission is free (some music acts require paid tickets). More info at www.ococean.com

Fight the Bite Lyme Awareness 5K

Saturday May 13 – 9 a.m. Now in its 7th year, this 5K walk and fun run raises fund to fight and awareness for Lyme disease. More info at www.fightthebiteoc.org

Crusin’ Ocean City

Thursday May 18 through Sunday May 22 Classic cars, hot rods, customs, and muscle cars will be on display throughout Ocean City, notably at the convention center and inlet parking lot. There will also be music, automotive celebrities, live entertainment, drive in movies and a boardwalk parade. More info at www.specialeventpro.com

Downtown Ocean City: shopping, food and fun

Boardwalk and take an enjoyable ride from the inlet to 27th Street, stopping anywhere along the way. Stop by the Boardwalk Info Cottage for a full tram schedule. Art and history abound in downtown.

The Ocean City Lifesaving Station Museum at the south end of the Boardwalk, open every day, offers countless stories, of how the early residents of Ocean City built this amazing place.

Taking a self-guided walking tour is a great way to enjoy Downtown and learn about its history.

The tour highlights many of the historic buildings in Downtown.

You may also enjoy the Utility Box Art Tour, featuring utility boxes that have been transformed into works of art by local artists.

Both Walking Tours and Utility Box Tour brochures are available at the Downtown Information Booth on the Boardwalk near Caroline Street or can be downloaded from the Ocean City Development Corporation Website, www.ocdc.org.

Looking for water sport or fishing? Head on over to the bayside!

Boat and personal watercraft rentals, parasailing, fishing trips, after dinner cruises, Assateague Island nature tours and even a pirate ship are all available.

Fishing from the inlet and public piers is another great option.

We thank you for making Downtown Ocean City your vacation destination.

The fun doesn’t stop with the changing of the seasons, so if you enjoy your Spring visit, be sure to plan a trip back in the fall or winter for all of our off-season festivals and activities.

Families enjoying Ocean City’s famous Boardwalk.

Rendering of the updated Downtown Recreation Complex.

Caroline Street Wicomico Street South Division Street

Major updates undertaken at Downtown Rec Complex

Last month, the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department formally broke ground on the re-imagined Downtown Recreation Complex located between 3rd and 4th Streets on the bayside of Philadelphia Avenue.

Addressing the crowd at the ground-breaking ceremony, Recreation and Parks Director Susan Petito said, “This reimaging project has been long in the works I am grateful to the mayor and council, the Ocean City Development Corporation, and all of the dedicated town staff and community members who have supported the effort, recognized its importance, and helped it become a reality.”

Major improvements to the park include new basketball courts, new tennis/pickleball courts and the addi-

tion of public restrooms. There will also be an updated playground, walking paths, and landscaped open space. The Ocean Bowl Skate Park, a favorite and of locals and tourists alike, is also set to receive upgrades.

The Ocean City Development Corporation is excited for the project to start. New OCDC executive director Zach Bankert stated, “Our group has long supported the Downtown Rec Complex. A project like this makes our downtown a better place to both live and visit.” The OCDC hopes the updated park will be able to host future downtown events and potentially display public art.

Once completed, the public will again be able to enjoy some of the best bayside sunsets the Ocean City has to offer.

2023 Somerset Plaza Special Events

The OCDC is proud to present the O.C. Cruzers

Car Display

On select Sundays on Somerset Plaza, enjoy classic cars on display from the Ocean City Cruzers Car Club and enjoy Live Music.

Located on Somerset Street between the Boardwalk and Baltimore Avenue

Events Run from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

6/11/23. . . O.C. Cruzers and DJ

6/25/23. . . O.C. Cruzers and Live Performance by Troy Mawyer

7/9/23. . . . O.C. Cruzers and DJ

7/23/23. . . O.C. Cruzers and Live Performance by Rob Fahey

8/6/23. . . . O.C. Cruzers and Live Performance by Ray Marchman

8/20/23. . . O.C. Cruzers and DJ

9/10/23. . . O.C. Cruzers and Live Performance by Kevin Brown

9/24/23. . . O.C. Cruzers and DJ

Somerset Plaza is a semi-pedestrian street that is closed to all vehicular traffic during these special events. For additional information about these events contact the OCDC at 410-289-7739 or www.ocdc.org.

Sunset Park party nights music series will continue

Popular bayside concert series to continue in 2023

The OCDC and the Town of Ocean City are pleased to continue their collaboration in producing the free and open to the public concert series. The concerts takes place on Thursday evenings throughout July and Au-

gust, starting at 7 p.m. Sunset Park, Downtown OC’s beautiful park on the Bay, will host the nine-night series, with acts ranging from country to classic rock to jam band.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chair. The Ocean City Recreation Boosters will be onsite to sell beverages.

The Ocean City Development Corp. and Town of Ocean City offer great music in a great setting at Sunset pPark in July and August.

Boardwalk Info

Cottage receives major makeover

The Boardwalk Information Cottage has long been a valuable resource for visitors looking for local guidance on OC businesses, restaurants, hotels, amusements and tours. This year the cottage is being upgraded with a new roof, additional signage for increased visibility, and a digital screen to better inform boardwalk visitors.

Located on the Boardwalk between Caroline and North Division Streets, the Information Cottage is operated by knowledgeable volunteers and staff. They are there to help OC visitors with Boardwalk bike rules, public transportation schedules, and local events calendars.

Local Businesses are encouraged to drop off coupons, brochures, and promotional materials to be dispersed at the info cottage at no charge.

Interested in volunteering for the Boardwalk Info Cottage? Volunteer Co-Ordinator Mary Ann can be reached at 703-731-6515 or events@ocdc.org

The Information Cottage is a service provided by the Ocean City Development Corporation (OCDC) and the Town of Ocean City.

Donna Greenwood answers visitors’ questions at the

Boardwalk Information Cottage last summer.

The Original Ocean City Seafood House!

Sit on the dock and watch the sunsets over the Bay

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•Open Daily for Lunch, Dinner and Lite Fare 11am

•Open Daily for Lunch, Dinner and Lite Fare 11am

•Come By Land or by Sea

•Come By Land or by Sea

•Fish and Seafood Locally Sourced

•Fish and Seafood Locally Sourced

2 for 1 High Tide Time Daily 3pm-6pm: At the bar only

Domestics (excluding Natural Light $2 all day every day), Rail, Crushes, House Wine, & Goombay Smash

Food Specials • $1.25 Oysters • 75¢ Clams

$5.99 1/2lb Steamed Shrimp • $7 Grouper Fingers • $1.25 Wings

Live Entertainment Thurs - Sun

An Easy Walk From The Boardwalk! Reservations Recomended

$6 SCENIC CRUISE

(Available with $15 Lunch or Dinner Food Purchase.)

DEEP SEA FISHING

Family Fishing Trips • Sails Daily at 7am

NEW 3 HOUR AFTERNOON FISHING TRIP

Rod & Reels Available • Bait Furnished No Fishing License Needed Group Rates Available

The Art League of Ocean City staff joined their co-worker Aubrey Sizemore at Shenanigan's on April 19 as the OCDC presented her with their Public Art Award 2023 for her coordination of the Art League’s utility box painting efforts around the resort. Left to right: John Sisson, board president; Nancy Dofflemyer, development director; Rina Thaler; executive director; Aubrey Sizemore, award recipient and volunteer coordinator; Katie Brown, gallery director; and Kacie Neeb, gallery assistant.

Now Until May 15th

Open Thurs – Sun

Noon To 8 Pm.

As Of May 15th

Open 7 Days A Week