Check Out These Holiday-Season Events In Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Is it too early to turn your focus to the holiday season? Not in Ocean City.

Work crews began hanging the lights, garland, wreaths and bows Monday that will adorn Asbury Avenue for the holidays. Ocean City also has plenty of events scheduled from the weekend before Thanksgiving through New Year's Day.

"Earlier Than the Bird"

8 a.m. to noon, Nov. 23

The annual downtown shopping extravaganza runs the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Jumpstart your holiday shopping and shop in your pajamas for early-bird specials at Asbury Avenue stores between 6th and 11th streets.

Horse-and-Carriage Rides

12-3 p.m. Nov. 23-24

Ride downtown the old-fashioned way with free horse-and-carriage rides. Board in front of City Hall at 9th Street and Asbury Avenue.

Fast and the Furriest 5K Turkey Trot

8 a.m. Thanksgiving morning (Nov. 28)

The course for this 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) race is on the Ocean City Boardwalk, and proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Ocean City. For more information, call 609-398-9500 (ext. 4) or visit www.hsocnj.org/events.

The Christmas in the Downtown

2-5 p.m. Black Friday (Nov. 29)

Ocean City's small-town version of Black Friday, also known as "Our Miracle on Asbury Avenue).

The event will be a warm and entertaining time featuring carolers and performers throughout downtown Asbury Avenue between Sixth Street and 11th Street. Downtown stores will offer discount shopping for gifts, and many Asbury Avenue restaurants will be open.

Free horse-and-carriage rides will also be available. Entertainment and Christmas carols will begin at 4 p.m. on the steps of City Hall.

The event culminates 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 City Hall Christmas Tree and illuminate City Hall.

Small Business Saturday and "Holiday Pops: Musical Sounds of the Season"

Nov. 30

The shopping discounts will continue for downtown merchants.

Plus the Ocean City Pops Orchestra will perform popular holiday and special performances by vocalist Scott Coulter and his cast of Broadway soloists. Children of all ages will enjoy the classic Christmas songs.

Joining the show will be professional dancers from the Atlantic City Ballet's production of the “Nutcracker.” The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets are $25 and $20. Call 609-399-6111 or visit oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice.

The festivities continue with the annual Christmas Parade (Dec. 6), Ocean City Theatre Company’s “Lights, Camera, Christmas: 2019 Holiday Spectacular (Dec. 13-22, see oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice for information and tickets) and the First Night (Dec. 31) and First Day (Jan. 1) New Year’s celebrations.

First Night Buttons on Sale Now

All-inclusive admission buttons for Ocean City’s popular and family-friendly First Night New Year’s Eve celebration are on sale now. The price is a discounted $15 through Nov. 30, and they can be purchased at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or by calling 609-399-6111.

You can also purchase tickets in person by visiting the Roy Gillian Welcome Center on the Ninth Street causeway, City Hall’s Welcome Center at 861 Asbury Avenue or the Welcome Center at 46th Street and West Avenue.

First Night includes more than 70 shows and activities at venues throughout Ocean City. Visit firstnightocnj.com for more information.

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