Boardwalk Art Shows and Pops’ Salute to Aretha Franklin
The 58th annual Boardwalk Art Show will be held Friday through Sunday (August 6 to 8) on the boardwalk between Eighth Street and 13th Street. The celebration of the arts will include a newer event – the Art of Surfing Festival – Thursday to Saturday (August 5 to 7) at the Ocean City Music Pier.
The Boardwalk Art Show features oil, watercolor and acrylic paintings, photography, handmade jewelry, prints and drawings on display and for sale. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Awards are given to the top entries in the show. For Ocean City visitors, this is an opportunity to view and purchase great artwork from leading East Coast artists at a reasonable cost. For further information, call the Ocean City Arts Center at 609-399-7628 or visitwww.oceancityartscenter.org.
The Art of Surfing Festival features the display and sale of surf-related art, memorabilia, books and clothing. The event includes live music and meet-the-artist sessions. Admission is free to the show 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday (August 5) and noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday (August 6 and 7).
The Ocean City Pops returns Sunday, Aug. 8 with “RESPECT: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin” at the Ocean City Music Pier. This musical tribute celebrates one of the greatest singers in history. Known as the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin left an incredible musical legacy of dozens of chart-topping hits, including “Respect,” “Chain of Fools,” “A Natural Woman,” and much more. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are available at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice, 609-399-6111 or the Music Pier Box Office.
A week of fun also includes:
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4
Ocean City’s “Wacky But Not Tacky” series of Wacky Wednesdays continues at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 4 at the Ocean City Music Pier. The event invites families and individuals to participate in various activities and contests. This week, participants will compete in “That’s How the Cookie Crumbles.” The mission in this contest: use your creativity to shape and sculpt a cookie into a unique masterpiece. No advance registration is required for this free family event.
The popular weekly Farmers Market on the grounds of the Ocean City Tabernacle continue 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Wednesday through Sept. 29. The market features the best of fresh produce from local farms in the region, along with a variety of craft vendors.
The annual Twins Contest awards prizes for those who look the most and least alike. Open to all ages. Registration is free and begins at 5:30 p.m. Contest begins at 6 p.m. in front of the Ocean City Music Pier.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 5
Market Days entertainment and activities on downtown Asbury Avenue will run 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and continue Thursday mornings through the season.
Family Night entertainers at various blocks on the Ocean City Boardwalk will perform Thursday evenings 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The summer’s second Sand Sculpting Contest begins at 9 a.m. at the Sixth Street Beach. Registration is free for this informal family-friendly event. Judging takes place by 11 a.m. For more information, call 609-399-6111.
MONDAY, AUGUST 9
Lead singer Jon Anderson will perform his YES songs and other rock classics. This Summer Concert Series show begins at 7 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets are available through ticketmaster.com or at the Music Pier Box Office.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 10
The Pamper Scamper crawling race for infants up to 15 months old takes place on the beach at Sixth Street at 9 a.m. This annual precursor to the Baby Parade (scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 12) is fun for both proud parents and spectators. Registration is free and opens at 8:30 a.m.
Former Men at Work vocalist Colin Hay will show off his singing, songwriting and storytelling talents in this Summer Concert Series show. Paula Cole will open for the show, which begins at 7 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets are available through ticketmaster.com or at the Music Pier Box Office.
Funtastic Tuesdays entertainment and activities on downtown Asbury Avenue will run 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and continue Tuesday mornings through the season.
Mummers Night features string bands strutting the Ocean City Boardwalk on Tuesday nights from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR BABY PARADE ON AUGUST 12
The 111th annual Baby Parade in Ocean City is set for 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 12, 2021 and registration is now open.
All families with children age 10 and under are invited to participate. Bands, performing groups and commercial floats are also encouraged to join in the fun. Complete information and registration for the parade is available at www.ocnj.us/babyparade.
TICKETS ON SALE FOR BROADWAY SHOW
Ocean City’s Broadway series returns with “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” Aug. 10 to Aug. 13 at the Bill and Nancy Hughes Performing Arts Center. This Tony Award-winning musical tells the story of six eccentric kids vying for first prize, bragging rights, and, most importantly, a trip to the National Spelling Bee Competition.
The fully staged musical collaborations of the Ocean City Theatre Company and Ocean City Pops delight audiences summer after summer, and this production marks the return of Broadway by the Beach after shows were canceled last year due to the pandemic.
Tickets range from $25 to $30 and are available at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice, 609-399-6111 or the Music Pier Box Office.