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Your Ocean City Fourth of July Weekend Guide
🎡 Ocean City, NJ's only weekly newsletter
Kyle Scott
July 03, 2024
It’s Fourth of July week(end)! Weather looks decent-ish. We have tons of updates today, including holiday events, fireworks, construction updates on some notable attractions, the coolest caps on the Boardwalk, and more.
But first, I’d like to bring you this very important update on my younger Little Squirt, who is now a two-time defending Ocean City eating champion, winning the under 5 division at the Wacky Wednesday pie eating contest today:
In the email today:
📆 Upcoming Events in (and around) Ocean City
Wednesday, July 3
🇺🇸 Thursday, July 4
🚴♂️ Bike Parades
Gardens: Longport Bridge to East Atlantic Blvd. 210 Gardens Parkway, Ocean City. Bike Parade Sponsored by the Gardens Civic Association. Registration 9 a.m. at the Longport Bridge parking lot. Parade begins at 10 a.m.
South End: Bike Parade Sponsored by the South OC Improvement Assoc, City of Ocean City and the Chamber of Commerce. Registration 9 a.m. at 40th & Asbury Ave. Parade begins at 10 a.m.
Riviera: Bike Parade Sponsored by the Riviera Neighborhood. Registration at 11 a.m. at the Rosemar Lane Park. Parade begins at Noon.
🏃♀️ Junior Olympics (Sea Isle) | Dealy Field (6108 Central Ave.) | Free for boys and girls ages 3 to 12, registration starts at 9:30 a.m., details here
🎻 Ocean City POPS Free Outdoor Concert | Carey Stadium (6th and the Boardwalk) | 8:00 p.m., more details here
🎶 Somers Points Beach Concert (Somers Point) | John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band | Details and times here
🪁 Kite Flying Competition | Beach next to Music Pier | 7:00 p.m.
🎆 Fireworks
Ocean City: 6th Street on the Beach, 9:00 p.m.
Margate: Huntington Avenue Beach, 9:00 p.m.
Sea Isle: 50th Street Beach, 9:15 p.m.
Avalon: 30th Street Beach, 8:55 p.m.
Wildwood: Boardwalk, 10:00 p.m.
Friday, July 5
Saturday, July 6
🔈 Concert Under the Stars: Jesse Garron - Elvis Tribute (Sea Isle) | Excursion Park | Details and times here
Sunday, July 7
🎶 Ocean City POPS Present Greatest Hits | Music Pier | 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. | Details and tickets here
You can see the full list of events in all nearby Shore towns with the following links: Ocean City | Sea Isle | Margate | Avalon | Stone Harbor | Somers Point | Wildwood | Cape May | Ventnor
Also note the Ocean City Library has many events for adults and kids alike on their calendar, which can be viewed here.
🚜 Construction Updates
Over the past few months, we’ve told you about a bunch of new major attractions coming to Ocean City.
Time for updates.
Thunder Falls Adventure Golf (34th and Simpson)
From Mark Benevento, the man behind Congo Falls, comes the ever-meandering proposal for this mini golf course set to welcome patrons as they come over the 34th Street bridge.
Sitting just past the random backhoe that’s been parked at that corner all summer and the red-tagged Seaspray Condominium is the beautiful… old shuttered bank that’s just waiting to be demolished and turned into this bad boy, complete with a 29-foot high waterfall:
Images from submitted application to the city
Plans and variances were approved in December, and Boardwalk Development Company LLC (Benevento’s company) was supposed to submit a Minor Subdivision Application (to split the lot in two) by July 25. But a recent filing for a planning board meeting next week asks to extend the deadline until April 25, 2025.
Boardwalk Development Company cited their waiting on easement approvals from Cape May County and Ocean City’s demolition restriction in the summer months as reasons for the delay.
You’ve likely seen by now the other new golf course on 34th Street, Sandcastle Putt Club (34th and Asbury), which has consistently been crowded. SPC comes from the O’Hara family, which also owns Uncle Bill’s, Aunt Betty’s, and Nauti Donuts.
Nearby residents were initially concerned about increased congestion, but the new course appears to fit into the rapidly-changing area beautifully. I mean, it looks GREAT (haven’t played there yet, but plan on it).
Thunder Falls, though, based on filings and having seen the GIANT GORILLA at Congo Falls, may be a bit more in-your-face… and so it’ll be interesting to see what nearby residents have to say once construction begins.
My idea? Someone should buy the Seaspray next door and turn it into a haunted house. If it collapses, you become one with the attraction. A real family fun area it will be.
Let’s take a quick poll— you can leave more detailed comments after you select your answer if you’d like:
What do you think of the idea to bring another mini golf course to 34th Street?Choose one: |
Moorlyn Theatre
Promised you a better update last week, but multiple requests for comment from the owner, Town Square Entertainment, which also owns theaters in Stone Harbor, Rio Grande, Northfield and Ventnor, weren’t returned… soooo I Walked The Boards and took a few pictures of ongoing construction:
Today, painters and other assorted contractors were inside. Based on my observation and the picture of other inside work last week, it seems like things are coming along. But from the looks of it I wouldn’t expect a summer reopening.
Playland’s Castaway Cove
The park has long been reopened after the fire, but the main entrance arcade and new proposed coaster are still not open.
The coaster is a long ways off, but the arcade, which we last heard from VP Brian Hartley was waiting on electrical contractors, is… coming along. And good news: it appears they found an electrician!
The target was an August reopening, but based on the photos that seems… ambitious.
The area at the top which could eventually be home to a family-friendly coaster may require years of development and planning.
The Yard
A couple of weeks ago we told you about TJ Heist’s (owner of OCNJ Watersports) proposal for The Yard, a family recreational facility coming to 741 West Ave.
The proposal was indeed approved.
Per TJ: “We are fully approved and anticipate breaking ground this fall on the project.“
🧢 The Coolest Hats on the Boards
This is not an ad. All Campus (10th and Boardwalk) has not just the coolest hats, but maybe the coolest items, I’ve seen on the Boardwalk.
They are currently selling custom hat collaborations with the Phillies, 47 Brand, and famous OC businesses.
These custom, limited edition hats pay homage to Prep’s, Steel’s Fudge, Surf Mall, Jilly’s Arcade, Del’s, and Lumber Yard.
These are sure to go quick. I’m told collabs featuring Manco’s and Johnson’s Popcorn sold out in about two weeks last summer.
If I didn’t have a GOOFY shaped head, I’d buy the heck out of the Prep’s hat.
If you are not a hat person, I recommend forwarding this to the person in your life who is, because if they like the Phillies and Ocean City, these are basically a must-have.
If you stop in, tell them Walking The Boards sent you. Want to see what kind of power the ol’ newsletter has.
🏊♂️ Aquatic Center Pool Improvements Coming
City Council approved a resolution to put get bids for work to renovate the very old aquatic center pool.
Details:
The city estimates renovations will cost about $2.5 million
Work is expected to begin on or around August 1 and take 4-6 weeks to complete, with a target of September 15
Improvements include replacement of the pools' failing main drain, decking repair, surface drainage improvements, and repairs to the pool walls
The timing is intentional to minimize disruption to the competitive swimming season
Aquatic center members will be given the option to freeze their account during construction
Per Mayor Gillian in his weekly update:
“The pool is 46 years old now, and the drain beneath it is failing. This repair has been on our radar for many years now, and it’s reached a point where it must be completed. Because we have to close and drain the pool, we’re going to take the opportunity to complete all necessary repairs at the same time. We expect it to be closed for four to six weeks starting as soon as early August. Members will have the opportunity to freeze their memberships.”
🔗 News Links
🏠 Real Estate Update
If you missed it last week, you can read our May market update right here.
If you are interested in more Ocean City real estate coverage, subscribe to our free real estate newsletter here:
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🤵♂️ Joe Conklin Returns July 13 with a Special Guest
Joe Conklin is returning to the Music Pier on Saturday, July 13. He’ll perform his highly acclaimed stage show with the City Rhythm Orchestra for a “night of comedy and music.”
We’re hearing that Flyers great Bernie Parent will be in attendance.
The show is at 7:30 p.m. You can get tickets here.
🇮🇹 Patroni’s Is Now Open
The Italian takeout spot in the former home of Voltaco’s is now open. Patroni’s (957 West Ave.) opened on Monday, and you can see their menu here.
Haven’t tried it yet. We’ll have a full review in the coming weeks.
🛟 List of Guarded Beaches
Before we get to it, 9 people were rescued in Ocean City last Saturday morning, before guards were officially on duty. Please don’t be stupid— swim where there is a lifeguard, when they are on duty. Rip currents are very real.
With that in mind:
The Ocean City Beach Patrol guards beaches from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekends and holidays, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
From Thursday, June 27, 2024 until further notice, the following beaches will be guarded:
Seaspray
Surf Road
Atlantic
North Street
Stenton
St. Charles Place
Pennlyn
Park Place
Brighton Place
Surfing Beach
8th Street (open until 7:30 p.m.)
9th Street (open until 7:30 p.m.)
10th Street
11th Street
12th Street (open until 7:30 p.m.)
13th Street
14th Street
15th Street
17th Street
18th Street
20th Street
22nd Street
24th Street
26th Street
28th Street
30th Street
32nd Street
34th Street (open until 7:30 p.m.)
36th Street
39th Street
42nd Street
44th Street
46th Street
48th Street
50th Street
53rd Street
55th Street
58th Street
Guarded beaches may close unexpectedly for various reasons. Please swim only in front of an OCBP lifeguard stand staffed by OCBP lifeguards.
Remember:
📈 Previous Poll Results
Few interesting nuggets.
Last week, we asked you what you thought of Margate’s plan to fine parents of unruly teens. A full 97.86% of voters thought Ocean City should adopt this policy:
Just a sampling of the many responses:
“Parents should definitely be held accountable for their children up to age 18”
“It’s upsetting when friends and family call me and ask what in the world is going on in ocean city. Teens and parents need to be held accountable.”
“It’s ridiculous what’s going on in the shore towns these days. Not even renting there this year. I’m not paying thousands of dollars for a vacation that will be ruined by a town that doesn’t handle they’re youth properly”
Obviously, this is pretty popular.
But well-placed sources indicate to us that while Ocean City may want to do this, it probably isn’t legally enforceable, perhaps explaining why it hasn’t yet happened and likely won’t happen.
It’s possible this is more of a public relations thing for Margate, with a side of psy-ops. They look good and may compel enough parents to pay attention to what their kids are doing, even if it may be hard for the town to enforce these fines.
On a lighter note, when asked which beverage in my summer beer fridge you like the most, Surfside was a clear winner (I agree!), getting 30% of the overall vote:
🌊 Tides
July 4, 2024
• Low Tide: 1:32 AM
• High Tide: 7:20 AM
• Low Tide: 1:16 PM
• High Tide: 7:42 PM
July 5, 2024
• Low Tide: 2:23 AM
• High Tide: 8:11 AM
• Low Tide: 2:06 PM
• High Tide: 8:29 PM
July 6, 2024
• Low Tide: 3:10 AM
• High Tide: 8:59 AM
• Low Tide: 2:54 PM
• High Tide: 9:13 PM
July 7, 2024
• Low Tide: 3:55 AM
• High Tide: 9:44 AM
• Low Tide: 3:39 PM
• High Tide: 9:55 PM
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Thanks! Enjoy the (holiday) weekend.
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