OCEAN CITY – City officials agreed this week to hold the 19th Annual Mayor’s Open House at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center on New Year’s Day to showcase the new Performing Arts Center, which will open next month.
At the conclusion of the Mayor and City Council legislative session on Monday evening, Mayor Rick Meehan brought forward a recommendation to make a change to this year’s Mayor’s Open House.
“The Mayor’s Open House has taken place annually since 1997 right here at City Hall. That has been 18 years of the same activity with a tremendous response over the years. It is like anything else, like with the new council, maybe it is time to change things up a little bit,” the mayor said.
The mayor proposed to have all the same exhibits as have bene traditionally featured at City Hall in the Convention Center’s north lobby.
“We think it is a great opportunity for people on New Year’s Day to stop by the mid-town location of the Convention Center. The Mayor and City Council will certainly be there to welcome them and to interact with our resident, non-resident property owners and our visitors. It will give many of them the first opportunity to get a look at the new Performing Arts Center and get acquainted with it,” the mayor said.
According to the mayor, there is growing excitement over the change in location.
“It is something a little different to celebrate New Year’s Day and hopefully will grow into an annual concert event that we can have on New Year’s Day to help encourage people to spend more time in Ocean City and celebrate the New Year with us,” he said.
The City Council voted unanimously to approve to hold the 19th Annual Mayor’s Open House at the convention center this year.
Upon the council’s approval, the Town of Ocean City in a press release reported the Mayor’s Open House’s details. Visitors can view the pictorial history of the Convention Center, while also having the privilege to enjoy a first-look of the two tiered, 1,200-seat auditorium. This rare glimpse, which takes place before the official Performing Arts Ribbon Cutting, will also offer free entertainment by Bryan Russo with several special guest performances.
Outside the festively decorated convention center, the Ocean City Fire Department will have equipment on display and the mounted police and canine units of the Ocean City Police Department will be featured.