OC Summer Events Approved

OCEAN CITY – Several upcoming events received approval this week, including the OC Air Show, the Wicomico Street Winter Festival and the White Marlin Festival and Crab Soup Cook Off.

Brian Lilley of the OC Air Show submitted the annual special event permit to hold the OC Air Show June 13-14 for staff review per the three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the event and the Town of Ocean City.

The event creates positive economic impact from lodging, food and beverage, recreation and other incidental expenditures related to this event. Included in the MOU the Town of Ocean City budgeted an annual allocation of $35,000 towards the event, as well as provides up to $100,000 of in-kind services, which is managed by the Special Events Department.

Councilman Matthew James asked for the OC Air Show to print a schedule of events to occur throughout town, such as flyovers, and not just surrounding the event’s headquarters downtown. Steve Webster of the OC Air Show said he would address that with his superiors.

The council voted 5-0 to approve this year’s OC Air Show special event permit with Council members Dennis Dare and Tony DeLuca absent.

Next, Lisa Aydelotte of the Downtown Association requested the Wicomico Street Winter Festival be approved to take place on Nov. 7. The event consists of a visit from Santa, vendors selling crafts, food and non-alcoholic beverage sales, games for children and live music.

Revenue to the town includes $275 for Private Event Fees and $490 for Town Asset and Support Fees, totaling $577. However, the Downtown Association requested two waivers.

The event is eligible to receive up to a 75-percent discount in Application and Space Usage Fees upon approval of the council as well as town procedures allowed for the council to consider all costs and determine if any shall be waived or lessened based on type of promoting entity or event beneficiary.

The council voted 5-0 to approve the special event permit and to waive a portion of the fees.

Next, the Downtown Association requested the White Marlin Festival and Crab Soup Cook Off’s three-year event approval be continued up to May of 2017.

The council voted 5-0 to approve the special event permit for three years as well as the fee waivers. The next White Marlin Festival and Crab Soup Cook Off will take place on May 2.