Summer Of Fun, Summer Of Free

With summer about to kick into high gear, Ocean City is preparing to roll out a series of free weekly events to go along with the Summer of Thanks events — the OC Beach Lights Spectacular and the fireworks.

On Sundays through Labor Day weekend, OC Beach Lights Spectacular, a show that features lasers, lights, video, music and special effects all displayed on a five-story giant beach ball, will be lighting up the beach at North Division Street three times a night every Sunday at 9:30 p.m., 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

Tuesday nights throughout the summer there will be fireworks on the beach. Fireworks will be lighting up the sky over the south end of the Boardwalk at 10 p.m.

In addition, here’s a look at some other events on tap:

Movies On The Beach
Free Movies on the Beach kicked off last week and are planned through August three times a week.

Monday and Friday movies at 27th Street beach are weather-permitting. Movies at Carousel and Princess Royale are shown rain or shine.  All movies begin at 8:30 pm. Here’s the schedule

June 25: Gidget (vintage movie), 27th St.
June 27: Kung Fu Panda 2, Carousel Hotel
June 29: Dolphin Tale, 27th St.
July 2: Puss In Boots, 27th St.
July 3: The Smurfs, Carousel Hotel
July 5: Dolphin Tale, Princess Royale
July 6: HOP, 27th St.
July 9: Yogi Bear, 27th St.
July 11: Puss In Boots, Carousel
July 12: Jack & Jill, Princess Royale
July 13: Kung Fu Panda, 27th St.
July 16: Happy Feet 2, 27th St.
July 18: The Adventures of Tin Tin, Carousel
July 19: The Zookeeper, Princess Royale
July 20: UP, 27th St.
July 23: Cars 2, 27th St.
July 25: The Muppets, Carousel
July 26: Cars 2, Princess Royale
July 27: Tangled, 27th St.
July 30: The Smurfs, 27th St.
Aug. 1: Soul Surfer, Carousel
Aug. 2: The Muppets, Princess Royale
Aug. 3: Winnie the Pooh, 27th St.
Aug. 6: Princess and the Frog, 27th St.
Aug. 8: Jack & Jill, Carousel
Aug. 9: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Princess Royale
Aug. 10: The Muppets, 27th St.
Aug. 15: Dolphin Tale, Carousel
Aug. 16: How To Train Your Dragon, Princess Royale
Aug. 22: Hugo, Carousel
Aug. 23: The Adventures of Tin Tin, Princess Royale
Aug. 29: Zoo Keeper, Carousel
Aug. 30: Hugo, Princess Royale

Concerts On The beach

The weekly concert series on North Division Street and the beach takes places on Wednesday evenings from 8-9:30 starting next month.

July 11: Bob  Lougheed & The Mystery Train Band “A Night With Elvis”
July 18: Rising Sun Reggae Band
July 25: 21 Horses Band (country)
Aug. 8: Captain Quint (tropical rock)
Aug. 15: The Bopcats (rockabilly)
Aug. 22: Randy Lee Ashcrafts & The Saltwater Cowboys (beach country)
Aug. 20: Front Page News (classic rock)

Family Beach Olympics

The Tuesday evening events take place on 27th Street and the Beach from 6:30-8:30 p.m. starting June 26 and continuing on July 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 and Aug. 7.

Sundaes In The Park

Held at Northside Park on 127th Street and the Bay, the event, which starts July 8, features live music, ice cream delights and kids activities from 6-8 p.m. Below is the band schedule and children’s entertainment offerings.

July 8: Key West Band (Buffett tribute), Mike Rose Magic
July 15: The Janitors (classic rock/funk/pop), Lollipop the Clown
July 22: The Groove Train (70s disco), Uncle Pete with Kids
July 29: Oh Boy! (Buddy Holly Tribute), Cascading Carlos
Aug. 5: Jesse Garron’s Tribute to Elvis, Uncle Pete with Kids
Aug. 12: The Regal Beatles (yacht rock), Tootsie the Clown
Aug. 19: Sir Rod (Tribute to Rod Stewart), Mike Rose Magic
Aug. 26: Mary Lou & the Untouchables (classic rock), Maryland DNR-Scales and Tales

Sunset Park Party Nights

Sunset Park is located along the west side of Philadelphia Avenue near the Inlet and Thursday party nights feature free concerts from 7-9 p.m.

Attendees are recommended to please bring your own chairs. Beverages, including beer, are available for purchase by the Ocean City Recreation Boosters. All proceeds are used for youth programs.

July 5: Flashback to the Beatles
July 12: Full Circle (blues, funk, R&B, jazz)
July 19: Pat O’Brennan Trio (Irish)
July 26: Kevin Poole (acoustic guitar)
Aug. 2: Semiblind (rock)
Aug. 9: Allyson Taylor (soulful R&B/rock)
Aug. 16: Randy Lee Ashcraft (beach country)
Aug. 23: Rob Fahey and the Pieces (rock)
Aug. 30: Lauren Glick (blues/rock)

About The Author: Steven Green

Alternative Text

The writer has been with The Dispatch in various capacities since 1995, including serving as editor and publisher since 2004. His previous titles were managing editor, staff writer, sports editor, sales account manager and copy editor. Growing up in Salisbury before moving to Berlin, Green graduated from Worcester Preparatory School in 1993 and graduated from Loyola University Baltimore in 1997 with degrees in Communications (journalism concentration) and Political Science.