Sunfest Underway In Resort

OCEAN CITY — Sunfest, which recently ranked number one on Sunshine Artist Magazine’s annual 200 best shows list for 2013, celebrates its 39th year this weekend with music, food, arts, crafts and just plain fun.
Earning the top spot for “traditional arts and craft shows in the nation,” Sunfest boasts over 180 crafters, along with live music, hayrides on the beach and a wide and delicious offering of food.
Live entertainment plays throughout the event. All entertainment is free with the exception of evening headline shows. Headliners started last night with Jesse Garron’s Tribute to Elvis. Friday night will be two country stars, Kip Moore and Kacey Musgraves. Saturday night, The Beach Boys will rock the Sunfest tent to a sold out crowd.
Available tickets are on sale at the Ocean City Convention Center Box Office on 40th St. Box office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets will also be available on site during Sunfest, or at www.ticketmaster.com, 800-551-7328.
Parking is restricted at the festival grounds so it is advised visitors take advantage of the Town’s park and ride services. The West Ocean City Park and Ride on Route 50 just west of the bridge provides a convenient location for attendees with free parking and shuttle service to and from the South Transit Center on S. Division Street, just a block from Sunfest. Shuttle service is $1 per boarding or $3 ride all day.
Express trolley service is also available at the Convention Center on 40th St., where you can park for free in the south lot and ride the trolley directly to Sunfest. Fare is $3 ride all day or $1 per boarding as is the normal bus fare service. Additional park and ride locations are also located at the Public Safety Building on 65th Street, the municipal lot at 100th St. and Northside Park at 125th St. (walk to bus stop on Coastal Highway). The Boardwalk tram also will be in service during the event with fare of $3 one way.
In other special event news, tickets are now on sale for Springfest headliner Merle Haggard. At the age of 73, the veteran singer/songwriter is still making some of the most compelling music of his long and storied career.  It almost goes without saying that Haggard is widely regarded as country music’s greatest living recording artist.
Along the way, Haggard has scored no less than 39 number one country hits; won various Grammy, CMA and ACM awards; become the only California-born artist in the Country Music Hall of Fame and been the only country performer ever featured on the cover of the jazz bible Downbeat.
Haggard will take the Springfest stage on Friday, May 2, 2014.  Tickets will be on sale at the Ocean City Convention Center Box Office on 40th St. Box office beginning September 13 or at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices range from $24-$55.