OCEAN CITY – Both residents and visitors alike are becoming more and more attracted to Sundaes in the Park and the accompanying fireworks display.
At the conclusion of Monday’s Mayor and City Council meeting, Mayor Rick Meehan announced the thriving attendance at Sundaes in the Park.
“Sundaes in the Park have grown tremendously over the past few years in popularity. Perhaps the favorite of our family fun events, Sundaes in the Park is the perfect example of outdoor amusement for families of all ages, for little to no cost. Northside Park is the perfect setting for families to enjoy the event’s outstanding entertainment schedule, free fireworks and breathtaking bay views. Add an ice cream sundae and it is literally the ‘cherry on top’ that makes this event one of a kind,” Ocean City Communications Manager Jessica Waters said.
This Sunday marks the half way point for the annual Sundaes in the Park weekly concert series, which begins each July. In its 18th year, this Northside Park-based event features free weekly live entertainment and the opportunity to purchase and build your own custom ice cream sundae.
Sundaes in the Park take place on Sunday evenings from 7-9 p.m. at Northside Park on 127th Street and the bay. The Recreation and Parks Department encourages attendees to bring a picnic basket and beach chairs to Northside Park to enjoy ice cream sundaes and live entertainment while overlooking the Assawoman Bay. A short fireworks show follows starting at 9 p.m.
“We offer a wide selection of toppings from cherries to whipped cream to candy sprinkles and you can pile it on ‘til your heart’s content,” Ocean City Special Events Director Frank Miller said. “Guests may purchase vanilla or chocolate ice cream as the foundation for the sundae or purchase another treat from the selection available on site.”
Other concessions available include ice cream bars, packaged snow cones, popsicles, soda, water and other favorites for a hot summer evening.
The lineup of entertainers this season has had the audiences cheering with performance so far by Jimmy Buffett tribute band Key West Band, a magic show by Mike Rose, Robert Eric’s tribute to The Piano Man Billy Joel, Lollipop the Clown, the Soul Show by Quiet Fire, a juggling workshop by Cascading Carlos, and a classic rock/funk/pop band The Janitors.
Performances to come starting this Sunday is a the Elvis tribute band Bob Loughheed’s Elvis on August 16, Front Page News on August 23 and the 60’s and 70’s British rock tribute The British Invasion Experience on August 30.
According to Miller, Sundaes in the Park has grown as a resident and visitor favorite over the years enhanced last year by the addition of fireworks and this year by an expanded marketing effort.
Although Sundaes in the Park is not a ticketed event and an exact attendance figure is unknown, Recreation and Parks Director Susan Petito confirmed attendance has been at all-time high so far this summer.
“The fireworks have brought a lot of people in and they just seem to love it,” Petito said.
Last summer the fireworks display was added to the conclusion of Sundaes in the Park. The fireworks are part of a series of events put on by TEAM Productions, which also produces the laser light shows with fireworks on Sundays and fireworks on the beach downtown on Mondays and Tuesdays during the summer.