Downtown OC: August belongs here
Discover fun, food, shopping, events and entertainment in downtown area
From the world’s richest billfish tournament to free concerts, classic cars, and a glowing farewell to summer, the south end of the island saves its best for last.
There is a certain feeling that settles over Downtown Ocean City in August. The water is at its warmest, the days are still long, and the blocks between the Inlet and 17th Street hum from sunrise until well past dark. If you have only one month to spend with us, make it this one.
The month opens with the granddaddy of them
all. The 53rd Annual White Marlin Open runs August 3 through August 8, and for one week Ocean City becomes the center of the sportfishing world. This year brings a change worth knowing about, as the tournament has expanded to six days and now allows each boat to fish for any three of them. The scales are free and open to the public at Harbour Island Marina on 14th Street bayside, where weighins begin at 4 p.m. and the crowd along the docks grows louder with every boat that backs in. You do not need a ticket, a boat, or a fishing license to be part of it. You just need to show up. If the docks are packed, head to the Inlet instead. Marlin Fest sets up on the beach and parking lot at
the south end of the Boardwalk every day of the tournament from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with live music, food and drink vendors, tournament merchandise, and giant screens streaming the weigh-ins live. Admission is free, and you can watch the boats run the Inlet on their way to the scales.
Thursday evenings belong to Sunset Park Party Nights, a free concert series presented by the OCDC and the Town of Ocean City that continues all month at this bayside park where S. Philadelphia Avenue meets S. Division Street. Shows run from 7 to 9 p.m., beer and wine are available, and the sun goes down over Sinepuxent Bay right on cue. Bring Continued on page 4
Park Place Jewelers
Quiet Storm Surf Shop
Son Spot
Soprano’s
St. Paul by the Sea
Trimper’s Rides
Wockenfuss
Discover Downtown Ocean City
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WEDNESDAY: DAY TIL’ 6PM
¹∕²-Price 1/2lb Charbroiled Burgers w/ $4 Kick The Keg & $5 Local Beers NIGHT 9:30PM:
33 DRAFTS ON TAP
Milagro Margaritas w/ $2.25 Beef & Chicken Tacos & 25% OFF Quesadillas & Nachos
NIGHT 9:30PM:
$2 Natty 12oz, $2.50 Busch Light 16oz, $4 Natty 25oz, $4.50 White Claw & Natrl, $5 Fireball, Sambuca, Old Smokey Watermelon
$2.50 High Life Bottles, $3 Pickle Shots, $20 Buckets (4) of All Teas, Seltzers & Spiked Aid THURSDAY 9:30PM: $3.25 Domestic Bottles, $4.50 Import Bottles & $5 Bombs FRIDAY 9:30PM: $6 Orange Crushes, Tully Green Tea & Pickle Backs
FRIDAYS 9:30PM: BEATS BY DEOGEE MONDAYS
Busy time for downtown events
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a chair and come early, because the good spots go quickly.
Sunday afternoons bring chrome to Somerset Plaza. The OC Cruzers and the OCDC host free classic car shows on Somerset Street between S. Baltimore Avenue and the Boardwalk from 3 to 6 p.m., with a DJ spinning on August 9 and live music from Troy Mawyer on August 16. Hot rods, muscle cars, and restored classics line the plaza just steps from the boards, and the whole thing is family friendly and free.
Art lovers should watch for easels. The Art League of Ocean City brings its Artists Paint OC plein air festival to town August 12 through August 16, and downtown is one of the favorite hunting grounds. Painters set up along the Boardwalk, on the beach, and on our side streets, working fast to catch the light before it changes. Watching a scene you recognize appear on canvas is one of the quieter pleasures of an August afternoon.
There is history at the south end of the Boardwalk, too. The Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum at the Inlet offers a free program every morning at 10, Monday through Saturday, covering everything from the story of our surfmen and beach safety with the Beach Patrol to nautical knot tying, shark biology, and morning
feedings in the aquarium room. The Creature Feature follows at noon each day, an up-close look at the eels, seahorses, and horseshoe crabs that call our coastal bays home. The month also brings a few special events, including the Angels in Oilskins festival to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary on August 4, a book signing with author Corinne Litzenberg on August 6, and history boat tours with OC Bay Hopper on August 5 and 19 that leave from the Downtown Marina on Dorchester Street. Visit www.ocmuseum.org for details.
The last weekend of the month goes out with a roar and a glow. OC Jeep Fest runs August 27 through August 30, with early morning beach crawls staging in the Inlet parking lot and a sand obstacle course set up in the shadow of the Pier. Even if you do not own a Jeep, the sunrise parade of rigs rolling up the beach is worth setting an alarm for. On the same weekend, the Summer Send-Off lights up the sand between Dorchester Street and 3rd Street. Depending on the wind, you will see either eight hot air balloons glowing on the beach or ten enormous show kites filling the sky, followed by a laser show from 9 to 10 p.m. that plays across the whole scene.
Of course, the events are only part
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Annual plein air fest starts with quick paint contest
Downtown Ocean City turns into a live outdoor art studio for the annual Quick Paint Competition, the fast-paced highlight of the Artists Paint OC plein air festival.
Get ready for a high-energy, visually stunning spectacle right in the heart of downtown. On Sunday morning, August 16, from 9 to 11 a.m., the iconic Ocean City Boardwalk transforms into a live, fastpaced outdoor art studio for the annual Quick Paint Competition. Sponsored by the Ocean City Development Corporation, this thrilling event is a major highlight of the broader Artists Paint OC plein air festival, which celebrates its 21st year of bringing art to the beach from August 12 to 16. The Quick Paint challenge tasks seasoned plein air artists with racing against the clock, and one another, to create beautiful, finished portraits of downtown Ocean City in just two short hours.
Gathering near S. Division Street and the Boardwalk, these incredibly talented artists set up their easels to capture the shifting coastal light, the bustling morning energy, and the timeless architecture of the downtown district. It is an amazing, mustsee experience for the whole family.
You can walk right up to the artists, watch their techniques unfold in real time, and see a blank canvas become a stunning work of art before your very eyes. Because the OCDC is generously sponsoring cash prizes, the stakes are high, the competition is fierce, and the creative energy is electric. Once the clock strikes 11 a.m., the artists rush their newly completed creations to the Ocean City Center for the Arts at 502 94th Street to be judged and awarded. Want to own a
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SUBMITTED PHOTO/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
Quick draw artist Dennis Young is pictured at work in the Inlet parking lot during last year’s paint competition.
Downtown food much more than fries, taffy
Downtown Ocean City has always fed its visitors well. But the dining scene south of 17th Street has grown into something richer, more varied, and more worth exploring than most people realize.
Ask someone what they eat in Ocean City and you'll get a familiar answer, like boardwalk fries, saltwater taffy, a funnel cake, or a slice of pizza. Those answers aren't wrong. They are woven into the fabric of this place, passed down the way beach towns pass down their best traditions. But if that is the full picture you carry, you're leaving a lot of great meals undiscovered.
The dining landscape south of 17th Street has quietly matured into one of the most diverse stretches of restaurants on the Maryland coast. Here's a taste of what awaits, starting at the south end.
The Inlet Area
The southernmost stretch of the Boardwalk is anchored by two restaurants that share an address but offer very different experiences. Harrison's Harbor Watch has been an Ocean City institution for more than 40 years, with panoramic views of the Inlet, the Atlantic, and Assateague Island. The menu leans into fresh, local seafood, with day-boat catches, an award-winning raw bar stocked with hand-tonged oysters, lump-meat crab cakes, and an oyster stew that has developed its own devoted following. Tucked behind Harrison's, The Wedge hides in the back corner of the Inlet Village with a casual contemporary menu of burg-
ers, blackened shrimp tacos, a grilled rockfish sandwich, and a crab dip that regulars come back for.
Walking north, you'll quickly encounter The Dough Roller at S. Division Street. A longtime staple, it offers the same satisfying, no-fuss food that has brought visitors back for decades, from pizza and pancakes to subs, burgers, and seafood. It is also home to The Hump, a bar tucked inside for a more adult-oriented experience away from the boardwalk bustle. A second location sits at 3rd Street.
The Bayside Row
Head west toward the bay and you find four restaurants spanning Wicomico to Talbot Streets. On Wicomico Street, Toast serves New York-style pizza and classic Italian dishes from the second floor of Emerson Tower, where the bayside sunset views make it one of the most atmospheric dinner spots downtown.
Heading north to Dorchester Street, Oyster & Scales brings a refined bayfront experience inspired by the storied oyster houses of Nantucket and Cape Cod, with sustainably sourced seafood, thoughtfully curated wines, and a Sunday brunch that attracts a loyal weekend crowd.
Continuing north to Talbot Street, two bayside classics sit directly across from each other. M.R. Ducks Bar and Grille keeps the dock-dining tradition alive with a welcoming waterfront patio and the kind of unhurried atmosphere that makes it easy to lose track of an af-
ternoon. Next door, the Angler Restaurant, widely regarded as the oldest food institution in Ocean City, has taken fresh-caught seafood from the commercial fishing fleet for five generations. Ordering the catch of the day here is a direct connection to the reason Ocean City exists as a resort in the first place.
At the Heart of Downtown
Two restaurants occupy opposite sides of the downtown experience at roughly the same latitude. On the oceanfront Boardwalk, Flamingo Coast brings bold energy to a beachfront setting that includes a rooftop bar and a hidden speakeasy behind an unmarked door, with a kitchen that runs from crispy wings and burgers to fresh seafood, brunch, and craft cocktails. On the bay side, Spain Wine Bar crowns the Cambria Hotel near the Route 50 bridge with a rooftop patio and sweeping waterfront views. The menu draws on the communal spirit of Spanish cuisine, with tapas, charcuterie, paella, and fresh oysters paired with an expertly curated wine list.
The cluster from 2nd to 4th streets shows how varied downtown dining has become. Bull on the Beach keeps the crowd-pleasing energy going with hearty American fare in the heart of the Boardwalk action. Just off the Boardwalk on Baltimore Avenue near 3rd Street, Cheese Wheel Pasta offers something genuinely unexpected: fresh Italian pasta finished tableside inside a hollowed wheel of im-
ported cheese. A block north on the Boardwalk, Shenanigans Irish Pub serves hearty Irish fare, fresh seafood, and a proper pint, with live music on the schedule and a kitchen that handles everything from shepherd's pie to crab cakes.
Anchoring the North End of Downtown
At the Commander Hotel near 14th Street, Bai-Tee Bakery & Cafe brings a touch of French and Middle Eastern artistry downtown, with buttery croissants, artisanal sandwiches, and standout dishes like shakshuka and avocado tartine on house-made sourdough, all paired with handcrafted coffee and ocean views from its elevated terrace.
Two blocks west on Philadelphia Avenue at 15th Street, Papi's Tacos brings authentic Mexican street food to the corridor with vegan and gluten-free options, a patio, and a weekend brunch that has earned its own loyal following. Across the street, Surfin' Betty's Burger Bar is known for handcrafted smash burgers made with pasture-raised, grass-fed beef from a family-owned Maryland farm, alongside allnatural chicken sandwiches, hand-cut fries, and hand-spun milkshakes.
Come Hungry
The boardwalk fries are still here, and they are still worth every bite. So is the taffy. But the next time you find yourself downtown with an appetite and a little time to explore, consider looking past the obvious.
July
6th - August 29th $10
Use your eagle eye to spot plush friends along boards
A free scavenger hunt turns the last weeks of August into a family adventure, sending kids up and down the Boardwalk in search of hidden eagles and a plush prize to take home.
As August winds down, Downtown Ocean City fills with a special kind of excitement. Between the roar of Jeep Fest and the glow of the Summer Send-Off, there is something happening on the Boardwalk made just for the kids. A group of eagles has arrived to spend their vacation in Ocean City, and they have tucked themselves away in businesses up and down the boards. They are hiding in plain sight, and they cannot wait to meet our youngest visitors.
Here is how the hunt works. Children 12 and under pick up a game card at the Boardwalk Information Booth or at any participating business. From there, the search is on.
Little explorers wander the Boardwalk hunting for each eagle's hiding spot, collecting a stamp on their card at every business along the way. Once the card is full, they return it to the Information Booth and walk away with a prize worth the effort, a plush eagle of their very own.
Best of all, the whole thing is free.
The Eagle Hunt runs from August 14
through August 28, giving families two full weeks to track down every last bird. It is a wonderful way to slow down and see the Boardwalk through a child's eyes, and a great excuse to duck into shops and attractions you might otherwise stroll right past.
This year's participating businesses span the length of the Boardwalk and the blocks just off it, so there is plenty of ground to cover. Keep your eagle eye sharp at the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum, Doggie Style, Souvenir City, Marty's Playland, Beachology, Dough Roller, Somerset Jewelers, Fun City Arcade, Sportland Arcade, Wockenfuss Candies, Park Place Hotel, Shenanigan's Irish Pub, and Kite Loft. Each stop is a chance to find another eagle and get one stamp closer to that plush prize.
The hunt is one of many reasons to stop by the Information Booth on the Boardwalk between N. Division and Caroline Streets. The friendly, knowledgeable staff are there every day from noon to 8 p.m., ready to share the inside scoop on downtown businesses and activities, along with a look ahead at the events that fill Ocean City through the fall. Ask them about the Eagle Hunt, grab a game card, and let the search begin.
Downtown has it all for August
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of the reason to come. Our beach is clean, wide, and free. The Boardwalk delivers three miles of arcades, amusements, and rides, including the historic carousel at Trimper Rides. The food alone justifies the trip, from fries and caramel corn on the boards to seafood on the bayside docks where the sunset comes with your drink. The bayside offers jet ski rentals, parasailing, and charter fishing, while Bayside Park at 3rd Street has pickleball, basketball, a playground built for kids of all abilities, and the oldest municipal skate park
in the country. A few practical notes. August is our busiest month, so book early, park smart, and consider the beach bus. Bring sunscreen and a hat, because there is little shade at the scales. And when you need advice from someone who actually lives here, stop by the Information Cottage on the Boardwalk between N. Division and Caroline Streets, open daily from noon to 8 p.m. Summer does not last forever, but August in Downtown Ocean City does its best to convince you otherwise. Come see for yourself.
The large eagle plush hides at local businesses, and the little one is for those children who complete the scavenger hunt..
Downtown to host plein artists
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piece of this downtown magic? The public is invited to view and purchase these fresh, one-of-a-kind Quick Paint pieces directly off the easel on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m.
The Quick Paint is one of three distinct competitions that make up the multi-layered festival. For the main competition, artists spend August 12 through 15 capturing scenes all over the area, submitting their finished works for judging and awards on Saturday, August 15.
The resulting masterpieces from these competitions are featured in the highly anticipated Wet Paint Sales at the beautiful bayfront Arts Center. Admission to the sales is completely free, featuring live music alongside complimentary hors d'oeuvres and beverages on Saturday, August 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. and Sunday, August 16, from 1 to 3 p.m., which includes the fresh Quick Paint art.
Select paintings remain on display and available for purchase through September 27, making it a prime opportunity for summer residents and locals to acquire original art.
"This is your opportunity, one that only happens once a year, to purchase these beautiful paintings of iconic local scenes," said Rina Thaler, Executive Director of the Art League of Ocean City. Every purchase di-
rectly supports the community, with proceeds from the festival benefiting the nonprofit Art League of Ocean City. Beyond the main sales, art lovers can continue their support by purchasing tickets for the Artists Paint OC raffle. For just $5 per ticket, or three for $10, you could win a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind painting valued at $2,600, donated by this year's festival judge, Kevin Fitzgerald.
The festival is truly a multi-generational celebration of creativity, rounding out its trio of events with the Kids Paint OC youth competition. This segment showcases the plein air artwork of talented young artists ages 6 to 17 who painted outdoors in July. Their hard work culminates in a special exhibition on Friday, August 14, from 2 to 4 p.m., where cash prizes sponsored by John Sisson are awarded and participants enjoy an ice cream social sponsored by Island Creamery.
Don't miss out on this fun weekend. Download the free Art League app to use the live artist locator map, visit OCart.org, or follow Artists Paint OC on Facebook for full details.
Come out to the Boardwalk on Sunday morning to cheer on the Quick Paint artists, then head to the Arts Center on 94th Street to claim your own original piece of Ocean City history.
Downtown Events August 2026
Aug. 1
Beach 5 Sand Soccer
This youth and adult sand soccer tournament takes place on the beach at Dorchester Street, with fields running north toward 1st Street. Teams from across the region compete on the sand just steps from the Boardwalk. Learn more at beach5sandsoccer.com.
Aug. 3 to 8
White Marlin Open
The world’s largest and richest billfish tournament returns for its 53rd year, and Downtown Ocean City becomes the center of the sportfishing world. This year introduces a new six-day format that lets each boat fish on any three days. Spectators can watch the weigh-ins free at Harbour Island Marina on 14th Street bayside, beginning at 4 p.m. each afternoon. No ticket or boat is required. For more information, visit whitemarlinopen.com.
Aug. 3 to 8
Marlin Fest
The tournament’s beachside companion takes over the Inlet parking lot and beach from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day of the White Marlin Open. Enjoy live music, food and drink vendors, tournament merchandise, and giant screens streaming the weigh-ins live as the boats run the Inlet on their way to the scales. Admission is free. More information at marlinfest.com.
Aug. 4
Angels in Oilskins
The Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum hosts this free living history festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary and 236 years of the U.S. Coast Guard service. Inside the historic station, each room comes alive with a lifesaving lesson, from historic medicine to the food surfmen ate. Out on the Boardwalk, museum partners bring the celebration to life with demonstrations, hands-on activities, and live music. Visit www.ocmuseum.org.
Aug. 5 and Aug. 19
OC Bay Hopper History Boat Tour
Set sail from the Downtown Marina at 307 Dorchester Street at 4:15 p.m. for a guided history cruise led by an Ocean City expert, complete with tales of 1880s shipwrecks and an upclose look at authentic maritime artifacts from the Life-Saving
Station Museum collection. Visit www.ocmuseum.org for details.
Aug. 6, 13, 20, and 27
Sunset Park Party Nights
Every Thursday evening in August, Sunset Park Party Nights brings free live music to the bayside at Sunset Park, presented by the OCDC and the Town of Ocean City. Shows run from 7 to 9 p.m., just in time for a stunning bayside sunset. Beer and wine are available on site. Bring your beach chair. Admission is free and the whole family is welcome.
Aug. 9 and 16
OC Cruzers Classic Car Show at Somerset Plaza
The OC Cruzers bring their collection of hot rods, muscle cars, and custom classics to Somerset Plaza on Sunday, July 12, from 3 to 6 p.m. A DJ provides the soundtrack. Free to the public and family-friendly. Somerset Plaza is located on Somerset Street between Baltimore Avenue and the Boardwalk.
Aug. 12 to 16
Artists Paint OC
The Art League of Ocean City brings its plein air festival to town, and downtown is a favorite hunting ground. Painters set up along the Boardwalk, on the beach, and on our side streets, working fast to catch the light before it changes. More information at artleagueofoceancity.org.
Aug. 27 to 30
OC Jeep Fest
America’s all-star Jeep event fills the south end with early morning beach crawls staging in the Inlet parking lot and a sand obstacle course set up near the Pier in front of Somerset Street. More information at oceancityjeepfest.com.
Aug. 27 to 30
Summer Send-Off Summer goes out with a glow on the beach between Dorchester Street and 3rd Street. Depending on the wind, you will see either eight hot air balloons glowing on the sand or ten enormous show kites filling the sky, followed each night by a laser show from 9 to 10 p.m. that plays across the whole scene. The main beach event takes place on two of the four days, so follow @oceancitymaryland for weather updates.
