Downtown Ocean City has everything
Downtown Ocean City ready to greet season with busy May event calendar
Downtown Ocean City ready to greet season with May event calendar that’s busier than ever. Many believe that “the season” starts after Memorial Day. Others get a head start by backing it up into early May, since this “shoulder season” is chock-full of events and activities. In 2025, so much is happening in Downtown Ocean City that May is overflowing into April.
The vast majority may tell you that “the season” is based upon warm weather, tolerable water temperatures, or even the end of the school year. Some
will say it starts earlier in March, as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade drew huge crowds this year. Is the beginning of “the season” marked by an event, or is it simply the first bite of boardwalk fries or the first drink enjoyed on the dock of your favorite bayside restaurant?
In Downtown Ocean City, we usually begin “the season” with Springfest, but by the time you’re reading this, that ship has already sailed. Springfest came early, showing up from April 24 to April 27. Hopefully, you were able to attend to enjoy the craft vendors, music, food, and drinks. The moving target that we call “the season” comes earlier and earlier as more and more events fill the calendar, but May is
the first month jam-packed with activity.
The 34th annual Cruisin Ocean City will kick-off our May calendar with over 3,000 hot rods, customs, classics, and trucks filling the inlet parking lot, convention center, and the streets of Ocean City. Events, entertainment, and vendors will be located at both locations and the Boardwalk.
During this event, the entire Town of Ocean City becomes a classic car show! Just be sure to watch your speed, because there’s a special even zone in effect that lowers all speed limits throughout Ocean City.
The month of May also brings a new event to Continued on page 4
Discover Downtown Ocean City
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Clean, free beach, plenty to do downtown
town. Boardwalk Rock Fest comes to the inlet and downtown Boardwalk with two stages on the beach and one along the boards.
Headliners will include iconic bands like Def Leppard, Alice in Chains, Nickelback, and Shinedown. Many other classics will join the festival, including Bush, Alice Cooper, and Bret Michaels, adding to a total of over 25 bands. The two-day festival starts on May 17, so get your tickets at www.boardwalkrockfest.com soon as they are quickly selling out.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of Ocean City, and we are celebrating all throughout the year. Starting this celebration in May on the 8th, the Maryland Tourism Coalition and Ocean City Tourism will host “Petticoat Regime,” a historic walking tour through time that highlights the pioneering women who shaped the town’s early development and made it the exciting destination that it is today.
Of course, this walk through the heritage of Ocean City will end with Happy Hour at Plim Plaza; register at www.ococean.com today.
To round out the month of May, Downtown Ocean City will present Jeep Week from May 29 through June 1. Though it has been moved from early May to late May to make room for all the other new and thrilling
events, the event will still attract Jeep enthusiasts from all over the region to challenge their lifted rigs on the sand obstacle course, visit Jeep-related vendors for quality shopping, and crawl down the beach for stunning ocean views.
Don’t forget to stir up a conversation with one of these Jeep drivers and ask them about their rubber duckies.
Missing any one of these May events does not mean that you’ll miss the fun in Downtown Ocean City. As an accredited Main Street Maryland community, this town provides a lot more than main festivals and events.
Just starting with the magnificent beach, ranked as one of the top 25 beaches in the USA by Travel & Leisure, you’ll find plenty of things to do along this shoreline. From evening and sunrise strolls, to sunbathing and jumping on a boogie board as the waves roll in, this beach provides hours of relaxation, recreation, and soothing, crashing waves.
Not only is this beach clean and well-maintained, but it is also free, unlike many others along the seaboard. The breeze also makes this beach the perfect place to fly a kite, and if you don’t have one, you can always visit the Kite Loft near 5th Street on the Boardwalk to see what they have to offer.
If lying on the beach for hours isn’t your thing, you can always enjoy our
world-class Boardwalk. This threemile stretch of wooden walkway offers an array of amusements, arcades, games, museums, shopping stores, bars, and restaurants.
Try some of the best seafood you’ll find on the Atlantic Coast, barbecue pit beef, Boardwalk fries, or a variety of styles of pizza. And don’t forget the caramel popcorn and saltwater taffy. Highlights also include the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Jolly Roger Amusement Pier, Trimper Rides, local surf shops, and many Boardwalk arcades.
Perhaps you’re looking for even more than food, amusements, and beach time. Maybe you want some excitement that gets your blood pumping. Head to the bayside to rent some Jet Skis or book an ocean bound powerboat tour. If fishing is your jam, you can book a charter boat to head out for the day to catch some tuna, sea bass, or even a marlin, if you’re lucky.
Are you looking for a different kind of workout? Feel free to visit our Bayside Park at 3rd Street to join a pickleball tournament, a pickup game of basketball, or a skateboarding session at the Ocean Bowl Skate Park, the oldest municipal skatepark in the USA. You can also visit one of our bike rental companies to rent a bike to casually explore the downtown area.
Looking for an adult beverage after
lounging on the beach, walking the boards all day long, or enjoying your favorite recreational activities? Downtown Ocean City provides the relaxation you need, from the locals’ favorite watering holes (just stroll down Wicomico Street) to bayside dock bars, where the drinks are only overshadowed by stunning sunset views. Many of our local bars and restaurants feature lively entertainment schedules, as well.
For information and recommendations on how to enjoy Downtown Ocean City, we suggest you visit the Information Cottage between N. Division and Carline Streets. They provide a bounty of knowledge on the happenings and offerings that Ocean City provides for visitors. In May, they are open on Fridays and Saturdays but will soon have expanded weekly hours from June to August.
If you’ve arrived in Downtown Ocean City for the first time, welcome. We hope you enjoy your stay. Our goal is to ensure that you experience the best possible vacation possible so that you can begin to think of this place as your “home away from home.”
Perhaps you might miss the events mentioned here, however we would tell you not to worry. You can return soon to experience even more excitement, like our fireworks, air shows, and more music festivals.
OCDC’s grant programs aid businesses, property owners
From a new roof and siding to business fit out, OCDC provides financial help to revitalize Downtown Ocean City
Is the exterior of your home or business looking a little rundown? Perhaps your siding is faded and damaged, your roof has lost too many shingles this past winter, or maybe your drafty front door is practically air conditioning the outdoors.
Maybe you want to open a new business, but the cost of rent makes the interior fit out of your commercial space cost prohibitive. With the rise in construction prices, your renovations could drive you into the red. Perhaps your solution is to utilize one of the many grant programs that the Ocean City Development Corporation (OCDC) has to offer residents and businesses in Downtown Ocean City.
The OCDC hosts fundraising events and seeks grants from local and state governments to make these programs possible. To date, hundreds of properties have received our assistance. In fact, you probably can’t walk down any street in Downtown Ocean City without see a property that one of our programs has helped to improve. Here’s a rundown of what the OCDC has to offer businesses who qualify for our grant programs.
Business Assistance: Up to $10,000 to help businesses build out interior spaces of downtown locations; can be used by owners starting a new business or existing businesses expanding to a new location.
Commercial Façade Improvement: Up to $10,000 to help businesses make exterior improvements to their buildings; examples include roll-up doors, awnings, siding, railings, porches, windows, and doors. Businesses can stack this program with other programs at the OCDC.
Façade Improvement: Up to $7,500 to help make exterior improvements to your building, such as new siding, railings, porches, windows, and doors.
If business is your thing, you should know that assisting businesses in Downtown Ocean City has always been a mission of the OCDC. With all the new grant opportunities available from the OCDC, there’s no time like the present to renovate that commercial property or open a new business in a downtown location.
Perhaps you’ve been eyeing a certain vacant property and imagining it as a new coffee shop, a restaurant, or a surf shop. Or maybe you’ve walked past a construction site and wondered if you could do the same for an older property. Whatever your line of business is, the OCDC may be able to contribute some funding to bring that business to life.
The OCDC has been helping businesses with renovations for the past two decades. From the Boardwalk to the bay, we have provided grant funding to assist with major construction projects in the downtown area.
The OCDC sees the importance of putting a fresh face on current businesses and helping new or expanding businesses with reactivating vacant commercial spaces. We want to see Downtown Ocean City become more attractive while still retaining its turn of the 20th century charm.
But we don’t provide our funding to businesses only. The OCDC provides several grant programs to help fix up homes, apartments, small condominiums, rental units, and workforce housing.
We feel that a revitalized community requires ample residential properties that are safe, attractive, and energy efficient. That’s why we created our grant programs to help revitalize residential and commercial properties in our area.
Green Building Initiatives: Up to $7,500 to improve the energy efficiency of your building, such as installing new windows, doors, and improved insulation.
Roof Improvement: Up to $2,000 to replace a roof.
Streetside Fence: Up to $2,000 to install or replace a fence.
Downtown Lights: Up to $500 to install new exterior lights or upgrade current ones. The goal is to light up dark areas throughout the downtown area.
Development and Assistance (Workforce Housing): Up to $25,000 for property owners to develop new employee housing, rehabilitate existing employee housing, or convert existing properties into employee housing. This can be accessory or non-accessory workforce housing located at the place of business or at a separate property.
These grant programs are restricted to downtown properties generally located south of 17th Street. Other eligibility requirements must be met, as well. If you want to apply, please make sure you contact the OCDC before beginning any construction work. You may contact the Program Manager, David Noonan, at (410) 289-7739 or david@ocdc.org to start your application.
Funding for these programs are in part provided by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, the Main Street Maryland Program, Worcester County, the Town of Ocean City, and the
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Driving around Downtown Ocean City, you might notice some of the changes that have taken place in town, especially if you haven’t been here for a while. As a designated Main Street Maryland organization, the OCDC has been supporting the revitalization and economic development of its designated district for the past 25 years.
If you take a drive or walk through downtown south of 17th Street, you may notice new construction or work that is currently underway. Here is a sampling of some of the projects we’ve been helping to bring to life.
New Building At Bridge
As you drive down Route 50 and enter the town proper of Ocean City, you immediately notice change hap-
ping in the downtown area. A previous residence has been demolished to make way for new construction. Though this property isn’t near being finished, it refreshes a neighborhood of aging homes. But this is only the tip of the iceberg.
South Pole Ice Cream Roll
Remember driving into Ocean City from the Route 50 bridge and noticing the old, worn-out building with aged light blue siding sitting at the corner of Baltimore Avenue and Division Street?
South Pole Ice Cream Roll most recently occupied the first floor of this mixed-use building, but it housed bike rental companies long before that.
Built in 1940, this structure required a complete makeover, including a chimney removal and a new roof,
siding, gutters, and windows. Though it isn’t yet complete, your drive into town will be greatly improved with this building’s new facelift.
Tony’s Pizza
This longstanding staple of pizza, soda, and beer had been around Ocean City for more than 60 years. The location at Division Street and the Boardwalk faced challenges in the past with two separate fires in 1970 and 1972. Nevertheless, they continue serving the Ocean City community at this location until it was demolished in 1997 and rebuilt into the building it is today.
Now that Tony’s Pizza has closed and renovations have begun, the property is being reimagined into a new restaurant with a new operator.
Balto. Ave. Apartments
Continue north on Baltimore Avenue, and you’ll notice a new construction project on the corner of 8th Street. Though it isn’t nearly complete yet, it would be easy to imagine a fresh new building giving the neighborhood an attractive streetside view. Stand by for more as construction continues.
Hyatt Place
Once you drive north to 16th Street, you’ll head right past the new expansion of Hyatt Place Oceanfront. Last year, the hotel chain started to enlarge its footprint across the middle block between Baltimore Avenue and Philadelphia Avenue. The project nears completion this spring.
New building at the Route 50 Bridge
Former South Pole Ice Cream Roll
Former Tony’s Pizza
New Condominiums at Baltimore Avenue and 8th Street
OCPD Substation
Since breaking ground last July, construction has been moving steadily forward at 105 Somerset
Street. What once was a municipal parking lot has been transforming into a beautiful three-story facility.
This versatile building will feature storage space and offices for the OCPD bike patrol, public restrooms, a bus station for out-of-town shuttles, and employee housing for first responders. The substation is expected to open this summer, so you may see bike riding police officers coming and going along Somerset Street.
102 Worcester St. Project
Construction has begun in the redevelopment of 102 Worcester Street. The OCDC secured $300,000 from the Department of Housing and Community Development to reactivate this property.
This location was once home to
Duffy’s Love Shack and Worcester Street Brewing Co. but has been vacant for more than a decade. We plan to install a commercial enterprise on the first floor and workforce housing on the second. Stay tuned to see what this property becomes in the near future.
Worcester Street Housing
The property that OCDC helped with funding for the design and other predevelopment expenses last year has come to life! The streetscape along Worcester Street is definitely improved with the addition of this building.
The owner indicated that this building will be used for seasonal workforce housing, providing 32 beds for employees.
OCDC to offer free shredding of documents
Once again, the OCDC will partner with Lower Shore Enterprises to bring a free document shredding day to Ocean City on May 8
The public is welcome to bring their unwanted documents to the OCDC parking lot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for safe disposal.
The parking lot is located on the corner of S. Philadelphia Avenue and Dorchester Street in Downtown Ocean City.
Lower Shore Enterprises will provide shredding services free of charge, although donations we be accepted to benefit this 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Lower Shore Enterprises supports people with disabilities in seeking opportunities for employment, community engagement, and meaningful days. To learn more about Lower Shore Enterprises, visit their website at www.lseworks.org.
Hyatt Place Expansion on 16th Street
Ocean City Police Department Substation at Somerset Street
102 Worcester Street Redevelopment Project
104 Worcester Street Workforce Housing
Downtown Events
May
May 1
Museum of Ocean City Grand Opening
The event begins at 10:30 a.m. with a warm welcome to guests, followed by an official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. to celebrate the completion of all exhibits being installed for the general public to view.
After the ceremony, attendees are invited to meander through the museum’s newly expanded exhibits, which showcase Ocean City’s evolution from a quaint seaside resort to the vibrant destination it is today. Learn more about the museum’s opening at www.ocmuseum.org.
May 1 – May 4
Cruisin’ Ocean City
This event will feature over 3,000 hot rods, customs, classics, and trucks. While the main events will take place at the beautiful beachside Inlet Parking lot, which is located along the historic OC Boardwalk, there will be various car shows citywide.
The Cruisin vendor showcase will be Friday and Saturday at the Outlets in West Ocean City. There will also be entertainment, boardwalk parades, special guests, featured cars, live music, celebrities, a Pedal Car Show, a Neon Light Car Show, a Pinup Contest and lots more. For more information, visit www.specialeventpro.com.
May 8
150th Anniversary Historic Walking Tour
The Maryland Tourism Coalition (MTC) and Ocean City Tourism are proud to announce the Ocean City 150th Anniversary Historic Walking Tour, a special event held in honor
2025
of Ocean City’s remarkable 150-year legacy in tourism, hospitality, and community building. This guided walking tour will take participants on a journey through Ocean City’s vibrant past—beginning with the “Petticoat Regime” and spotlighting the pioneer women whose vision and resilience helped shape the town into the beloved resort destination it is today. The tour will kick off at the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum at 2 p.m. and conclude at Plim Plaza at 4 p.m. with an optional Happy Hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
This immersive and educational event is $35 for MTC Members and $50 for nonmembers. For more information about the Ocean City 150th Anniversary Historic Walking Tour, visit www.mdtourism.org and navigate to the events calendar.
May 17 – May 18
Boardwalk Rock Fest
Join us at the Ocean City Inlet for the first ever Boardwalk Rock festival! This weekend-long event brings headliners like Shinedown, Nickelback, and Alice in Chains to OC for an unforgettable weekend of great music and delicious food. Over 25 bands will give high-energy performances on three stages throughout the weekend. For more information and tickets visit www.boardwalkrockfest.com. We’ll see you there!
May 29 – June 1
Jeep Week
A celebration of everything Jeep. Enjoy parades, vendors, and a sand course on the beach. Events will take place throughout town. For more information, visit www.ocmdjeepweek.com.
OC Cruzers announce their car show schedule for 2025
The OCDC and OC Cruzers join forces to offer classic car shows on Somerset Plaza twice each month during the summer.
The shows will bring a full array of hotrods, muscle cars, and other classic vehicles to Downtown Ocean City on select Sunday afternoons from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
In addition to displaying these rare and fascinating automobiles, the OCDC will host either a DJ playing tunes or live music.
The shows are free to the public and family-friendly.
Somerset Plaza is located on Som-
erset Street between S. Baltimore Avenue and the Boardwalk.
June 8 – Classic Cars with Live Music from Full Circle Duo
June 15 – Classic Cars with DJ
July 13 – Classic Cars with Live Music from Troy Mawyer
July 27 – Classic Cars with DJ
August 10 – Classic Cars with DJ
August 24 – Classic Cars with Live Music from Bilenki Duo
September 7 – Classic Cars with Live Music from Beach Bandit Duo
September 14 – Classic Cars with DJ
OCDC recognizes good work by volunteers, businesses
The past 25 years has been transformative for Downtown Ocean City, and the Ocean City Development Corporation has been at the center of it. Celebrating its silver anniversary on April 17, the OCDC displayed its past accomplishments on big-screen TVs at Shenanigans Irish Pub and Grille while attendees mingled with drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
Hosting its annual meeting and awards ceremony, the OCDC welcomed its members, business owners, local government officials and department heads, and other community stakeholders to recognized the impact this organization has made upon the downtown area since its beginning in 2000.
The silver anniversary presentation featured the accomplishments of OCDC’s popular Façade Improvement Program and the organization’s support of public art, public park development, special events, and construction of new public facilities.
The span of the OCDC’s activities ranged from small projects like painting utility boxes to large ones like the construction of the Ocean City Beach Patrol headquarters on Talbot Street.
For the past 25 years, the OCDC has partnered with the Town of Ocean City,
local businesses, and private residents to revitalized buildings, streetscapes, and public spaces, and they plan to continue that work far into the future.
In addition to highlighting 25 years of downtown revitalization, OCDC Executive Director Zach Bankert and OCDC President Joe Wilson presented the organization’s accomplishments and activities from the previous year.
In particular, they noted a recordbreaking year for the number and dollar amount of state grants being awarded, which totaled six grants for $805,000 in funding.
To further celebrate the accomplishments from the previous year, the OCDC recognized the revitalization and service achievements of community members with the following awards:
Excellent Façade Projects:
Aaron Hyde and Hektor & Taisiya Dhima. Contractor: Atlantic Contracting, LLC.
OC Dollar Store LLC.
Seniors Wkend Partnership. Contractor: Alam B. Roofing & Home Improvement LLC.
Excellent Downtown Development Projects:
Taylor House on Talbot LLC. Contractor: Mitrecic Builders. Architect:
Left to right: Igor Conev, Greg Shockley, and John Petito.
Left to right: Joe Wilson, City Councilman Jake Mitrecic, and Zach Bankert.
Left to right: Joe Wilson, Mary Ann Manganello, OCDC Volunteer of the Year Nick Ruggiero, and Zach Bankert.
OCDC marks 25th anniversary
Steven Cirile. Interior Design: Paula Maddy.
Don Timmons. Contractor: 5 Star Construction Inc. Architect: Steven Cirile Volunteer of the Year: Nick Ruggieri
Legacy Award: Macky and Pam Stansell
Outgoing Board Member: Anna Dolle Bushnell
The OCDC board of directors appreciates the service of outgoing board member, Anna Dolle Bushnell, and wish her well in all of her future endeavors.
Anna served on the board of directors for the past nine years and held the office of Treasurer. Her presence will be missed at OCDC board meetings, but we know she won’t be far, as she’ll be crafting delicious treats around the corner at Dolle’s Candyland.
The election and reconfirmation of OCDC board members was also presented at the annual meeting. The announcement recognized Igor Conev, Stephanie Meehan, Michael Nolen, and Nick Tekmen as renewing their service to the board with additional terms and Caleigh Wootten as being elected to the board for her first term.
Left to right: Zach Bankert, Facade Awardees Aaron & Sarah Hyde, and Joe Wilson.
Left to right: Zach Bankert, outgoing board member Anna Dolle Bushnell, Stephanie Meehan, and Joe Wilson.
Left to Right: Nancy Bradford, Dave Bradford, Frank Baker, Sonia Baker, and Jennelle Gerthoffer.
