Christmas Parade Highlights Holiday Events This Weekend in Ocean City

December is here and the march to the holidays has begun.

While shopping is a huge part of the holidays, Ocean City offers many family friendly activities, beginning this weekend.

The Christmas Parade is Friday night, and free horse and carriage rides and photos with Santa will be available this weekend.

The following is a look at what’s to come this weekend, courtesy Mark Soifer, Ocean City Public Relations Director:

Dec. 4: Christmas Bus Trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, annual candlelit Christmas tree. Seats still available $40. Bus leaves 7:30 am. For museum information, www.metmuseum.org. Sponsored by the Ocean City Arts Center, call 609-399-7628 for reservations.

Dec. 5: Ocean City’s Christmas Parade brings Santa to town starting 6:30 p.m. from 6th to 11th streets on Asbury Avenue. Floats, Bands and lots of family fun. Sponsored by the City of Ocean City, the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Merchants Assn. For information, call 609-525-9338.

Dec. 5-6: Holiday Book Sale at Ocean City Free Public Library, Friday, Dec. 5, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 6, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Dec. 6-7: Train Show, a popular holiday event at the Music Pier featuring large operating Lionel and Garden Railroad Displays, vendors selling trains, train parts, holiday decorations and memorabilia. Repairs done on site by technician Dick Yard. Show hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for children. For information, call 609-399-6111, ext. 9300.

Dec. 6-7: Free Horse and Carriage Rides, noon to 3 p.m. pick up 9th and Asbury.

Dec. 6-7: Photos with Santa at the Music Pier, noon to 3 p.m., Fee $10.

Dec. 6: Messiah Sing-in: The audience joins the Atlantic Youth Orchestra to sing Christmas portions of Handel’s Oratorio, Messiah. Scores provided or bring your own. Ocean City Tabernacle, 550 Wesley Avenue, 4 p.m. Free admission. For information, call 609-399-1915 or visit www.octabernacle.org.

Dec. 6: Ocean City Pops Concert Joy to the World, a symphonic Choral celebration of the joyous sounds of Christmas. Heraldic trumpets, dazzling bells and triumphant choirs join the Pops for this annual tradition at the Ocean City Tabernacle, 550 Wesley Avenue, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15. Children under 12 are free. Tickets available at www.ocnj.us/boxoffice or by calling 609-399-6111, ext. 9300. Sponsored by Norman and Joanne Schaut.

Dec. 6: Cape May County Postal Food Drive benefits the Ocean City Food Cupboard. Please leave any non-perishable foods by your mailbox and your mail carrier will pick it up. You can also drop off food at the Ocean City Post Office, 859 Ocean Avenue, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; or Ocean City Food Cupboard, 501 East 8th Street, Monday-Friday, 1 p.m.-3 p.m.