Erik Estrada Performs Double Duty In Ocean City This Weekend

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Bad guys beware: CHIPs will be on patrol in Ocean City this weekend. Erik Estrada, the star of the 1970s NBC drama that followed two California Highway Patrol motorcycle officers, will be the grand marshal for the annual Doo Dah Parade and the emcee for the Mr. Mature America Pageant. Both events are April 14.

Estrada, who starred as Frank Poncherello in the TV series "CHiPs," will serve as grand marshal in the Doo Dah Parade, Ocean City’s season-opening celebration of all things humorous. This year’s event starts at noon Saturday, April 14, 2018. The parade route starts at Sixth Street and travels downtown Asbury Avenue to 12th Street, then turns to the Boardwalk at 12th Street. For the first time, it finishes on the boardwalk at Fifth Street this year.

The Doo Dah Parade was first held in Ocean City in 1986 as an event to herald the end of income tax season. Anybody interested in participating in the parade can register at www.ocnj.us/Doo-Dah-Parade until the deadline at noon Wednesday, April 11.

The traditional finale at the end of the parade includes a “Pie-asco” in which everybody is invited to smoosh their friends with shaving-cream pies. This year’s event moves to Sixth Street and will start as the basset hound brigade reaches the end of the parade route.

The Mr. Mature America Pageant begins at 7 p.m. that night on the Ocean City Music Pier. The event is the first and only pageant of its kind in the United States, according to Ocean City officials. The pageant includes competition in talent, judge’s interview, poise and appearance, and on-stage question.

In addition to his role on “CHIPs,” Estrada appeared in numerous other television and motion picture roles, including the new "Armed and Famous" reality series on CBS. The city says his talent and charm will be a perfect fit for Ocean City’s pageant, which mixes self-deprecating humor with nostalgia and talent in a tribute to men ages 55 and older. Estrada will host the fifth annual event and conduct on-stage interviews with contestants.

Tickets for the Mr. Mature Pageant are $18 to $30. They are on sale now and are available at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice, by calling 609-399-6111, or in-person at the City Hall Welcome Center or the Roy Gillian Welcome Center on the Route 52 causeway.

The attached image of Erik Estrada was provided by Ocean City Public Information Officer Doug Bergen