Fall Block Party On, But No Fireworks This Weekend In Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, NJ — One of the country's best fall festivals is this weekend, in spite of forecasted rain.

The Fall Block Party runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 7, rain or shine. More than 400 food vendors, crafters and entertainers will line a mile of downtown Asbury Avenue between Fifth Street and 14th Street, according to the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce.

Tropical Storm Philippe is set to bring dreary weather to New Jersey this weekend, but it won't stop this annual event.

However, it will put a damper on some things. The whole weekend is Indian Summer Weekend and, unfortunately, the planned fireworks are canceled, Mayor Jay Gillian said.

"While we don't anticipate that Tropical Storm Philippe will have any effect on our weather as it moves up the Atlantic Ocean, the distant system is expected to generate 6- to 7-foot seas by Saturday evening," Gillian wrote in his weekly update. "For safety reasons, the barge that would have carried our Indian Summer fireworks display will be unable to launch. The fireworks will be canceled for this weekend."

Here's what to know for the weekend:

Fall Block Party attendees can enjoy live music, local food and pony rides for children.

Street parking will be free at all metered spots and all municipal parking lots in Ocean City, including at the Transportation Center lot (Ninth Street and Haven Avenue) and at the municipal lots on the 700 and 800 blocks of Central Avenue.

The Indian Summer Weekend (Oct. 7 to 9) celebration also includes table sales by downtown and boardwalk merchants with discounted merchandise set up between Sixth Street and 14th Street on the boardwalk and Asbury Avenue throughout the weekend.