Ocean City's First Night New Year's Celebration Is This Weekend

Ocean City, NJ -- For the 25th year, Ocean City will New Year's with its alcohol-free First Night celebration this weekend. First Night is Saturday, Dec. 31, 4 p.m.-midnight, capped by a fireworks display at midnight.

The lineup includes:

• Salazar Magic and a tribute to Neil Diamond at the Music Pier;
• Inflatables and the Fabulous Greaseband at the Civic Center;
• Rides at Wonderland Pier;
• Ice skating adjacent to the Civic Center;
• Pinkalicious and Let’s Rock in the Ocean City High School auditorium;
• Japanese Drummers and the Juliano Brothers in the high school gym;
• Popular magician Chad Juros in the high school auxiliary gym;
• Andrew Hink, the Billy Tucker Trio and Carl Howell’s folk and rock music in the high school Community Room;
• The high school observatory will also be open for the public to view the night sky;
• The skate park will be joining in the festivities, as well. It will be open with a DJ playing music. Safety equipment will be required;
• The Primary School will feature the One Man and One Dog Comedy Show and Jungle John;
• St. Peter’s Sanctuary will showcase the Cape Shore Chorale and Sounds of Broadway;
• In St. Peter’s Stainton Room, Chanteuse and Abbott & Costello will be featured;
• The Aquatic and Fitness Center’s pool will be open;
• The Library Community Room will present Ocean City History, the Horse Play Game Show, and the St. Augustine’s Prep Boys Choir;
• The Ocean City Historical Museum will also have an open house;
• The Ocean City Senior Center will feature Keith Hickman with dance music from line dancing to Sinatra and mentalist Dan Cain;
• The Ocean City Tabernacle will present the Harmony Show Choir and the Ocean City Pops Orchestra;
• The Tabernacle’s Kull Youth Center lists the Allo Puppets with magic and fun and the Give and Take Jugglers; and
• There will be a live performance of "Little Red Riding Hood" at the Moorlyn Theatre.

All First Night button holders will be given programs with complete information on entertainment locations, food availability, parking, and free jitney transportation.

First Night Buttons are now available for $20 at the City Hall Welcome Center, 9th and Asbury; Wonderland’s kiosk in Stainton’s Square, 8th and Asbury Avenue; and the Roy Gillian Information Center on the causeway.

First Night has an Angel Fund to assist those who cannot afford buttons. Contact Mark Soifer, Room 214 at City Hall, 609-399-6111.

A printable version of the full schedule of activities and venues is available at www.firstnightocnj.com, where you also can purchase buttons online. Call 1-800-BEACH-NJ for more information.

The celebration continues on Sunday, Jan. 1.

The 5K Boardwalk Run runs north this year and an out-and-back course extends beyond the boardwalk. The race starts at 1 p.m. Pre-register for $20 through 9 p.m. Dec. 30 at runsignup.com/Race/NJ/OceanCity/FirstDay5KBoardwalkRun.

Race-day registration ($30) is 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Ocean City Civic Center, just off the boardwalk at Sixth Street. This year’s event includes chip timing. For more information, call 609-861-0674.

First Day at the Beach features the first dip in the ocean at 2 p.m. near the Ocean City Music Pier, Boardwalk and Moorlyn Terrace. Visit herocampaign.org to reserve a commemorative long-sleeved T-shirt with a $20 donation to the John R. Elliott Hero Campaign for Designated Drivers and to learn more about how to help the campaign.

Event-day registration starts at noon at the Music Pier. Free parking is available at Eighth Street and at Moorlyn Terrace. Register and get a Beach Nut Certificate that reads, “Yes! You have plunged into the waters on New Year’s Day!” There is also a Hero plunge/pledge for designated drivers. The plunge this year will take place in the ocean off Eighth Street north of the Music Pier.

The First Day Shopping Extravaganza runs from noon-3 p.m., and features downtown shopping specials and free horse-and-carriage rides.

Patch file photo