Ocean City's Baby Parade Tradition Continues Today

At the inaugural Baby Show at the Casino Pier on the Ocean City Boardwalk in 1901, 46 of Ocean City's youngest residents and visitors were dolled up and paraded around, competing for titles of prettiest, cutest and fattest baby.

Parents have been coming to Ocean City to show off their children ever since.

Ocean City holds its annual   -- for the 102nd time in 111 years -- today (Aug. 11) at 10:15 a.m.

The annual parade perhaps hit its peak in 1983, when New York Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio was grand marshal and an estimated 100,000 people watched the Boardwalk event. It's been interrupted over the years only a few times -- mostly by the World Wars and a 1916 infantile paralysis epidemic.

The parade route is on the Boardwalk starting at Sixth Street and proceeding to 12th Street with judging in front of the at Moorlyn Terrace.

The parade competition is open to children from infants to 10 years old.

In the parade, parents and local businesses decorate go-carts, strollers, coaches, wagons and floats and compete for prizes in various divisions.

Musical groups in the parade include the Interboro High School of Pennsylvania Marching Band, the Pitman Hobo Band, the Atlantic City Bagpipers, the Fred Hall Dixieland Band, an award-winning Youth Color Guard with music and marchers and the Ed Coles Entertainers.

This year’s parade is dedicated to the memory of Doris and Dutch Dahlhausen, who directed the event for many years.

The Ocean City Baby Parade was founded by Leo Bamberger and his committee. Bamberger, a photo engraver, was one of the organizers of Labor Day. The Parade is now directed by Susan Canale who heads a committee of 40 volunteers.

For more information, see the Fred and Susan Miller's history of the Baby Parade. The book is available in local book stores, including and .