Tuesday, June 24 - OC's Free Activities Start Next Week

OCEAN CITY - The Town of Ocean City is serving up a summer filled with free events and activities including the new Family Movie Nights on the beach at 27th Street every Monday and Friday starting June 30 and running through August 15.

From 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., families can gather for fun activities and a movie right on the beach, all for free. Activities organized by the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department include arts and crafts, games and other activities for the first hour, with the movie starting at approximately 8:45 p.m.

Beach Movie Night Schedule

June 30: 'Surf's Up.'

July 7: Happy Feet

July 11: Shrek 2

July 14: Madagascar

July 18: Open Season

July 21: Over the Hedge

July 25: Barnyard

July 28: RV

Aug. 1: Ice Age The Meltdown

Aug. 4: Flushed Away

Aug. 8: Shrek 3

Aug. 11: Alvin and the Chipmunks

Aug. 15: Shark Tale.

(Movies are shown as weather permits and schedule is subject to change.) 

Another new free activity for 2008 is the Family Beach Olympics planned for Tuesday evenings from July 1 through Aug. 12.

From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the 27th Street beach, Family Beach Olympics will offer such activities as sand castle contests, tug of war, relay games and more. Children must be accompanied by parents or guardians.

A summer full of free Concerts on the Beach take the stage on the beach at N. Division St. beginning on Wednesday, July 9. The music plays from 8 to 9:30 p.m. just steps from Ocean City's world-famous Boardwalk. Bring your beach chairs and/or beach blankets and then sit back to enjoy the show each Wednesday evening through Aug. 20 (no concert July 30).

Concerts On The Beach Schedule

July 9: Sir Rod

July 16: J.R. Booker (country)

July 23: Rising Sun Reggae Band

Aug. 6: Frankie & the Pack (Tribute to the Greats)

Aug. 13: Randy Lee Ashcraft & the Saltwater Cowboys (beach country)

Aug. 20: Captain Quint (Jimmy Buffett tribute)

The Town of Ocean City's weekly evening Bonfires on the Beach program returns to the beach at N. Division St. for its seventh season of entertaining families on Thursday, July 10 at 9 p.m. Each Thursday evening through July and August, the bonfire hour is offered free of charge. Bring your beach chairs and blankets. As you sit around the bonfire you will be entertained each week by different speakers.

Bonfire Speaker Schedule

July 10: Ocean City Emergency Services

July 17: The National Aquarium of Baltimore

July 24: Ocean City Beach Patrol

July 31: Ocean City Department of Tourism-Fun Things to Do and the History of Ocean City

Aug. 7: Ocean City Police Department's bike patrol, mounted police and K-9 units

Aug. 14: Ocean City Volunteer Fire Department

Aug. 21: Ocean City Fire Marshal

Aug. 28: Ocean City Recreation Department

The Town of Ocean City's popular Sundaes in the Park family concert series kicks off its 2008 season at Northside Park, 127th St. bayside, on Sunday, July 13. The music plays from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is free. While the music plays, children will enjoy special entertainment just for them. Cool off and make your own ice cream sundae for a small fee. Then sit back and enjoy the music in the beautiful setting of Northside Park.

Sundaes in the Park is the weekly family concert series presented by the Ocean City Department of Recreation and Parks. This season's Sundaes performances will run from July 13 through Aug. 24. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved into the Northside Park gymnasium. Weather information line is 410-250-2124 for the Sundaes concerts.

Sundaes Entertainment Lineup

July 13: Key West Band "Jimmy Buffett Tribute" and the Mike Rose Magic Show

July 20: Country Current (United States Navy Band) and Scales & Tales

July 27: The Groove Train (Disco Party Band) and Mary Ann Jung "Pee Wee Pirate Show"

Aug. 3: The Real Geniuses (New Wave 80s band) and Lollipop the Clown

Aug. 10: Jesse Garron's Tribute to Elvis and the Mike Rose Magic Show

Aug. 17: The Janitors (dance/party band) and Uncle Pete with Kids, "an interactive musical celebration"

Aug. 24: Mary Lou and the Untouchables (classic rock) and Scales & Tales.

On Monday evenings the focus shifts to Sunset Park, located on the bay in the downtown at S. Division St., where free concerts plus two festivals will occur. Concerts will be held at 8 p.m.

Sunset Park Concert Schedule

July 14: Joe Baione

July 21: Shore Jazz with Holly Lane

Aug. 4: Ocean Celtic Quartet

Aug. 11: David Bach

Aug. 18: Opposite Directions.

Two festivals are being planned at Sunset Park - Irish Festival Night on July 28 with James Gallagher's Off the Boat Band and Latin Festival Night on Aug. 25 with Orquesta La Leyenda band. Festivals feature music and food (fee charged for food and drink items). Both festivals will run from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Starting in mid July, the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum at the south end of the Boardwalk will once again offer free programs each Monday through Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Topics vary daily and include beach safety, aquarium feeding, knot tying and all about sharks.

For all the week's news, see The Dispatch on Friday morning.