Downtown Hosts Christmas Parade on Friday Evening, Dec 5th

Ocean City’s annual Christmas Parade travels down Asbury Avenue at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5. Lights, garland, wreaths and bows adorn “The Avenue” for the season, and the parade will bring a variety of bands, floats and other entries to add a little warmth to the winter.  The event gives spectators time to shop and dine on downtown Asbury Avenue before and after the 6 p.m. start time. The parade starts at Sixth Street and proceeds to 11^th Street.

This year’s parade will feature entries including the Ocean City High School Marching Band, the Interboro High School Marching Band (of Prospect Park, Pa.), and the Absegami High School Marching Braves. Characters from “Frozen,” Frosty the Snowman, Buddy the Elf, Mickey and Minnie Mouse will be on floats. Cold-air balloons – including the Grinch – will be part of the fun. Three string bands, the Hobo Band, Snoopy, Martin and Mollie Mollusk and a variety of dance teams also will participate. Float sponsors include McMahon Insurance, Pete Madden of Gold Coast Sotheby’s, OCNJ Entertainment and the Stainton’s family of stores.

As part of the annual tradition, Santa Claus provides a finale to the parade, greeting boys and girls from a horse-drawn carriage. A holiday drone show will then light the skies over Asbury Avenue to cap off the evening. This event had been scheduled for last week’s Christmas in the Downtown celebration but was postponed due to high winds. After the Christmas Parade, spectators will be able to see the display as they look to the skies toward Sixth Street.