Ocean City Weekly - Night in Venice

Ocean City celebrates its premiere summer festival Saturday (July 25) as Night in Venice returns. The festival actually opens Friday with the Merchants in Venice Seafood Festival from 6th to 9th streets, featuring great food and rides for the kids. But the big event is the annual boat parade Saturday starting from the Longport Bridge along the bay to Tennessee Ave. at 8pm. A tradition since 1954, more than 100 decorated boats will light up the bay before an estimated 100,000 onlookers. If you plan to drive into the city, we suggest you leave right now and find a parking spot. OK, just kidding, but parking is always at a premium during Night in Venice. Free parking is available at the Ocean City Airport at 26th St. and at Tennessee Ave., with shuttle-bus service to the parade route.

Cultural Calendar

Thursday July 23

Lecture - History of the Ocean City Police Department

Ocean City Historical Museum, 1735 Simpson Ave. Presented by Chad Callahan, Chief of Police. Hear all about the police department’s historical records, documents and artifacts, which they have preserved through the years of service to Ocean City. Free. 7pm. Call 399-1801 or visit ocnjmuseum.org.

Friday July 24

Merchants in Venice Seafood Festival

Asbury Ave., 6th to 9th sts. Come and feast on some of the best seafood in the area and enjoy entertainment and rides for the kids. 5-9pm. Call 399-2269 or visit ocnj.us.

Saturday July 25

Night in Venice

8pm Call 525-9300 or visit ocnj.us.

Performing Arts

Thursday July 23

‘If You Give a Mouse a Cookie’

Ocean City Repertory Theater, 908 Asbury Ave. Presented by the Ocean City Repertory Theater. Performances of the popular children’ story during Downtown Market Days, Thursdays though Aug. 27. $5. 1pm. Call 231-3263 or visit ocrep.org.

The Ocean City Library Presents ‘Dinoman’

Music Pier, Moorlyn Terrace & Boardwalk. Theatre X Productions presents Dinoman, a science show featuring huge inflatable dinosaurs for children grades K–3. Call 525-9444 ext. 351 or visitoceancitylibrary.org.

Thursday July 23 to July 24

‘The Mikado’

Hughes Performing Arts Center, 6th St. and Atlantic Ave. Presented by the Youth Opera of South Jersey. Adults $9, Seniors/Children 13 and under $6. 7:30pm both days. Call 576-2060.

Sunday July 26

Ocean City Pops - ‘Our Three Tenors’

Music Pier, Moorlyn Terrace & Boardwalk. Hear tenors Stephen Costello, Christopher Hux and Michael Galant raise the roof of the Music Pier. Also playing is Lois Herbine premiering a short piccolo flute piece written by former director Joseph LaMonica in 1927. $20. 8pm. Call 525-9245 or visit ocnj.us.

Don Wyrtzen

Ocean City Tabernacle, 5th & Wesley Ave. Composer, pianist, and recording artist Don Wyrtzen in concert. Free. 7pm. Visit OCTabernacle.org.

Monday July 27

Hal Ketchum

Music Pier, Moorlyn Terrace & Boardwalk. Part of the Stockton Goes to the Beach summer concert series. $25. 8pm. Call 525-9300 or visit ocnj.us/boxoffice. (See p. 52)

Tuesday July 28 to July 29

Ocean City Pops - POPS‘ Favorites!

Music Pier, Moorlyn Terrace & Boardwalk. Singers Christopher Hux, Steven LaBrie and Kristen Plumley sing new show medleys with the Pops. Violinist Joanna Frankel plays “Summer” from The Four Seasons. Tickets $15/10. 8pm. Call 525-9245 or visit ocnj.us.

Wednesday July 29

Hudson Valley Puppets: ‘Butterfly, The Story of a Lifecycle’

Music Pier, Moorlyn Terrace & Boardwalk. Children’s Summer Playhouse Series presented by the Stockton College PAC and Ocean City. $9. 10:30am. Call 525-9300 or visit www.ocnj.us.

Sporting Events

Wednesday July 29

6th Annual Chip Miller Charitable Foundation Surf Fest

7th St. Beach. Support amyloidosis awareness. This year’s event will include special guest Bethany Hamilton a top competitor on the Women’s World Qualifying Series Tour. Five years ago Hamilton shocked the world with her undying passion for surfing after losing her left arm in a vicious shark attack on the North Shore of Kauai, Hawaii, her home. The annual after-party begins at 6pm at Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point. After-party $30. Visit chipmiller.org.

Attractions

Ocean City Arts Center

1735 Simpson Ave., Ocean City. July: works by Richard Samuelson. Mon.-Fri. 9am-9pm, Sat. 9am-4pm, Visit oceancityartscenter.org or call 399-7628.

Ocean City Fine Arts League

608 Asbury Ave., Ocean City. July & Aug.: “Everything Ocean City” prospectus. Artists Reception July 10 7-9pm. 10am-6pm daily. 814-0308 or oceancityfineartsleague.org.

Ocean City Historical Museum

1735 Simpson Ave., 0cean City. Lectures Thursdays. Free. 399-1801.