Celebrate Independence Day with a week full of events in Ocean City

Last Updated on Thursday, June 28, 2012 03:14 pm Written by Claire Lowe Thursday, June 28, 2012 03:03 pm

OCEAN CITY — This Fourth of July, we’re lucky enough to get two weekends at the Jersey Shore. In fact, with July 4 falling on a Wednesday this year, it’s a week and a half-long celebration.

Ocean City got started early with the July Jubilee celebration, which began on Monday, June 25 and continues through Friday, June 29 with the exciting finale: Xtreme Hermit Crab Wrestling. This extremely nonviolent spectacle takes place 11 a.m. at the Music Pier, Moorlyn Terrace and Boardwalk.

Hermit crabs are placed upside down on their shells and the first one that turns right side up is the winner. The contest is free and prizes are awarded. The event is divided into age groups 5 and under, 6-8, 9-12, teens and adults.

Also on Friday is the Independence bay race. The race starts at Kennedy Park in Somers Point at 6 p.m. for the half-mile, which includes a Special Olympics class, and at 6:30 p.m. for 1-mile. Entry fee is $20. Proceeds benefit the C-Cerpants Swim Team. Call Liz Casey at 602-9716 or email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

On Saturday, June 30, start the day with the Corson’s Inletn State Park clean up 10 a.m.-1 p.m., sponsored by 7th St. Surf Shop and United by Blue, an ocean-friendly apparel brand. Clean-up supplies will be provided to sort and recycle trash and there will be games and activities. For information, contact Andrew Greenblatt 516-398-2964 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The fourth annual Shoes at the Shore will also be Saturday morning, 9:30 a.m. at the Church of Resurrection, 200 W. Tuckahoe Road in Marmora. The Michael Barnes Memorial Shoes at the Shore Horseshoe Tournament is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 9113. Advanced registration is $30 per person, $60 per team if received by June 11. The price includes a barbecue lunch. Day-of registration begins at 8:30 a.m. For more information call Tim O’Shea at 425-2942, John Fennekohl at 425-1561 or see www.shoesattheshore.com.

Ocean City Exchange Club Craft Show is 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the Music Pier. For vendor information, call 610-368-6656.

Tacoma pastor Dean Curry and singer Michael Card are the special guests this Sunday, July 1 at Ocean City Tabernacle. Mega-church pastor Dean Curry preaches at the two identical worship services, 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Curry is pastor of the Life Center, a multi-faceted ministry in Tacoma, Wash. Music is by the a cappella male quartet, Four His Glory. An informal song service, ranging from hymns to new praise and worship songs, precedes each service. Greg Field is songleader with Carolyn Lothian on the concert grand Steinway piano and Jeff Seals on the four-manual Allen organ; Paul Berges, drummer, joins on the upbeat tunes.

Later that evening, recording artist Michael Card is in concert at 7 p.m. Card has written for many major Christian singers and is the composer of “El Shaddai” among others.

Child-care for ages 3 and younger is in the Noah’s Ark nursery both morning and evening and age-appropriate Sunday School is offered for children during the morning services. Everyone is welcome; come in vacation clothes. See www.OCTabernacle.org.

Get some sports in on Sunday as the Ocean City’s Nor’easters soccer team will play the Bermuda Hogges at Carey Stadium, Sixth Street and Atlantic Avenue. Kick off is 7 p.m. Halftime events include Zumba and a Euro 2012 Soccer Celebration. Entry for any summer Ocean City FC youth soccer players is free. Tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for kids. For information call 525-9999 or see www.OceanCityFC.com.

It’s a British Invasion on Monday, July 2, as Veterans of Foreign Wars Ferguson-Foglio Post 6650 will bring Beatlemania Now, a tribute to The Beatles, to the Music Pier 8 p.m. Tickets are $18, and available at www.ocnj.us or the Music Pier Box Office, call 525-9248.

Finally, on Independence Day, Wednesday, July 4, the celebration begins with two July 4 Bike Parades.

One is sponsored by the Gardens Civic Association and begins 9 a.m. at the Longport Bridge parking lot. Registration starts at 8:45 a.m. in the parking lot, Gardens Parkway and East Newcastle Road.

The other is sponsored South Ocean City Improvement Association beginning 10 a.m. at 40th Street and Asbury Avenue. Registration starts at 9 a.m. For more information, call 839-0306.

The Fourth of July Celebration continues beachside with a kite flying competition at 5 p.m., followed by entertainment. Call Air Circus at 399-9343 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

A fireworks display off the Ninth Street beach at 9:30 p.m. tops off the evening. For more information, call 525-9300.

Other weekend events:

Talent Star Competition

The Ocean City/Upper Township Rotaract Club is looking for participants for its first South Jersey Talent Star Competition. Win cash prizes, trophies. The event will be held 7 p.m. June 28 that the Ocean City Tabernacle. For an application, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Wanamaker’s exhibit at Arts Center

Through June, don’t miss the paintings of Wanamaker’s department store now on display at the Ocean City Arts Center, 17th Street and Simpson Avenue. This exhibit is a nostalgic trip back in time to when folks met “at the Eagle” and enjoyed the amenities of a great institution.

Seeking Miss Ocean City contestants

The Miss Ocean City Scholarship Pageant is seeking contestants. The pageant will be held on Saturday, Aug. 11 at the Music Pier. Over $15,000 in scholarships will be awarded. To be eligible, contestants must be between the ages of 16 and 22 and attend or have graduated from Ocean City High School, or whose guardians own property in Ocean City or a sending district to Ocean City High School. Contact Maribeth Neall at 398-2743 or 369-0293, Kara Hill at 601-8802 or pick up an application from Peggy Doyle the Ocean City High School. Applications can also be downloaded at www.ocexchangeclub.org. Deadline for filing applications is Saturday, June 30.