It’s Labor Day weekend, welcome fall with a plop

Written by Claire Lowe Thursday, August 30, 2012 01:00 am

OCEAN CITY — For shore towns like Ocean City, Labor Day means summer is coming to an end. It’s the goodbye weekend for many families whose children head back to school next week.

So to give the new season a proper reception, for the fourth year, Ocean City will welcome fall with its annual King and Queen of Plop contest.

Can you fall dramatically, and in slow motion? Have you ever wished to be royalty? Well, this contest might be for you. The event will be 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 31 on the Ninth Street beach opposite the Music Pier. Contestants are asked to greet the fall season by falling dramatically to the sand. The most dramatic ploppers will be crowned, and after the winners are announced, all contestants will hold hands and perform a mass plopping. 

Celebrity ploppers – not eligible to win – include falling cartoonist Jerry Lukas, Ocean City’s dancing fish ladies, Ken Thorpe and friends, the plopping Santa Claus, Doug Jewell and his plopping pirates, Suzanne Muldowney as Shelly the Mermaid, Martin Z. Mollusk, Trash Buster, the World’s Only Wind Chimes Band, Marcia Shallcross, Miss Ocean City, Junior Miss Ocean City and Little Miss Ocean City, Muscle Men from Ocean City Fitness and Nancy Fox with her plopping sopranos.

Contestants may register starting 10:30 a.m. Entry is free and prizes will be awarded. Costumes and props are allowed. All contestants must sign a waiver. For information, call 525-9300.

New Philadelphia Eagle can be seen at the Music Pier

The Philadelphia Eagles have announced a partnership with Angry Birds to introduce the newest member of its team, The Mighty Philadelphia Eagle. Come to the Ocean City Music Pier 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1 to meet him. Take a photo with The Mighty Philadelphia Eagle and upload it to Facebook for a chance to win 2012 season tickets. Visit the Philadelphia Eagles Facebook page for complete rules. For more information, call 399-1412.

Fall Farmer’s Market in the Downtown

The Fall Farmer’s Market in the Downtown is 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1 at Ninth and Asbury. For more information, call 398-4662.

Lynda Randle sings at the Tabernacle

Barry Black, chaplain of the US Senate, is the speaker 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 2 at Ocean City Tabernacle, 550 Wesley Ave. Black has preached at the Tabernacle each summer since 2003.

Gospel Music Award winner Lynda Randle, who came to the Tabernacle for the first time last summer, returns with music in the morning and a full concert at 7 p.m. She is joined by pianist Joey Gore and singers Gayle Mayes and Angela Prim. Randle won the 2005 Gospel Music Dove Award for her CD tribute to Mahalia Jackson. She is the brother of Michael Tait of DC Talk.

An informal song service, ranging from hymns to new praise and worship songs, precedes each service, with song leader Greg Field, 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. Childcare 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. See www.OCTabernacle.org.

Mayor’s Labor Day Race

The Mayor’s Labor Day Race is a 5-mile beach run and 1-mile fun run and walkMonday, Sept. 3. The 5-mile run begins at 9 a.m. and the 1-mile walk starts immediately after the run start.

Pre-registration is $20, $14 for children 14 and under. T-shirts are available to those who pre-register. Day-of registration is $25 at the 23rd Street beach 7:30-8:30 a.m. For more information, call 398-6900 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

‘Hairspray’ takes over the Ocean City Music Pier

“Hairspray,” Broadway’s musical comedy, is coming to the Ocean City Music Pier 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 2, 4 and 5. This fun musical, winner of eight 2003 Tony Awards including Best Musical, is the final collaboration of 2012 between the Ocean City Theatre Company and the Ocean City Pops Orchestra. Based on the 1988 film by John Waters, “Hairspray” tells the story of overweight Baltimore girl, Tracy Turnblad. She's never been part of the “in” crowd until winning a coveted spot on the local TV dance program. Tracy quickly becomes a trendsetter and uses her popularity to help change the show's segregation policy. Michael Hartman, artistic director of OCTC serves as the director, and regional theater choreographer Kelly Swartz returns to oversee all of the dancing. Rebecca Wolfe from New York City makes her OCTC debut as Tracy Turnblad. Tickets are $25 for orchestra seating and $18 for solarium seating. To purchase tickets, call 525-9248, call www.ocnj.us/boxoffice or stop by the box office located at the Ocean City Music Pier.