OC Today-Dispaatch JULY 12, 2024
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PHOTO COURTESY EXPLORE OC
Bombs bursting in air lit up the beach downtown on July 4 as part of a fireworks show deemed impressive by spectators and officials, despite a late start because of an abnormally high tide.
Ocean City sees solid Fourth Resort draws major crowd to town for festivities, as lodging industry reports shorter stays. — Page 3
Airport support County, resort governments chip in to help Salisbury airport’s quest for another direct flight service. — Pages 76 and 78
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JULY 12, 2024
OC Today-Dispatch
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7.12 Lime Green 1-4pm True Country 6-9pm 7.13 Rymac 1-4pm 7.14 Jason Lee 1-4pm Jack & T Lutz 6-9pm 7.15 Steve Bowers 1-4pm 7.16 Wes Davis 2-5pm Troy Mawyer 6-9pm 7.17 Bryan Dorsey 1-4pm Jack Bannon 6-9pm 7.18 Naked Nation 6-9pm
JULY 12, 2024
OC Today-Dispatch
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PHOTO COURTESY EXPLORE OC
The Ocean City Boardwalk is pictured on July 4 minutes before the fireworks show began.
Solid holiday weekend seen in resort with strong crowds By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor (July 12, 2024) Despite two notable police-related incidents, Ocean City officials are reporting a successful Fourth of July weekend. While the summer season has had a slow start by most accounts, officials say last week’s holiday festivities brought more people to the resort. The July 4 celebration reached a crescendo on Thursday night with music and fireworks throughout Ocean City. “The weekend was great,” said Tom Perlozzo, director of tourism and business development for the Town of Ocean City. “Traffic, etc. was strong for the weekend. Our fireworks had extremely large crowds at both Northside Park and downtown.” Ocean City hosted two fireworks shows on July 4, one at Northside Park uptown and another at the Caroline Street Stage downtown. However, just hours before the displays were to be set off, officials announced an unexpected high tide had delayed the downtown show. “We did have a scare when the abnormally high tide got into the fireworks downtown,” City Manager Terry McGean said this week, “but it wound up only delaying the show for less than a half hour.” Despite the minor setback, officials say both shows were a success. McGean added that the town did see
an expected traffic backup in town following the conclusion of both fireworks displays. “We have received numerous emails complimenting us on the quality of the fireworks at both locations,” he said. “All in all, city staff did a great job hosting a fun and safe 4th of July holiday weekend.” Officials say more visitors were in town for July 4 and the days that followed, based on preliminary statistics. The hospitality sector reported increased business and sales. According to demoflush records, a system that uses wastewater output to calculate visitation, the estimated crowd count for Independence Day reached 321,865. That number increased to 344,034 on Friday and 338,878 on Saturday. “All in all, a very strong holiday,” McGean said. “Preliminary numbers (parking, wastewater flows) are up from last year.” Susan Jones, executive director of the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, noted the steady stream of visitors in town last week. However, she said that hotels were reporting abbreviated stays. “I spoke to a few prior to the 4th and they mentioned that travel patterns were arrival Wednesday, out Friday and some were arrival Thursday, out Saturday,” she said. “Overall, we are seeing very last-minute bookSee HOLIDAY Page 10
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