Peak Season arrives in Downtown OC
Discover fun, food, shopping, events and entertainment in downtown OC
The word that best describes the month of August in Downtown Ocean City is “busy.” This seems like an obvious statement … naturally, a beach resort town is busy in the middle of summer. You would expect to see the beaches packed with umbrellas, lines forming for your favorite Boardwalk fries or caramel popcorn, and you may have to wait on the bridge coming into town. What makes this August feels busier is the number of events on calendar. August kicks off with the White Marlin Open
(Aug. 5-9). While Ocean City hosts quite few large purse fishing tournaments, such as the Huk Classic at MR Ducks last month and the Poor Girls Open this month at Fish Tales, the White Marlin Open is “the big one.” Anglers from across the country and locals alike compete in a number of categories, with a chance to win millions of dollars for catching the biggest fish. The event is celebrating its 51 anniversary this year and spectators will flock to Harbor Island to watch the weigh-ins live. The event has grown so large over the years that a sister event was started a few years ago. Marlin Fest takes place in the inlet parking lot and admis-
sion is free. Attendees will hear live music, be able to check for flags as boats come through the inlet, and watch the weigh-ins broadcasted on large screens. The setup there also will include vendors, food trucks and bar stations. The OC Air Show has also been moved to Aug. 24 -25 from its usual date earlier in the summer, which was done this year to ensure top talent for the event. The skies will be loud that week as jet fighters and other planes take practice runs during the weekdays in preparation for the show on the weekend. Headliners for this year’s show include the Continued on page 4