Downtown OC: August belongs here Discover fun, food, shopping, events and entertainment in downtown area From the world’s richest billfish tournament to free concerts, classic cars, and a glowing farewell to summer, the south end of the island saves its best for last. There is a certain feeling that settles over Downtown Ocean City in August. The water is at its warmest, the days are still long, and the blocks between the Inlet and 17th Street hum from sunrise until well past dark. If you have only one month to spend with us, make it this one. The month opens with the granddaddy of them
all. The 53rd Annual White Marlin Open runs August 3 through August 8, and for one week Ocean City becomes the center of the sportfishing world. This year brings a change worth knowing about, as the tournament has expanded to six days and now allows each boat to fish for any three of them. The scales are free and open to the public at Harbour Island Marina on 14th Street bayside, where weighins begin at 4 p.m. and the crowd along the docks grows louder with every boat that backs in. You do not need a ticket, a boat, or a fishing license to be part of it. You just need to show up. If the docks are packed, head to the Inlet instead. Marlin Fest sets up on the beach and parking lot at
the south end of the Boardwalk every day of the tournament from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with live music, food and drink vendors, tournament merchandise, and giant screens streaming the weigh-ins live. Admission is free, and you can watch the boats run the Inlet on their way to the scales. Thursday evenings belong to Sunset Park Party Nights, a free concert series presented by the OCDC and the Town of Ocean City that continues all month at this bayside park where S. Philadelphia Avenue meets S. Division Street. Shows run from 7 to 9 p.m., beer and wine are available, and the sun goes down over Sinepuxent Bay right on cue. Bring Continued on page 4