Downtown Ocean City has everything Discover fun, food, shopping, events and entertainment in downtown OC When does the summer season start in Ocean City? Different people have different answers to that seemingly simple question. For some, it is a meteorological answer, tied to the solstice on June 20. For others, the season in OC has always been marked by the Memorial Day Holiday. Employers may tell you it’s the first weekend the seasonal employees start. With the ever-growing shoulder season, some say it’s a festival like Springfest or Boardwalk Rock. No matter what indicator you use, it’s clear that the summer season has arrived and we
are ready for it in Downtown Ocean City. As June rolls in, expect to see "June Bugs" — that is, carloads of recent high school graduates heading to the beach after their schools wrap up in early to midJune. This marks a shift from weekend family visits, which depend upon good weather, to week-long family vacations in Ocean City, often booked months in advance. Sunbathers, sandcastles, beach umbrellas, and lifeguard stands become regular sights along the Boardwalk as the weather warms up and the water becomes more inviting. For many, June is the ideal time to visit Ocean City. Downtown Ocean City had a bustling May, featur-
ing events like the Boardwalk Rock Festival, Cruisin’ Ocean City, and Jeep Week, although Jeep Week technically runs until June 1. However, June will also bring exciting happenings, starting with the Sand Duels Beach Soccer Tournament on the first weekend. Soccer enthusiasts can catch youth and adult teams competing in 5-on-5 matches on the beach between Wicomico and North Division Streets, making it the largest beach soccer event in the area. Soccer fans can experience further action with the Beach 5 Sand Soccer Series on June 21 between Dorchester and North Division Streets. The OC Air Show returns to June this year (June Continued on page 6