The time has come to wave goodbye to Santa Claus for the year and 2021 as a whole. Spring is off on the horizon but Ocean City is still a great place to be for entertainment! Take a look at things to do in the opening months of 2022!
January
East Coast Commercial Fishermen’s & Aquaculture Trade Expo (Jan. 14th – Jan. 16th)
If you love fishing or anything marine-related, this is the perfect event for you! As the only commercial fishing expo in the region, you will find plenty of like-minded watermen here at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center. Speak with fishing hobbyists or professional fishermen who make their living on the water, see the newest tech and gear available, participate in various seminars on the subject, and enter raffles to win great prizes!
Delmarva Art Expo (Jan. 15th – Jan. 16th)
Fancy yourself an expert on art? Or are you more of passing admirer? Either way, there’s something for everyone to see at the Delmarva Art Expo, hosted at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center! Here you will be able to find artists who use traditional art mediums (paint and canvas) and others who use more specialized mediums (metal and glass). It’s a great way to spend an afternoon and you might go home with a new favorite piece of art!
2nd Annual Mac & Cheese Cook Off (Jan. 22nd)
Who doesn’t love a good bowl of mac and cheese? Would you like to be a critic of many bowls of mac and cheese while helping a children’s charity? On Saturday January 22nd, at Residence Inn on 61st Street from 12 pm – 3 pm, local restaurants will offer samples of their mac and cheese for you to judge in three categories. Participants are also given two complimentary drink vouchers for the event. There will be live music, door prizes, and raffles. The admission is $30 per person, with all proceeds going to the Believe in Tomorrow Children’s House by the Sea.
February
St. Valentine’s Day Weekend (Feb. 11th – Feb. 13th)
You’ll certainly find plenty to love in Ocean City this Valentine’s Day. Bring your special someone to the beach for romantic dining at night and gorgeous sunrises in the morning! There are plenty of choices to have an oceanfront view for this special weekend, so make sure you lock in yours early.
Seaside Boat Show (Feb. 18th – Feb. 20th)
Visit the Roland E. Powell Convention Center for the 39th Annual Ocean City Seaside Boatshow! Come check out over 350 boats on display, as well as over 140 exhibitors! If you’re in the market for a boat to use while vacationing in Ocean City, there will be boat dealers as well you can talk to. You can also enter to win an 18’ Sweetwater Pontoon Boat and 40 HP Honda Motor!
March
OC Film Festival (Mar. 3rd – Mar. 6th)
As part of the Ocean City Center of the Arts, the OC Film Festival celebrates the art and artistry of local independent filmmakers! Over the course of four days, you can enjoy the submissions for the sixth season of the event. Past categories include “Best Short Film That Makes You Feel Good”; “Best Not-Short-but-Not-Feature-Length Film”; and “The Pink Flamingo,” awarded to the film that is “deemed most reflective of Maryland life,” according to the website. Check out the website for full details about the film submissions, screening locations, multiday passes, and access to Q&A panels with the film teams!
St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Mar. 12th)
Celebrate Irish heritage in Ocean City with the Delmarva Irish-American Club! The St. Patrick’s Day Parade makes a triumphant return after its unfortunate cancellation in 2021. As always, the parade begins at 11 am, featuring over 100 groups and starting at 60th Street, ending at the 45th Street Village. There, you will find the Irish Headquarters where the festival will continue with music, dancing, and food! Be mindful of the traffic congestion that will occur as a result of the parade. The good news is that the Atlantic Oceanfront Inn will reopen for the season starting St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Book your reservation now and be close enough to walk to the St. Patrick’s Day Headquarters!
Home, Condo, & Outdoor Show plus Art and Craft Fair (Mar. 18th – Mar. 20th)
Spring is a perfect time to reinvent your home decor! See all the new designs at the Home, Condo, & Outdoor Show, hosted at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center. Chat with design professionals about the best ways to spruce up your space, inside and outside! In addition, the Arts and Crafts Fair will offer a wide array of unique and beautiful pieces that will remind you of the beach no matter where your home is! There will also be door prizes and a 50/50 cash raffle drawing of $50,000, sponsored by Temple Bat Yam. You won’t want to miss anything at this expo! Admission is $7 per day for adults; $6 for seniors (55 and up) and students (14-22); and free admission for children under 13 and first responders (ID required).
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Lodging options might be limited at the moment but that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare in advance! With many of the Carousel Group hotels reopening for the 2022 season in February and March, you’ll have plenty of choices to be exactly where you want to be! Be sure to call our reservations center at 800-641-0011 or book online at www.carouselgrouphotels.com for the best rates and special bonuses for booking direct!