Ocean City Happenings: Your Ultimate Guide to Night in Venice

When is Night in Venice?

The boat parade starts at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 26.

Where does the parade route begin and end?

It begins near the Ocean City-Longport toll bridge and travels along the bayside to Tennessee Avenue, looping in and out of lagoons along the way.

Where can I watch the parade?

To view the Night in Venice boat parade, grandstands will be set up at street ends along the bay from Battersea Road to 16th Street and also at Tennessee Avenue. These are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Streets include: Battersea Road, North Street, First Street, Sixth Street, Seventh Street, 11th Street, 13th Street, 15th Street, 16th Street and Tennessee Avenue. Spectators with their own seating can access the parade route from any other public street end and from the bayside park at Second Street.

The Ninth Street Bridge also provides a good vantage point. All pedestrians and bicyclists should use the Shared Use Bike Path and stay to the south side shoulder for viewing. No persons will be allowed to bring chairs for seating on the bridge. At no time will anyone block the free movement of the Shared Use Bike Path. No open alcoholic beverages are permitted on the bridge at any time. Pedestrians are not permitted to walk along the bridge with motor vehicle traffic. Ocean City police will be present monitoring the bridge while the parade is in progress.

The Bayside Center at 520 Bay Avenue will be open with family entertainment and activities for Night in Venice. The viewing area will include a picnic spot and snack stand, face-painting, a DJ, and bleacher seating. Ticket prices will be $6 for children (12 and under) and $10 for adults (with service fees included). The area will remain open and provide an ideal spot to view a fireworks display after the boat parade. Check for availability at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice.

What does it cost?

The parade is free to watch at all locations except the Bayside Center.

Where can I park?

Free parking and shuttle service will run starting at 4 p.m. Parking will be available at:

-- Ocean City Municipal Airport: 25th Street and Bay Avenue

-- Soccer Field at Tennessee Avenue: Off Shelter Road

-- Ocean City Community Center: 1735 Simpson Avenue

Shuttles will drop off spectators at street ends where they can watch the parade and return them to the parking lots afterward. The shuttle also drops off at the Bayside Center. The service is free and will be available until 10 p.m.

    Boaters wave to spectators on shore. (Credit: Susan Allen/Ocean City)
  

Parking restrictions will be in effect for the entire day of Saturday (July 26) for the following locations:

-- West side of Bay Avenue between 14th Street and Tennessee Avenue

-- East side of Bay Avenue between 14th Street and Tennessee Avenue.

-- Entrance triangles to West 16th Street, West 17th Street and West 18th Street will have parking restrictions in place.

-- Please remove boat trailers and dumpsters in advance of the event.

Parking regulations will be strictly enforced. Violators will be ticketed and in severe cases, the vehicles will be towed if public safety is affected. A one-way traffic pattern will be in effect for Spruce Road (eastbound toward the ocean) and Walnut Road (westbound toward the bay), Arkansas Avenue (westbound toward the bay), Michigan Avenue (westbound toward the bay) and West 18th Street Road (eastbound toward the ocean) in the Riviera neighborhood. This is to allow for safe passage of all pedestrian and vehicle traffic and emergency vehicle access to isolated areas of the bayfront.

What is the Night in Venice theme?

The event's theme is “70 Years of Champions,” a chance to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Night in Venice and 70 years of different champions from throughout the region, including this year’s Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. This theme is optional.

When and where are the fireworks?

Night in Venice will include a fireworks display launched after the parade from a barge in the bay north of the Ninth Street Bridge, roughly off Third Street. The start time is estimated to be at some point between 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., depending on when the parade ends. The display should be best viewed from street ends or the bayfront between the Ocean City-Longport toll bridge and 16th Street.

Who participates?

Anyone with a boat or anyone with a house along the bayfront parade route can participate by decorating their boat or home. Judges pick winners among boats, homes and condominium complexes.

How do I participate?

You can register your boat or house online at ocnj.us/niv.

    Elaborately decorated bayfront homes are a big part of the Night in Venice tradition. (Credit: Susan Allen/Ocean City)
  

Do participants get anything?

Acme Markets and OCNJ Watersports return as presenting sponsors. They made cash and in-kind contributions to help enhance the event this year.

“Best in Show” prizes (for boats over and under 24 feet) will include a $1,000 gift card to OCNJ Watersports (Beachy Tiki boat tours, Totally Tubular Watersports or Totally Tubular Aqua Park). The prize is good for one private Tiki boat charter for up to 32 guests, but it also could be broken down and used for any of the OCNJ Watersports activities.

Prizes for the other boat parade categories (“Best Decorated,” “Best Original” and “Best Musical” for boats over and under 24 feet) will include a $300 gift card to OCNJ Watersports for first place, $200 gift card for second place, and $100 gift card for third place.

Prizes for the 14 zones in the house-decorating contest will include a $100 gift card to OCNJ Watersports for first place, $75 gift card for second place, and $50 gift card for third place.

The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce will donate a one-year membership and two marketing email blasts (combined $600 value) to the “Best Commercial Entry” and “Best Community Organization/Non-Profit Entry” categories in the boat parade.

Acme Markets – with locations at Eighth Street and 34th Street in Ocean City – provides catered food trays to the lead entries in the boat parade.

How can I see results of the contest?

Results will be announced on ocnj.us and oceancityvacation.com by noon Sunday, July 27, and awards can be picked up starting at 1 p.m. July 27 from the City Hall Welcome Center.

Are paddleboards and kayaks part of the parade?

For safety reasons, paddleboards and kayaks are not part of the Night in Venice parade.

    Flyers legend Bernie Parent, shown with his wife, Gini, during a parade on the Ocean City Boardwalk, will be one of the grand marshals for Night in Venice. (Photo courtesy of Ocean City)
  

Will there be a grand marshal?

Philadelphia sports legends Bernie Parent, Vince Papale and Ruben Amaro Jr. will be among the grand marshals for Night in Venice.

Who else will be in the parade?

The Philadelphia Flyers’ mascot Gritty will join Night in Venice this year.

How can I stay safe during the parade?

Do not swim or allow your guests to swim during the parade. Make sure no one throws water balloons or other objects at or from boats or houses during the parade. Standup paddleboarders must wear life jackets and carry whistles. Do not enter or cross the parade route in any boat or craft during the parade. The final boat in the parade will have a flashing yellow light. The start of the parade will be signaled by the flyover of a Coast Guard helicopter. Do not anchor in any channel during the fireworks. See video.

What else is happening on Night in Venice Weekend?
The third annual Night in Venice 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk is scheduled for the morning of Night in Venice on Saturday. Registration for the event is now open. The 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) race will start at 8 a.m. at 19th Street and Haven Avenue, and the one-mile walk will begin soon after. The race will follow a flat, out-and-back course along Haven Avenue and the adjacent bike path. Online registration and more information are available at: www.runsignup.com/NIV5k.

At 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 25, Boat House Row: The Yacht Rock Experience, will perform a special concert at the Music Pier to open Night in Venice Weekend. The six-piece band will perform smooth hits from the 1970s and 1980s, including music from Hall & Oates, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, Steely Dan, Toto and more. Ticket prices are $30 and $25 (inclusive of fees). Tickets are available online at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice, by calling 609-399-6111 or in-person at the Music Pier Box Office, City Hall, the Welcome Center on the Ninth Street causeway, and the 46th Street Information Center.