Downtown Shopping Deals Start 'Earlier Than The Bird'

If the mad rush of Black Friday shopping is not your thing, Ocean City's downtown shops are offering a sleepier alternative this weekend.

Downtown Ocean City’s third annual “Earlier Than the Bird Shopping Extravaganza” invites people to shop in their pajamas on Saturday, Nov. 19, to take advantage of discounts and to win free Thanksgiving turkeys.

Downtown merchants will give away more than 30 turkeys to shoppers deemed to have the best pajamas—and the merchants get in on the act as well and work in their pajamas for the day. 

The promotion runs 7 a.m. to noon Saturday at more than 100 stores along Asbury Avenue between Sixth and 11th streets. In addition to discounted prices, the downtown merchants will offer free coffee, giveaways and shoppers can sign up in the stores to win $25 downtown gift certificates ($500 worth). 

Some stores (including and ) will have activities for children that will let parents "drop and shop." 

The promotion is organized by the Downtown Ocean City merchants group to create "fun and festive shopping in a more relaxed atmosphere."

Downtown Ocean City Executive Director Marcia Shallcross said that some merchants report that the "Earlier Than the Bird" weekend ranks with the Fall Block Party and Black Friday among the biggest weekends of the year.

"Earlier Than the Bird" also kicks off a series of free weekend events in Downtown Ocean City that include:

• Every weekend through Dec. 18: Free horse and carriage rides (noon to 3 p.m. at Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue), free face painters, balloon sculptures and more.
• Hospitality Nights: New this year, the downtown will offer Friday evening Hospitality Nights 5 to 8 p.m. from Dec. 2 through Dec. 23. The evenings include shopping specials, entertainment, free horse and carriage rides, Santa and more.
• Old-Fashioned Christmas: The celebration will be held 2 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 25, the day after Thanksgiving. The promotion includes free horse-and-carriage rides, photos with Santa in an Ocean City Beach Patrol surfboat at Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue, face-painters, carolers, music and more. The Philly Phanatic will visit from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Santa will arrive from the roof of City Hall and descend with the help of a fire truck. There will be shopping and dining specials all weekend.
• Downtown Christmas Parade: The annual parade features Santa and others riding Asbury Avenue from Sixth to 11th streets 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2. After the parade, Santa will pose for photos and give out treats at Stainton's Square. The parade returns to the evening hours after being held in the daytime in recent years.

For more information on Downtown Ocean City, call 609-398-4662 or visit Downtown Ocean City.