Business & Tech

In Just 20 Years, First Night Has Made Ocean City a Winter Destination

The speed of success: 0 to 10,000 in just two decades as the New Year's Eve celebration marks its 20th anniversary.

 

During the inaugural First Night celebration in 1992, a policeman told Ocean City Public Relations Director Mark Soifer, "I've never seen this many people in Ocean City on New Year's Eve."

It was a small holiday miracle: almost 1,000 people on the Boardwalk in the dead of winter in the summer resort.

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Twenty years later, First Night organizers are preparing to cap sales of admission buttons at 10,000 and welcome thousands more as part of a two-day First Night/First Day celebration that has become a highlight of Ocean City's event calendar.

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"It extends the season, fills hotels, fills restaurants and stores," said Michele Gillian, Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce executive director and First Night chairperson. "It really highlights Ocean City in such a nice way."

Gillian said the event has made Ocean City a weekend destination for visitors and second homeowners. She said the appeal of the event extends beyond a good deal ($14) on more than 60 entertainment programs at 17 venues over the course of 12 hours.

"They come for that intangible thing," Gillian said.

Celebrating the event with family in a place they love is a big part of the allure, she said.

"It's a great thing to see — to see the sparkle in their faces," Gillian said of watching children witness some of the popular acts for the first time.

First Night in Ocean City started 20 years ago and was modeled after an alcohol-free New Year's Eve celebration in Boston that marked the nation's bicentennial in 1976.

The first celebration included 25 entertainment acts in five different locations with admission buttons selling for $8 ($5 before Dec. 26). About 800 buttons were sold.

Soifer was among the founders of the event.

"I thought this is a natural thing for Ocean City," Soifer said.

He said the first event took more than a year of planning and ultimately found the backing of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce. The first First Night benefited from unseasonably warm T-shirt weather, he said.

Soifer said the event has grown steadily over the years, taking a good jump when Jay Gillian first let the committee use computers at his to process online sales of admission buttons.

The 20th First Night is dedicated to Elvis performer Ted Prior, who in May.

Commemorative .

The massive planning effort to pull off an event with size and scope of First Night includes the donation of money and staff resources from primary sponsors, including , , , the  and the

Proceeds from the event benefit charities, such as: scholarships for Ocean City High school students, the After Prom Committee, the Ronald J. Moretti Foundation, the Hero Foundation and Waves of Caring.

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To see a complete list of First Night events: See Patch listings or visit the First Night calendar or click on the PDF icon with this story to print a copy.

For information on parking and transportation: Visit the First Night website.

For information on where to eat at First Night: Visit the First Night website.

First Day at the Beach schedule on Jan. 1, 2012:

  •  Entertainment in front of the starts at 11 a.m.
  •  A 5K Boardwalk run starts at 1 p.m. in front of the Music Pier. Entry fee is $20. Runners receive a T-Shirt while they last. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. the day of the race at the site. To register early, call Mike Given (609) 861-0674 or email runaway@comcast.net. You can print out an application form by clicking on the PDF icon with this story.
  • A First Dip in the ocean is set for 2 p.m. at the Ninth Street Beach. About 600 enthusiastic bathers usually show up for a spirited but brief encounter with the ocean. All bathers receive a "Beach Nut" certificate signifying that they have braved the chill waters.
  • Shoppers will be able to kick off the New Year with First Day In the Downtown along the center city Asbury Ave. business district. Most stores will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (609) 525-9300 for information. 


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