Guide to First Night and First Day in Ocean City

Ocean City marks the 22nd anniversary of its popular nonalcoholic New Year's Eve celebration this year on Tuesday, Dec. 31, and 10,000 are expected to attend.

All-inclusive admission buttons are good for about 60 entertainment programs at 18 different venues in Ocean City, and the evening ends with a midnight fireworks display visible from the beach and boardwalk.

First Day events on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2012, include a 5-kilometer run, a polar plunge and downtown shopping discounts.

The two-day First Night/First Day celebration has become a highlight of Ocean City's event calendar. Here's what you need to know:

How to purchase admission buttons:

• Buttons ($15) are good for all events.
• Available online at firstnightocnj.com.
  
• Available at Stainton’s Square, 800 block of Asbury Avenue, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
  
• First Night has an Angel Fund for those who can’t afford buttons. Call 609-525-9300. 
• Children age 2 and under are free.

When: The First Night event schedule runs 4 p.m. through the midnight fireworks on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

Weather: The forecast for New Year's Eve calls for partly cloudy skies and a low around 26 degrees. Runners in the New Year's Day 5K run can expect sun and a high of 37 degrees with gusty northwest winds blowing across the boardwalk (possibly providing a little more help in first half of the race). Swimmers in the First Day polar plunge will be greeted by a calm ocean that was 43.7 degrees on Monday morning.

To see a complete list of First Night events: Visit the First Night calendar or click on the PDF icon with this story to print a copy of the event schedule.

What's new this year: An 80-by-40-foot ice-skating rink will be open in the parking lot between Fifth and Sixth streets. The temporary rink will accommodate up to 100 skaters at a time. Skates are supplied or your can bring your own.

Boardwalk construction will prevent Gillian's Wonderland Pier from opening for rides this year. But activities at the adjacent Sports and Civic Center will include the world’s tallest snowman, a 30 ft. tall bouncy, the Dixie Dragonfly Swing Ride,, Trackless Train Ride, the Peanut Elephant Ride and pony rides from 5-9 p.m.

The Sports and Civic Center will feature a 4 Lane Horse Derby Inflatable, Polar Extreme Obstacle Course, Jungle World Play Center and Circus Train Adventure. There will be a Dinosaur Zoo at the Ocean City High School featuring museum-quality life-size dinosaur fossils and other prehistoric items to see and touch.

Event Highlights: Among the First Night headliners will be the Original Blue Notes and the Trammps scheduled for the Ocean City Music Pier. Entertainment includes the Broadway hit "Smokey Joe’s Café," children’s show "Rapunzel," magician Chad Juros, juggler Chris Ivey, the Ocean City Pops Orchestra, the Grease Band, the Jungle John Animal Show, Norristones  Doo Wop performers, Abbott and Costello performers, Big Band Dancing, Bubba Fan Gospel Group, Lucky Guess Game Show, the Mainstage Singers, Dan Chain, Mentalist, Allo Magic and Fun and the Paisley Pickles. The new observatory at Ocean City High School will be open for attendees to view the night sky. The Veggie Tales and Disney Pixar movies show hourly at the Moorlyn Theater from 6 to 11 p.m.

First Night will also preview Fred and Susan Miller’s latest Ocean City history book 5 p.m. in the Community Room of the Ocean City Free Public Library, 17th and Simpson Ave. The book will feature “Ocean City’s Historic Hotels.” 

Parking and transportation: All municipal parking lots and metered parking is free. Jitneys will provide free transportation from 5 p.m. until midnight for button-holders, operating continuously between sites starting at the (Ninth Street and Haven Avenue) and Seventh Street Parking Lot (Seventh Street and Central Ave.). For a route map and complete information, visit the First Night website.

Where to eat at First Night: The Ocean City Restaurant Association will again offer “A Taste of the Jersey Shore” with hourly seating from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Ocean City High School cafeteria. For reservations and menu, visit www.EatInOCNJ.com.

History of First Night: First Night in Ocean City 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.

First Day at the Beach schedule on Jan. 1, 2014:

• A 5-kilometer boardwalk run starts at 1 p.m. in front of the Ocean City Music Pier. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. the day of the race at the site. Entry fee $20 pre registration, $25 day of race. Walkers $20 with shirt, $10 no shirt. Call Mike Givens at (609) 602-4497 or email runawayac@comcast.net.
• A "First Dip" in the Atlantic Ocean is set for 2 p.m. at the Ninth Street Beach. There is no fee for First Dippers. But they must register before 2 p.m. in front of the Music Pier and sign a waiver. All First Dippers receive a Beach Nut Certificate certifying that they have braved the chill waters.
  
• Shoppers will be able to kick off the New Year with sales throughout the Asbury Avenue business district.