Ocean City Holiday Events Continue With Train Show, Santa Paws

A full schedule of holiday events in Ocean City includes a weekend train show at the Ocean City Music Pier (Dec. 7 and 8), Santa Paws photos (Dec. 7) and a special Ocean City Pops concert (Dec. 7).

Special events continue through the New Year. Here's a look at just some of the highlights:

FRIDAY, DEC. 6

Ocean City Christmas Parade: Has been cancelled due to inclement weather. The event will not be rescheduled.

SATURDAY, DEC.  7

Santa Paws: Okay, we know you love your dog. You take it for walks four times a day, indulge it with exotic treats, pet it excessively, provide it with the finest chewy bones and toys available plus shower it with sweet talk ... But have you ever had its photo taken with Santa Claus?

This is the ultimate gift you can bestow upon your canine! It will wag its tail joyously when you tell it the news, that, yes, you will take it to the Ocean City Humane Society on Shelter Rd., Dec., 7th between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Not only that, you will plop it on the lap of the kindly Old Elf, himself, and smile happily as the camera clicks away. Yes you will smile happily because now you have given your pet the ultimate gift and spoiled it beyond your wildest dreams. And to top it off, it’s all for a good cause. The $10 photo fee will help the Humane Society continue to operate its no-kill shelter and find a good home for displaced animals less fortunate than your doggie. Call (609) 399-2018 for information.

The Ocean City Pops Orchestra presents "Joy to the World," a Symphonic and Choral Celebration of the Joyous Sounds of Christmas. Heraldic trumpets, dazzling bells, triumphant choirs join the Pops in this annual holiday tradition, at Ocean City Tabernacle, 550 Wesley Ave., sponsored by Norman and JoAnne Schaut, 7: 30 pm. Tickets are $15. Call (609) 525-9300 for more information.

Messiah Sing-In: Atlantic Youth Orchestra performs at Ocean City Tabernacle, 4 p.m. Free admission. For more information, call (609) 399-1915 or visit www.OCTabernacle.org.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, DEC. 7 & 8 

Ocean City Train Show: The Jay Eggly Ocean City Train Show will entertain hundreds of visitors and residents this Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 7 and 8) at the Ocean City Music Pier (Boardwalk and Moorlyn Terrace). The family attraction features two, huge continuously running displays.

The entire stage of the Music Pier will showcase a Garden Railroad spectacular featuring large sized model trains operating in a colorful, woodland setting. Garden Railroad Club members will operate the exhibit. They will show children how to work the controls of the trains and stand by as youngsters enjoy a unique experience. A 30-foot Lionel setup complete with loading docks and other accessories will be featured in the Solarium of the Pier.  Both displays will be run continuously during the two-day show.

In between the two exhibits will be dozens of vendors displaying and selling trains, accessories, decorations, memorabilia and railroad novelties. Repairs will be available during the show at the table of master technician Dick Yard, in the Solarium area of the Music Pier Auditorium.

Train Show Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children. There is plenty of free parking near the Music Pier at close by City lots. The show is held in honor of the late Jay Eggly, an Ocean City businessman and town booster who suggested the event and helped organize it many seasons ago.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA DATES

Planning Ahead? Breakfast with Santa will be at the following Ocean City Restaurants from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 7, Yanni's Café, 841 Asbury Ave., (609) 391-1113; Dec. 8, Sunrise Café, 949 Asbury Ave. (609) 398-9300; Dec. 14, Jon and Patty's, 637 Asbury Ave., (609) 399-3377; Dec.15, Arlene's on Asbury, 624 Asbury Ave., (609) 399-3639; Dec. 21, Jon and Patty's, 637 Asbury Ave., (609) 399-3377; Dec. 22, Yanni's Café, 841 Asbury Ave., (609) 391-1113.

FRIDAY, DEC. 13 TO SUNDAY, DEC. 15

'Lights, Camera, Christmas': The Ocean City Theatre Company presents its 2013 Holiday Spectacular (see more information). This annual favorite returns with a movie themed production, “Come Rock Around the Christmas Tree.”

It features a cast of professional singers and dancers celebrating the season with a fully staged revue of songs from favorite holiday/winter movies. Program features high energy choreography, spectacular costumes, outstanding talent and a phenomenal set.

Shows are scheduled for the Music Pier, Dec.13 at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. Tickets $18 Reserved, $15, Children under 12. Call (609) 525-9300 or visit www.ocnj.us/boxoffice .

SATURDAY, DEC. 14

Live Nativity and Christmas Concert: The Live Nativity by the Youth of the Ocean City Tabernacle will be performed at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, followed by a r p.m. Christmas Concert with the Angelus Chorus, Tapestry String Quartet and tenor Cody Austin with Dr. Richard Stanislaw conducting.

WEEKENDS THROUGH CHRISTMAS

Photos With Santa and Free Carriage Rides: Every Saturday and Sunday through Christmas there are free Carriage Rides, 9th and Asbury Ave. noon till 3 p.m. Also every Sat. and Sun. through the holiday there are photos with Santa in a Lifeboat at Music Pier, noon to 3 p.m., $10.