Guide to Ocean City's Night in Venice

The 59th annual Night In Venice boat parade in Ocean City, the longest continuous boat and bayfront celebration on the Jersey Shore, is set for 6 p.m. Saturday, July 20.

The theme this year is “The Good Old Summer Time.” This year's Night In Venice weekend also will feature the city’s fourth annual Tribute to the Philippines and a new "See Food" event. 

Here's what you need to know to enjoy the event:

Night in Venice: Watching the Parade

To view the Night In Venice boat parade, grandstands will be set up along Bay Avenue from Battersea Road to 15th Street and also at Tennessee Avenue. These are free.

The Bayside Center, 520 Bay Avenue, will be open as usual with a picnic area, food for sale and grandstand seating plus entertainment by the Good Tymes Band. Tickets are now on sale, $3 for children and $7 for adults. Doors open 4 p.m. with entertainment 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.  Stop at the Community Services Office, Room 214 of City Hall or call (609) 525-9300. Tickets are also available at the Music Pier Box Office.

Parking and Shuttle Service

Free shuttle service will run as in previous years from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. It will start at the Municipal Air Port, 25th and Bay Ave., proceed to the Aquatic and Fitness Center 18th and Simpson Ave. for pick ups and then run along the Bay Ave. to the Bayside Center. There will be free parking at the Airport and adjacent soccer field on Shelter Rd. off Tennessee Ave.

Parade Route

The parade starts at 6 p.m. near the Ocean City-Longport Bridge at the northern end of Ocean City. It proceeds southward looping in and out of the bayside lagoons along the way. The route will not include the Snug Harbor or Glen Cove lagoons on either side of the Ninth Street Bridge. The parade ends on the bay at Tennessee Avenue (near 22nd Street).

Coverage on Patch

Look for video coverage on Ocean City Patch throughout the parade. Download the Patch mobile app to see action on your smartphone.

Grand Marshal

WPVI-TV Channel 6 Meteorologist Adam Joseph will be grand marshal of the boat parade. In April 2005, Joseph joined WPVI as the weekend weather reporter. He still holds this position and also co-hosts the weekly entertainment show, FYI Philly. Adam now fills in on Good Morning America when needed and was voted Best Meteorologist by Philadelphia Magazine in 2009. 

HERO Campaign Partnership

The boat parade will feature a patriotic “Salute to Our Jersey Shore Heroes” as part of a new partnership with the HERO Campaign for designated drivers. The salute will bring 14 new boats to the parade and be focused on thanking members of the United States military and first responders, including the New Jersey Marine Police, local police officers and firefighters, and what Bill Elliott, chairman of the HERO Campaign says are “the everyday heroes,” designated drivers. If you're watching the parade, give a shout-out to the passing heroes.

SEE FOOD event

The Ocean City Restaurant Association and the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring a citywide SEE FOOD event, July 19 through 21, to acquaint Night In Venice, Filipino visitors and Ocean City visitors with the great variety of tasty food offered throughout the city. Look for “SEE FOOD…COME ON IN” placards and then “go on in” to enjoy dining specials.

Tribute to the Philippines

The city’s annual Tribute to the Philippines will be held on the Night In Venice weekend, July 20 and 21, at the Ocean City Music Pier from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days with a special Health Fair set for the Howard S. Stainton Senior Center  (at the Ocean City Community Center, 1735 Simpson Avenue) on Sunday.  The Music Pier Festival will feature entertainment by Filipino performers, including dancers and instrumentalists from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Boardwalk in front of the Pier on Saturday only.

Free blood pressure and blood sugar checkups will be provided on Saturday and there also will be a yo-yo demonstration featuring champion performers sponsored by Air Circus. The tribute also includes an array of Filipino products and crafts, packaged foods and tourism displays. It will be covered by GMA Pinoy TV, the largest TV network in the Philippines and major sponsor of the festival.

On July 21, the Adventist University of the Philippines will present the Vim Vigor and Longevity Health Expo at the Senior Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Filipino physicians, nurses and dieticians will offer an array of free services including shoulder and back massage, body mass index, lung capacity and blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol testing. A healthy vegetarian lunch will be offered for $5. For lunch reservations and more information on the Philippine weekend, call (609) 525-9300.