Turn of Key on Friday Unlocks Summer Madness in Ocean City

Mayor Jay Gillian and a gathering of city and beach patrol officials will turn a giant wooden key at noon Friday (May 24) and ceremonially unlock the ocean for the season.

The same ritual has occurred for more than a century at the start of Memorial Day Weekend, and while the weather and ocean temperatures are not always summer-like, it marks the start of the summer season in Ocean City and all the fun that goes with it.

The event usually takes place on the beach at Ninth Street adjacent to the Ocean City Music Pier. But this year it will move to the Eighth Street side of the Music Pier, because equipment from an ongoing beach replenishment project is still on the beach at Ninth Street.

The first piece of madness follows quickly: the 10th annual Business Persons Plunge, which features the citys merchants and organizations celebrating the coming of a new season in dramatic fashion, dressed in business suits and sporting other unusual costumes, as they walk lemming-like into the sea.

The Ocean City High School band plays "Pomp and Circumstance" to accompany the first ocean swim of the season. 

The ocean water temperature was 58 degrees on Monday, and the long-range forecast calls for a high air temperature of 69 degrees on Friday.

Ocean City Realtor John Walton, organizer of the event, predicts a record field of "plungers" this year.

"Future business students from Ocean City High School will enter brigades," Walton said. At the other end of the spectrum, 88-year-old Betty Trout, representing Brown's Restaurant on the Boardwalk, will take the plunge.

Among the new entries will be the Ocean City Exchange Club represented by Frank McCall; Winnie Piriano's South Jersey Home Care; Roz Lifshin, representing the Ocean City Arts Center and Sun Rose Words and Music; George Loeper, for the Ocean City Historical Museum; Yogurtland's Michael Haines; Nicole Foxman for Stainton's Gallery of Shops; Tina Spadafora of Yoasis Frozen Yogurt, Aslam Sheikh of Ocean City Wireless Variety Store and the Jenkins family of Ocean City Paddleboard.

"We want to emphasize that the community is back in business following Superstorm Sandy and ready to serve its many vacationers," Walton said.

Businesses, organizations or individuals interested in participating in the plunge should contact Walton at (609) 338-7667. 

Other Memorial Day Weekend events include:

SATURDAY, MAY 25

StandUP4SEALS Beach Challenge: The first annual StandUP4SEALS Ocean Challenge (see more information) begins 7:30 a.m. at Fourth Street Beach. Races include a stand-up paddleboard relay through the surf, an obstacle for adults and a fun sand challenge run for kids under 10. The race benefits families of Navy SEALS killed in action.

SUNDAY, MAY 26

Barks on the Boards: Sponsored by the Ocean City Humane Society Registration 11:30 a.m. at 6th St. Practice Field (next to Sports and Civic Center). Noon Walk, and 1 p.m. doggie contests at practice field.  Call (609) 398-9500 or visit www.hsocnj.org.

Tenor John Taylor: In concert at the Ocean City Tabernacle, 550 Wesley Ave., 7 p.m. Admission, free. Call (609) 399-1915 or visit www.OCTabernacle.org.

MONDAY, MAY 27

Annual Memorial Day Service: 11 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, 5th and Wesley Ave. Call (609) 525-9300 for information.