4th of July in Ocean City Maryland
Northside Park 127th Street
Caroline Street Downtown

Get there early to claim the best parking spots and get first crack at all the arts and crafts items for sale. Enjoy a delicious lunch from the many food vendors and take a leisurely stroll through the beautiful park. Bring a Frisbee and your lawn chair, and spend some quality family time.

The staple of the festival is the arts and crafts show. Over 60 vendors displaying handmade jewelry, wood craft, country crafts, unusual floral designs and more will entice you to take home a quality souvenir.

Bring your appetites along, because Jamboree in the Park serves up plenty of delicious food. Hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, barbecue, Italian sausages, pizza, shish kabobs, Caesar salads, snow cones, funnel cakes, lemonade, Italian ice, ice cream, and much, much more will satisfy your taste buds.

The Fun Field at Jamboree in the Park is filled with activities the whole family will enjoy. A moon bounce and mini train ride are always fun attractions, while the 25-cent carnival games where everyone's a winner, can keep children entertained for hours.

The Jamboree also offers a battery of old-fashioned picnic favorites, including tug-of-war, sack races, three-legged races and more that will be offered throughout the day intermixed with a challenging obstacle course. The best thing about all of the children's activities is they're free.

Special contests are always a highlight of the day. Pie eating contests for children are scheduled throughout the event, with a final contest slated for adults on the Fun Field. Early registration is recommended for these activities, as participation is limited.

The year's Jamboree in the Park entertainment line-up is not to be missed. Kicking off the excitement at 11:30 a.m. is the "Red, White and Blue Salute" featuring the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department's Line Dancers, a fun show for everyone filled with local flavor. The entertainment continues throughout the day with appearances by John Breslin Dixieland Band at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Randy Lee Ashcraft and the Saltwater Cowboys at 2 p.m.; Loose Endz (oldies) at 5 p.m. and Mary Lou and the Untouchables (oldies/classic rock) at 8 p.m.

A special line-up of children's entertainment is also planned. Paul Hadfield as the Funny Guy, a comedy/juggling show, performs at noon and 7:15 p.m. The Magic of Mike Rose magic show is scheduled for 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Michael Rosman "Amazing Feats of Comedy" takes the stage at 2:15 p.m. Hadfield and McCoy, father and son comedy show, entertains at 3:30 p.m. and Scales & Tales live bird and reptile display is 4:45 p.m.

Jamboree in the Park also features roaming children's entertainment during the afternoon featuring Sunshine the Clown from noon to 7 p.m. A juggling workshop with Michael Rosman will be held at 12:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. Magician Mike Rose will appear at 2:15 p.m.

This year's spectacular fireworks display will be shot from the west side of the park. You'll be sure to hear the oohs and aahs throughout the park as the colorful displays cover the evening sky at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Those who prefer to spend their July 4th on the south end of town can enjoy Ocean City's famous Boardwalk with its bright lights, wonderful food and family fun. Bring your beach chair or blanket and claim a spot on the North Division Street beach for the patriotic concert performed by the United States Navy Concert band and the Sea Chanters, followed by the fabulous fireworks display over the ocean at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Of course, Ocean City's famous Boardwalk is just steps away and offers visitors to the beach festivities a wonderful selection of food and fun. Pizza, hamburgers, french fries, fried chicken, pit beef, seafood, funnel cakes, ice cream and many more delicious treats are available from Boardwalk vendors.

Parking is extremely limited at both locations, so riding the bus is recommended. From Rt. 50 just across the bridge, shuttle bus service will be available at the Ocean City Park & Ride lot where free parking is available. The shuttle bus service from the Ocean City Park and Ride, travels across the bridge into Ocean City to S. Division Street. At the end of the fireworks display, you can return to S. Division Street, board the express service bus and return to your vehicle at the Ocean City Park & Ride. Shuttle bus fare is $1; parking is free.

July 4th park and ride locations also are located in Ocean City at the Ocean City Convention Center at 40th Street, Gold Coast Mall at 112th Street, Ocean Plaza Mall at 94th Street and the Public Safety Building at 65th Street, with bus service available all day at the regular price of $2.

Parking at Northside Park is restricted. Some parking will be available stadium-style on Jamaica Avenue. If planning on visiting the festivities in the early evening, use the bus service; parking is usually difficult to find in the general area of the park by 6 p.m.

Boaters should note that the Route 50 bridge will be closed to boat traffic from 10:35 p.m. to 11:35 p.m. on the evening of the Fourth.

For more information about Ocean City's Fourth of July celebrations, call the Ocean City Public Relations Office at (410) 289-2800; the Ocean City Recreation & Parks Department, (410) 250-0125; toll-free 1-800-OC OCEAN.