Weird Contest Week Features 2 New Events

OCEAN CITY — Ocean City’s Weird Contest Week was just named one of the nation’s 10 wackiest events in the country by the online tourism magazine “Trip Advisor,” but the contest committee is not sitting on its laurels.
“You can’t afford to be complacent, the weird contest world is highly competitive,” notes Mark Soifer, Ocean City Public Relations director, who started the Weird Contest Week over 20 years ago.
“We think we’re number one in Weirdness but there’s always someone out there ready to knock you off. As they say in baseball, you’re only as good as your last performance,” he added.
In order to stay on top, Ocean City has instituted a research and development program to come up with new weird ideas, a sort of “off the wall think tank.”
Two new events will be added to Weird Contest Week set for Aug. 16-20 at the Music Pier, Boardwalk and Moorlyn Terrace. These are Clip Art that was test marketed in June during the city’s July Jubilee and “Ears Looking at You Kid.”
Clip Art asks the contestant to create something unusual with paper clips. In June, participants obliged and produced the Empire State Building, Spongebob Square Pants, Harry Potter, birds, fish, bracelets, etc. “We were thrilled with the results,” said Soifer and have decided to make Clip Art a regular in our weirdness mix.”
A second new contest, “Ears Looking at You Kid!” will be unveiled at Weird Contest Week. Its mission will be to discover the most talented ear wigglers in the world. “It’s time ear wigglers received the recognition they deserve. This will give them a national platform and legitimize their talents!” said Soifer.
Weird Contest Week will be held Aug. 16 to 20 with all contests starting 11 a.m. Monday through Friday at the Music Pier, Boardwalk and Moorlyn Terrace. Entry is free.
Mon., Aug. 16 is salt water taffy sculpting with entrants asked to produce a work of art out of the delicious taffy. Tuesday is French Fry Sculpting followed by That’s The Way the Cookie Crumbles or Cookie Art. Thursday is Clip Art and the introduction of Ears Looking at You Kid.
Fri. Aug. 20 features two events. Little Miss and Mr. Chaos, a contest that gives children 3 to 5 years of age the opportunity to make all the noise they can muster in two minutes.
The tots are provided with pots and pans and other implements to bang on. Then there’s Miss and Mister Miscellaneous for all of those who have always wanted to compete in a talent show but missed the bus or got stuck at a Rugby Game.
“We’re a family resort and all of these events emphasize good, old fashioned, clean cut, family oriented weirdness,” notes Soifer. “Our motto is and will always be “Wacky But Not Tacky.”
For information, call the Public Relations Office, 609-525-9300.