What’s Happening in Ocean City?

Events begin on Sat., April 23 at 11 a.m., with the Woofin’ Paws Pet Fashion Show at Carey Stadium, 6th St. off Boardwalk. The contest is open to any pet that will not eat another pet.
Categories include Best Dressed Dog, Cat, Miscellaneous, Bathing Suits, Intelligent Pet Tricks, Most Patriotic, Best Bonnet, Cutest Tail Wagger and Pet-Owner Look Alike. Ribbons will be awarded. Best of Show receives the Dean Schofield Woofin’ Paws Plaque for Perfection.
A $5 entry fee for individual pets and a $10 fee for multiple entries (no limit) benefits the Ocean City Humane Society. Register for the contest at the field starting 10 a.m. the day of the show. In the event of harsh weather the event will be held inside the adjacent Sports and Civic Center.
Ocean City’s Annual Great Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for the beaches from 11th to 13th Streets on Sat., April 23 starting 3 p.m. The event is sponsored by Playland’s Castaway Cove and the Boardwalk Merchants Assn. These will be the only age groups: 0-2 at 11th St., 3-4 at11 St., 5 at 12th, 6 at 12th St. and 7 at 13th St. Only ages 1-2 may have an adult accompany them into the ring.
Over 100,000 eggs with candy and toys will be placed along the beach. Rain date is April 24. Participants should arrive at the beach on time as the hunt is over quickly. Entry is free and there is no need to register. Other sponsors include Ocean City Home Bank, TD Bank, Port O’ Call, Mack & Manco, Ocean City Board of Realtors and Jilly’s.
Easter in the Downtown features Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at the Chatterbox, 9th and Central Ave. Order from the menu. Breakfast times are Fri. and Sun. (April 22-24) 9a.m. till noon and Sat., (April 23) 8 a.m. till 1 p.m. Reservations are suggested, call 609-399-0113.
The Bunny will pose for photos in a lifeguard stand at 9th and Asbury Ave. at no charge from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sat., April 23. There will be candy and toy filled eggs for kids and Eggstra Special Savings along the Avenue.
Shoppers should look for the egg signs in windows of participating stores to receive an egg filled with prizes and benefit from in-store specials. In the event of rain, the photos and eggs will be moved to Stainton’s, 810 Asbury Ave. Call 398-4662 for information.
The City’s annual Easter Sunrise Service is set for 6:30 a.m. Easter Sunday, April 24, in the Music Pier, Boardwalk and Moorlyn Terrace. Author and commentator, Tony Campolo, will be guest speaker.
There will be music by the students of Bob Snodgrass and Nancy Fox along with David Seals and David Lamkin on trumpets and Jeff Seals on piano. About 12 clergy will be participating. The public is invited to the non-denominational program.
The annual Fashion Competition begins at 1 p.m. Easter Sunday in front of the Music Pier, Boardwalk and Moorlyn Terrace. Laurie Kohr, former Miss New Jersey, will emcee. The Easter Bunny will give chocolate bunnies to children and pose for photos.
Prizes will be awarded to best-dressed family, children, couple, man, woman, teen girl and boy and for bonnets. In the event of inclement weather, the contest will be held inside the Music Pier.
On Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m., there will be a drama based on the daVinci Last Supper painting at the Tabernacle, 5th and Wesley Ave. The program is presented by St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in cooperation with the First Presbyterian Church and Ocean City Tabernacle.
Thirteen characters are posed like the painting and then each breaks his freeze and explains his relationship to the passion story.
Friday, noon to 3 p.m., there will be a Good Friday service at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, 8th and Central Ave., with pastors of the community preaching in each of the sections. The service is designed so that worshippers can come and leave as convenient.
The Ocean City Repertory Theater, 813 Asbury Ave., will present Easter in the Magic Forest on Fri., April 22 at 7 p.m. and Sat., April 23 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Admission is $5. Milk and cookies will be served following the performance.
The Easter Bunny enlists the help of fairies and foxes to save Easter from the dragons. The dragons turn out to be friendly. For reservations, call 609-457-6686. Sponsored by Wonderland Pier.
The Ocean City Free Public Library will be closed on Easter Sunday. Good Friday hours at the Library are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For information on Ocean City Easter events, call 609-525-9300.