CELEBRATE JULY FOURTH IN OCEAN CITY WITH FREE FIREWORKS AND MUSIC AT TWO LOCATIONS

Ocean City, MD - Ocean City will light up the night sky with two simultaneous fireworks displays on Tuesday, July 4^th in celebration of our nation's Independence Day. With your family and friends, beach chairs and blankets, residents and visitors can watch the fireworks sparkle over the beach and the bay.The northern display at Northside Park, 125^th Street and the bay, will kick off at 8 p.m. with DJ musical entertainment followed by a spectacular fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. "Northside Park is the perfect place for families to watch the colorful displays light up the evening sky and lagoon," said Mayor Rick Meehan. "We encourage spectators to get there early to claim their spot to watch the fireworks." The soccer field and walking path on the northwest side of the park will be closed from viewing due to state and local safety precautions as the fireworks display will move off the west pier into the park to bring the experience closer than ever before.On the south end of town, guests can head to Ocean City's famous Boardwalk with its bright lights, an assortment of food, family fun and more. The U.S. Army military band DOWNRANGE will kick off a special music performance on Caroline Street Stage at 7 p.m. followed by DJ music and the official fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. "The July Fourth Celebration in Ocean City is a unique opportunity to watch fireworks over the ocean," Meehan continued. "Our Caroline Street Stage allows visitors to bring beach chairs or blankets and claim a spot on the sand where they can enjoy the live performance and capture a special and patriotic firework display set to music. If you wish to experience the music of the DOWNRANGE military band a second time, the band will offer a second free show on July 5^th at Sunset Park beginning promptly at 7:45 p.m."Parking operations for the Inlet Parking Lot will stay the same for the holiday, Tuesday, July 4, however; the parking rate for the Inlet Lot will increase to $5 per hour for the day. Visitors are reminded that parking is extremely limited at both fireworks locations and significant traffic delays are expected after both shows.Coastal Highway bus service will be available from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. Patrons can ride for only $4 for a ride-all-day pass and are reminded to anticipate delays, limited services, and full buses due to an ongoing shortage of bus drivers. The West Ocean City Park & Ride on Route 50 is another transportation alternative, offering free parking and $4 ride-all-day shuttle service downtown at Dorchester Street and St. Louis Avenue. The service running to and from the West Ocean City Park & Ride to Dorchester Street and St. Louis Avenue will be available from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. The West Ocean City Park & Ride will have a limited number of buses and major delays are expected. West Ocean City Park & Ride passes are valid on Coastal Highway buses.Finally, area boaters should note that on the evening of July 4^th, the span of the Route 50 Bridge will remain closed to marine traffic at the usually scheduled 10:25 p.m. and 10:55 p.m. opening times. The Route 50 Bridge will reopen for boaters at 11:25 p.m. on the evening of July 4^th.With safety in mind, the Ocean City Fire Marshal's Office (FMO) is also urging spectators to leave the fireworks to the professionals. "The power and danger of fireworks should not be underestimated," said Ocean City Fire Marshal Josh Bunting. "In addition to causing damage, fireworks can cause injuries and we want people to be safe during their holiday stay in Ocean City. The safety and wellbeing of all residents and visitors of the Town of Ocean City is the primary goal of the Ocean City Fire Department."Although the State of Maryland has approved the use of ground-based sparkling devices such as cylindrical and cone fountains, these are not legal to use or possess in Ocean City. Further, all other fireworks that may be sold in neighboring states are not legal for use by the public anywhere in Maryland."The Fourth of July holiday is a great opportunity for residents and visitors to stay and play in Ocean City," Meehan finished. "With a beautiful setting and two great fireworks events, we hope our guests will come early and stay late to celebrate America's birthday at the beach and leave knowing that Ocean City gave them something to smile about." For more information about July Fourth activities, visit ococean.com/events or call the Ocean City Welcome Center at 410-723-8600.© Eastern Shore Undercover LLC TM/SM. All Rights Reserved.