OCEAN CITY, MD - The holiday season officially kicked off with the Annual Ocean City Christmas Parade, bringing together local businesses, schools, and bands to usher in the festive spirit.
Coastal Highway transformed into a vibrant display of festive floats, marking the 40th edition of this cherished holiday tradition.
Amy Ford, who traveled from Baltimore with her children to witness the parade, says it's become a holiday tradition,
"It’s been so fun, they loved seeing Santa, the Grinch. We like to come down during the summer – but for the Winter Fest, it’s always great; it’s always a good time." said Ford.
The parade featured a diverse array of participants, including costumes, jeeps, motorcycles, first responders, classic Christmas displays, and, of course, candy for the eager onlookers.
Leading the procession were the Steven Decater Seahawks Football Team, celebrating their recent state championship win on Thursday. Erin Harot, a teacher in Berlin, said it was a joy seeing them celebrate with the community.
"That was awesome, as a teacher in the area, it’s such a wonderful thing to see our students celebrate their win and the community just wrap their arms around them." said Harot.
While the celebration was widespread, the true stars of the parade were the hundreds of kids eagerly awaiting Santa's arrival. In a distinctly Ocean City twist, Santa rolled in on a very nautical sleigh – a boat to close out the show.
