OCEAN CITY – The Downtown Association is looking to return the holiday spirit to downtown Ocean City by adding a celebration to Sunset Park this year, while keeping a goal to collect contributions in returning the light displays to the Inlet by next year.

According to Downtown Association Light Up Downtown Celebration Committee Chair Brian McCarthy, for a number of years the town of Ocean City provided the Inlet parking lot with light displays during the holiday season for visitors to journey through but due to a “lack of interest” and funding, one year the lights did not return.

The association has submitted that it hopes to reverse this with the Light Up Downtown Celebration as well as encourage residents and businesses from the Inlet to 15th Street to light up their properties during the holiday season, while the Ocean City Development Corporation (OCDC) and the association is working to raise funds to once again light up the Inlet. 
On Nov. 24 at 5 p.m. the Sunset Park tower will be transformed into an illuminated tree to begin the holiday festivities. Then each Friday and Saturday from 5-7 p.m. through Dec. 15 Santa will be on site overseeing the various entertainment offered, including music and dance performances, plus a bake sale, hot cocoa and more.

There will also be free horse drawn carriage rides, provided by Randy Davis of R and B Ranch, each Thursday through Sunday starting at 5:30 p.m. until Dec. 16.

The Downtown Association is asking for donations to help with coffee, hot chocolate and baked goods and to volunteer call 410-289-1413.  
The Downtown Association is also asking the private sector downtown to make contributions to re-establish the light display in the Inlet.

The hope is to bring back the Inlet’s holiday light displays, as done with Winterfest of Lights at Northside Park, by next year as well as a mailbox dedicated to sending Christmas wish lists to Santa Claus at the North Pole.

“We want to bring awareness to the cost of the light displays that we would like to bring to the Inlet,” McCarthy said.

For additional information or to donate to the cause, contact the Downtown Association at www.downtownassociation.net.