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Cuteness Factor Soars at Ocean City Baby Parade

Cuteness Factor Soars at Ocean City Baby Parade

BY MADDY VITALE

There was a whole lot of adorable on the boards Thursday for the 112th annual Ocean City Baby Parade.

Babies dressed as ballerinas, as peacocks and even one in a miniature “Top Gun” fighter jet took center stage as hundreds of spectators lined the Boardwalk.

People marveled at the cute sights and took pictures.

Children from infants up to age 10 cruised along in themed strollers, floats, wagons and even toy cars.

Jeff Labriola, of Clifton, N.J., pushes his daughter, Grace, 2, in her “ice cream cart.”

Dana Heck, of Cherry Hill, brought her 9-month-old daughter, Savannah, dressed as a cupcake in a brightly covered wagon. Heck said the history of the parade makes being in it all the more special.

“We had fun prepping for the parade,” Heck said, as she pulled Savannah’s wagon.

Heck’s mother, Darlene Aaron, of Ocean City, walked beside her.

“I love it. But it is the fact that it is 112 years that is so amazing. It is fun being a part of it,” Heck added.

Heck and her family were among many families who joined in the parade.

Savannah Heck, 9 months old, of Cherry Hill, is a cupcake cutie.

The procession started at Sixth Street and finished at 12th Street for the children entered in the parade. Marching bands, Ocean City beauty pageant winners and others in the parade finished at 14th Street.

In addition to the array of themed Baby Parade entries, participants included: Ed Coles Entertainers, the Fred Hall Orchestra, the Absegami High School Marching Band, newly crowned Queen Infanta Maura Dougherty, local dignitaries, businesses and organizations.

There were also floats for current crown holders and contestants for upcoming Ocean City pageants.

Robin Vitale, of Woodbridge, N.J., and her daughters, Alex, in front, and Ella are peacocks.

Robin Vitale, of Woodbridge, N.J., and her daughters Alex, 4, and Ella, 2, were dressed as peacocks.

“I grew up coming to Ocean City,” Vitale said. “We are in the parade every year since Alex was born and love it.”

While some families may have purchased their kids’ costumes and decorations from stores or made them, sisters Arabella Czabator, 3, and Juliet Czabator, 7, of Downingtown, Pa., dressed as ballerinas with some help from their home décor, thanks to their parents, Jessica and Mike Czabator.

“We thought we could bring our home to a float,” joked Jessica, who, like Mike, was also dressed as a ballerina.

Gage Smith, 1, of Williamstown, N.J., is “Goose” from Top Gun, with dad, Robert and brother, Asher, walking behind, as mom, Kiersten, pulls the fighter jet.

Paula White, of Collegeville, Pa., gave her 22-month-old granddaughter, Delaney Lesczynski, also of Collegeville, her very own “horse” in a float called “Carousel Cutie.”

While awards are given out each year, White said it is a family tradition.

She and her daughter were part of the parade for many years. Now that her daughter is grown, White takes her granddaughter.

“We enjoy keeping the tradition going,” she said.

Each child received a memento at 12th Street for participating in the parade. Awards were given out when they completed the parade at 12th Street.

Paula White with her granddaughter, Delaney Lesczynski, both of Collegeville, Pa., in “Carousel Cutie.”

Ghost Busters!

Cyclists give a show.

A contestant zips along.

Miss Ocean City contestants wave at the crowd.

Miss Ocean City Maddyn Randazzo gets a ride in a lifeguard boat.

Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce employee Rose Savastano leads a division of contestants.

Bands perform in front of the Music Pier.

Award winners are as follows:

Bamberger Award

Number: #201

Names: Arabella Czabator & Juliet Czabator

Theme: The OC Ballerina Sisters!

Hanscom Award

Number: #102

Names: Parker Young

Theme: Return to Mr. McGregor’s Garden

Dahlhausen Award

Number: #503

Names: Elizabeth Fox, Bradley Trinkner & Jackson Fox

Theme: Cruella DeVil

Canale Award

Number: #200

Names: Rhys Berry

Theme: USPS

Soifer Award

Number: #706

Names: Elliot Tate Sullivan

Theme: Elliot the Milkman

Most Outstanding Twins or Triplets

Number: 506

Names: Joseph & Jayson Petrini

Theme: Life is Sweet in OC!

Greatest Distance Traveled

Number: 103

Names: Anna Evelyn Koffler

Theme: Southwest Sweetie Anna

From: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Division A Section 100 Winner

Number: #101

Names: Paula White

Theme: Carousel Cutie

Division A Section 100 Runner Up

Number: #100

Names: Cecelia Carey

Theme: Celebrating 70 Years & 5 Generations in OC!

Division A Section 200 Winner

Number: #202

Names: Grace Jean Labriola

Theme: Grace’s Ice Cream

Division A Section 200 Runner Up

Number: #203

Names: Ella Vitale & Alex Vitale

Theme: In a world of Ducks, be a Peacock

Division A Section 300 Winner

Number: #300

Names: Delia Beyer, Jonas Beyer & Quentin Beyer

Theme: Pirate Ship

Division A Section 300 Runner Up

Number: #301

Names: Tierney Rose Kane & Liam Patrick Kane

Theme: The Belle and Beau of Ocean City

Division B Section 400 Winner

Number: #409

Names: Taylorann Jane Larsen

Theme: Meet the Flintstones

Division B Section 400 Runner Up

Number: #404

Names: Lainey Graham

Theme: Chicago Style Hot Dog

Division B Section 500 Winner

Number: #506

Names: Joseph Petrini, Jayson Patrini, Quincy Long & Madelyn Long

Theme: Life is Sweet in OC

Division B Section 500 Runner Up

Number: #502

Names: Gianna Every

Theme: Roaring ’20s

Division B Section 600 Winner

Number: #602

Names: Fiona McMaster, Isaiah McMaster & Amelia McMaster

Theme: Aloha From Pennsylvania

Division B Section 600 Runner Up

Number: #603

Names: Asher Smith & Gage Smith

Theme: Goose & Maverick Fly By OC!

Division C Winner

Number: #701

Names: Owen Bowker

Theme: Jaws

Division C Runner Ups

Number: #704

Names: Jackson Van Richards & Gracie May Richards

Theme: Thomas The Tank Engine

Number: #702

Names: Luca Chielewski

Theme: Herme The Crab

Best Float: Minions of Ocean City            

Best Musical Act: Ocean City Stompers Band

Source: www.ocnjdaily.com