Enjoy First Night, First Day 2025 In Ocean City
Veronica Flesher, Patch Staff
Say goodbye to 2024 and hello to 2025 with First Night and First Day celebrations in Ocean City.
This year marks the 32nd anniversary of the popular, family-friendly event in Ocean City. First Night offers more than 70 activities and entertainment programs at 23 different venues throughout town. A fireworks display rings in the new year at midnight. The fun continues on New Year’s Day with a 5-kilometer run on the boardwalk and the First Plunge in the Atlantic Ocean.
First Night events run 4 p.m. to midnight on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. The First Day 5K starts at 1 p.m. and the First Plunge goes off at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025.
Buttons cost $25 and are good for all events. Children under 2 are free. You can buy buttons here:
- Online: firstnightocnj.com.
- By phone: 609-399-6111.
- At the City Hall Welcome Center at 861 Asbury Avenue (9th Street entrance): 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
- At the Roy Gillian Welcome Center (9th Street causeway): 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
- At the 46th Street Welcome Center (4500 block of West Avenue): 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday.
Pickup at will-call will be available daily at the City Hall Welcome Center (Ninth Street entrance) at the hours listed above. Button sales and will-call pickup will be at the City Hall Welcome Center 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. on the day of the event (Dec. 31).
Here’s the guide to the events, courtesy of Ocean City.
HIGHLIGHTS: Headline entertainment at the Ocean City Music Pier this year will include a tribute to the music of the Eagles and the “Yacht Rock Gold Experience.” The return of perennial favorites like outdoor ice-skating, a magic show, a mentalist, a ventriloquist, the Harlem Wizards, Japanese drummers and a variety of other shows also highlight the entertainment lineup. The Ocean City Pops (with a Rodgers & Hammerstein Extravaganza), Yellow Brick Road: A Tribute to Elton John, the Cape Shore Chorale, a dueling pianos performance, and the Sensational Soul Cruisers are among the additional musical entertainment options.
NEW THIS YEAR: A drone light show in the sky over Carey Stadium will be synced to music. Shows start at 7:45 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.
VENUE CHANGE: Due to a renovation at the Ocean City High School Auxiliary Gym, two programs will move to different venues. The “Brain Wash Game Shows” will now be held in the OCHS Cafeteria at 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. The Give and Take Jugglers will now perform at the Ocean City Intermediate School Multipurpose Room at 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
FULL SCHEDULE: The full schedule of events and activities and a printable grid is available at firstnightocnj.com.
PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION: All municipal parking lots and metered parking spots are free. Jitneys will provide free transportation from 5 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. for button-holders, operating continuously between all venues starting at the Ocean City Transportation Center (Ninth Street and Haven Avenue) and Seventh Street Parking Lot (Seventh Street and Central Ave.). For a route map and complete information, visit the guide page at firstnightocnj.com. The parking lot at Fifth Street and Boardwalk will be closed to allow for the setup and launch of fireworks.
FIREWORKS: A fireworks display (weather permitting) will be launched from the beach at Fifth Street at midnight on Dec. 31. The display will best be viewed from the beach or boardwalk in the blocks surrounding Fifth Street. There will be no rain date for the display.
DINING AND SHOPPING: Food and drink will be for sale at Ocean City High School, the Ocean City Community Center (at the cafe), Ocean City Civic Center (hot food and concessions), and St. Peter’s United Methodist Church (snack stand).
KICKOFF: Everybody is invited to the Ocean City Music Pier at 3:45 p.m. for the official ribbon-cutting to open the 32nd anniversary of the festivities.
OTHER FUN ACTIVITIES: Stop by the Music Pier to see the First Night ice sculpture. Interactive photo booths will be set up in the Ocean City High School cafeteria, the Community Center and the Civic Center.
FIRST DAY AT THE BEACH
BOARDWALK RUN/WALK: A 5-kilometer run/walk starts at 1 p.m. in front of the Ocean City Music Pier. Race-day registration begins 11 a.m. at the Music Pier at Moorlyn Terrace. A First Day at the Beach Gym Bag will be given all who pre-register and while supplies last. Bring your family and friends, then join in (or watch) the chilly First Plunge in the Atlantic Ocean. Race-day entry fee is $35 ($25 if you register by Dec. 24 and $30 if you register by 2 p.m. Dec. 29). For full information, links to online registration and printable forms, visit www.ocnj.us/race-events.
FIRST PLUNGE: The ocean plunge starts at 2 p.m. on the beach adjacent to the Music Pier (on the Eighth Street side). Participants should register inside the Music Pier before heading to the beach. Registration is free, but all participants must sign a waiver. First Day At The Beach shirts will be on sale at the Music Pier.
SHOPPING EXTRAVAGANZA: There will be an all-day shopping extravaganza with discounts at stores on Asbury Avenue and the Boardwalk from 5th to 14th Streets.