Night Venice

This is the start of the true platinum weekend in Ocean City. You might think it is Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, but while those are all prime weekends at the shore, nothing beats Night in Venice, a boat parade that sails through the bay and lagoons of Ocean City. Boats and bay homes are decorated with a specific theme, this year, the Philadelphia Phillies or Ocean City's 100th Baby Parade. The town seems to take the preparation and competition quite seriously.


Or so they tell me. This is our second summer in Ocean City. Last year, we were still getting our sea legs here, getting used to shore living and an infant, so somehow missed the festivities. I have no idea how it all went over our heads, since everywhere I turn now, I see something about Nights in Venice.

We kicked off the weekend with a date night on Friday. While Maggie watched the kids, Craig and I headed downtown to the Asbury shopping district for the Merchants of Venice seafood festival. Two blocks of Asbury will filled with food vendors, selling all types of seafood, from crabcakes to calamari, as well as plenty of non-seafood fare. At two corners of the street, bands played. On either side of the block were kid activities. I have a strict rule about not seeing any one's kids when I am not seeing my own, so we stayed away from these areas filled with moon bounces, pony rides and a little train. Next year, we'll bring the kids. . . maybe. It was fun to be able to eat what I want, sit where I want and not have to mediate any arguments or get anyone a napkin, even though the night could not have been any more kid friendly.

Saturday was the Night in Venice. Earlier this month, I had purchased tickets to watch the festivities at the Bayside Center on 5th and Bay. The Bayside Center, as the name suggests, has a considerable amount of bayside property. They set up bleacher seats all around the perimeter of the bay, and there was plenty of room for others to set up a beach chair and get a perfectly good view. The gates opened at 5:00, and the parade was scheduled to start at 8:00, a full 30 minutes later than usual due to a low tide.

Although so much of our day is centered around the ocean, during Night in Venice, the bay is king. Those lucky enough to have a bayside home watch the parade from their own docks. Those lucky enough to know someone with a bayside home join their friends for a house party. Those who are even luckier and happen to own a boat, sail out and drop anchor along the watery parade route. The rest of us poor souls watch from the Bayside Center or from the bleacher seats set up by the bulkheads.

I would have been content to sit with my feet up and watch the water float by, but the kids are another story. Luckily, the Bayside Center was equipped for them, with a scavenger hunt, craft projects, including macaroni and shell necklaces and coloring activities, and a band. Craig and I stayed busy keeping the kids engaged and out of trouble--we were lucky to have Brian with us to help save our seats!

We brought our dinner, a bucket of chicken fingers and fries from Blitz's Market, but the Bayside Center was also selling hot dogs, water ice, sodas, cookies and other treats. Perfect parade fare.

The parade began just as the sun was setting. Although I've never really wanted a boat, now I wish I had one. Everyone looked like they were having so much fun. Many of the boats were decked out in lights and palm trees and filled with happy singing people. My favorite boat was a couple in a dinghy. As one person rowed, another held up a sign that announced "someone Madoff with my yacht." Carter's favorite boat was a Star Wars theme, with its occupants dressed up like characters from the famed movie, all holding light sabers. Will liked all of the boats decorated for the Phillies. Charlotte liked them all and was mesmerized by the lights and music, showing off to all by calling out one of her new words, "boat, boat."

At around 9:00, it was time for us to call it quits. We saw enough of the parade to say we'd been there and now know more about it so we can plan for next year. Who knows? Maybe by then, we'll have our own boat. . .