The parade is pictured in Ocean City last June.

Traditional part of annual state convention sees loss of participation in resort as mid-week happening

By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

The Maryland State Firefighters’ Association wants to relocate its annual June parade from Ocean City to Berlin; and intends to make a formal presentation to the mayor and Town Council in January.

Mayor Zack Tyndall advised the council that the association’s request was brought to the mayor’s attention by Berlin Fire Company President David Fitzgerald, who said the association had seen declining participation in its annual Ocean City procession.

He attributed that to the parade’s summertime Wednesday timeslot and the traffic that generates along the route.

After surveying members, the association found many would attend more readily if the parade were held on a weekend.

However, as the event is scheduled for June, Ocean City’s prime tourist season, a Saturday parade on June 20 would pose logistical challenges that are not easily manageable for the resort destination.

“Taking that feedback, the [Maryland State Firefighters’ Association] engaged in some dialogue with the Town of Ocean City about shifting that to a Saturday. I think logistically at the beach that just wasn’t doable,” Tyndall said. “They started to look at the periphery of Ocean City, Berlin being one of those and the one that rose to the top.”

Tyndall outlined a preliminary plan: an afternoon parade running roughly from 2 to 4 p.m., with fire apparatus queuing at the Worcester County Athletic Fields and a procession down Main Street.

However, some adjustments would have to be made.

The Ocean City event would typically conclude at the convention center for an afterparty. As Berlin doesn’t have a facility to accommodate such a gathering, following the parade, the trucks would continue north to Route 50 to a reception at Ocean Downs Casino.

While Tyndall said the firefighter’s parade fits within the Town of Berlin’s mission, some hurdles would need to be addressed to make it feasible.

For instance, the event will likely be scheduled for the day after the Juneteenth holiday. As such, numerous staff members may not be available to oversee the festivities.

“I noted that staffing the event would be one of the harder things, or the heavier lift we would have on the forefront of our minds as we explored this,” Tyndall said. “… It is a town holiday, so if folks have plans, we want to honor those.”

However, according to the mayor, the firefighters’ association brings in a group of volunteers to assist with the procession.

“Hopefully, staffing the event would fall more on the applicant, which would be the [Maryland State Firefighters’ Association],” Tyndall added.

The council also discussed how the event could benefit the town’s shops and eateries.

Councilman Steve Green noted that it’s an honor for Berlin to be considered for the fire parade’s new home. Green stated that he has been following the parade’s decline in Ocean City in recent years; last year, it took only 40 minutes, whereas in the past it was three hours long. However, the councilman requested more details on how the event would drive additional business to downtown, as the firefighters would head to the casino, away from independent restaurants and retailers.

“They’re looking for a new lease on life, which I think is exciting that Berlin was on the radar,” he said. “I would like to hear more from them when they present before us about how they plan to support the businesses.”

Tyndall said he’s discussed possible approaches, including encouraging firefighters to queue their apparatus early and offering a shuttle to transport drivers and crews downtown so they can patronize restaurants before the procession.

“Let’s see if we can get them to queue up, get their apparatus there, and then maybe we can work with the shuttles to bring them downtown to get lunch before the parade starts,” he said.

Tyndall added that while the firefighters may not stay after the event to shop or get dinner, the attendees who came out to watch the parade will, particularly beforehand.

Tyndall said the Maryland State Firefighters’ Association will appear at Berlin’s council meeting on Monday, Jan. 12, to make a formal presentation and answer questions about staffing, traffic control, business engagement, and other logistics.

The association’s parade welcomes fire equipment and firefighters from throughout the State of Maryland. Now, that event may get a new home in the Town of Berlin.  While the council ultimately still has to approve the procession, officials said that they are open to the idea.

“I think it’s cool for the kids, and the kids at heart,” Tyndall said.