Here are a few events going on in Berlin, Ocean Pines and Ocean City tomorrow through Memorial Day, May 26:
Berlin
• American Legion Boggs Disharoon Post 123 in Berlin will host a service in conjunction with Ocean City’s Post 166 on Sunday, May 25, at 8 a.m. at the memorial across the street from Stevenson United Methodist Church.
There will be speakers, songs and a reading of the names of the deceased memorialized in the service, which will run about an hour. The church will provide seating and all are invited to attend.
• Berlin kicks off Memorial Day Monday at 11 a.m. with a parade from Stephen Decatur Middle School to William Henry Park, where its annual Old-Fashioned Memorial Day celebration runs all day.
There will be food, music and games at the festival until around 6 p.m., said organizer Jesse Turner, who owns the Berlin Shoe Box.
Approximately 40 units will take part in the procession, which will award trophies to the top groups.
For more information, call Turner at 410-641-1270.
• Ocean Pines will host its annual Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at the Worcester County Veterans Memorial on Route 589 near the South Gate.
Colonel Douglas A. Dods, operation officer at the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office in Snow Hill and past commander of the Maryland State Police barracks in Berlin, will be the keynotes speaker at this year’s event.
The ceremony will recognize six gold star mothers — parents of local servicemen who died in service — as well as ex-POWs, who will present a wreath in honor of all POWs and MIAs, said even organizer Marie Gilmore. The service will also recognize female veterans with a wreath laying at the female veteran’s garden at the memorial, she said.
Randy Lee Ashcraft, the Delmarva Chorus, Ocean City Pipes and and Dick Jacobs will perform patriotic music during the hour-long event.
The Ocean Pines Memorial Day ceremony is well attended with around 2,000 showing last year and though some seating is provided, attendees should bring lawn chairs to the event.
In case of rain, the ceremony will take place at the Community Church at Ocean Pines. For more information, call Gilmore at 410-208-6612.
Ocean City
• The 14th annual Spring Arts and Craft show hits the 40th Street convention center this Saturday and Sunday with approximately 55 vendors selling handmade jewelry, floral arrangements, candles, wood crafts, soaps, handbags, glassware and much more.
Town Cats will bring its cats and kittens for adoption and the First State Marine Corp League will be on hand recruiting members and collecting funds for wounded warriors. Quilters by the Sea will raffle tickets for a quilt and other handmade items.
“The wide variety of craft exhibits will provide unique items that shoppers can’t find on the Boardwalk or at the mall,” said Janice Cropper, the show’s organizer.
The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 800-OC-OCEAN.
• The Glenn Miller Orchestra will play swing-era hits and modern music with a twist on Saturday, May 24, from 6:30-11 p.m. at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center on 40th Street.
The performance sponsored by the Worcester County Library will bring an 18-member ensemble to the center to deliver 1930s and 40’s swing music, including Glenn Miller originals such as “Moonlight Serenade,” “Chattanooga Choo Choo” and “In the Mood.” The group will also play modern pieces in its distinctive Miller style.
“The Glenn Miller Orchestra is the ultimate swing band, and, unlike many other musical groups that come and go with the times, their music spans the generations,” Library Director Mark Thomas said in a release.
The orchestra’s music has been featured on television and in movies since the 1930s, including the 2012 movie “Hyde Park on the Hudson.”
“Because their songs receive such wide play, even those who don’t realize they are listening to Glenn Miller know his music,” Thomas said.
The night begins with music from local favorites WWTunes at 6:30 p.m., followed by a live auction at 7:30 p.m. The orchestra takes the stage at 8:00 p.m. for the remainder of the show.
There will be a cash bar, light fare and a silent auction for stays at local hotels including the Atlantic Hotel, the Carousel Oceanfront Hotel and the Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel; golf packages; local artwork and jewelry. Those decked out in the best 1940s costumes will take home a prize.
Tickets cost $45 per person or $425 for a table of 10 and can be purchased at any branch of the Worcester County Library or by calling 410-632-3970. Roundtrip transportation from the Ocean Pines Library is also available for $12.
All proceeds benefit the county library.
• Ocean City’s Beach Light Spectacular, a free laser light show on the beach, returns this summer with special patriotic displays Saturday night at North Division Street. The show incorporates lasers, lights, video, music and special effects displayed on a five-story-tall beach ball.
Normally slated every Sunday night at 9:30, 10 and 10:30 p.m., the Saturday showing will be a special event to celebrate Memorial Day.
The show sponsored by the Ocean City Mayor and City Council and Tourism Advisory Board runs Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
For more information, visit www.ocbeachlights.com, call 410-798-6304 or email infoevent@specialeventpro.com.
• American Legion Post 166 and VFW Post 8296 will host a Memorial Day service at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, May 26 at Post 166 on 24th Street.
Speakers from both organizations, their auxiliaries, the Ocean City Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1091, the Ocean City Elks and Lions clubs and the First State Detachment Marine Corps League will join with the Post 166 Color Guard and the Sons of the American Legion to deliver a Memorial Day message.
There will be light refreshment at the ceremony, which is free and open to the public.