(May 4, 2017) Ocean City’s inlet parking lot transforms into a four-day festival featuring food, live musical entertainment and arts and crafts vendors during the 27th annual Springfest celebration, held May 4-7.
The free event kicked off Thursday and runs through Sunday under large tents in downtown Ocean City.
“Springfest is a favorite start to the summer season in Ocean City with great food, arts and crafts and live music,” said Frank Miller, Special Events superintendent for the Town of Ocean City.
Currently, the festival is in full swing with thousands of people from all across the country expected to attend and peruse 184 unique craft booths, get a bite to eat at one of the more than 30 food vendors or jam out to dozens of free concerts in the inlet parking lot.
Admission is free to Springfest, although headlining musical acts required tickets, but they are already sold out.
“Those who have been to Springfest know how special the four days of fun under the tents can be,” said Jessica Waters, communications manager for the Town of Ocean City. “If you haven’t been, you certainly should not pass up the opportunity to check out the great music, amazing arts and crafts and the delicious food.”
At least 184 artisan vendors will be on site selling paintings, photography, wood products, apparel, personalized items, crafts, jewelry, glassware, decorative items and many more treasures.
“Mother’s Day is coming up, and Father’s Day too,” Waters said. “Springfest is a great place to find one-of-a-kind gifts for your parents or loved ones. I love taking home something new each year that I cannot find anywhere else.”
Mid-Atlantic Ford is slated to bring a couple cars in addition to their two-level, interactive display.
Springfest will offer hungry visitors a range of options with more than 30 vendors inside the food tent and beyond serving a variety of festival foods including baked goods, jerky, crab cakes, wraps, pit beef, funnel cakes, chicken tenders, pizza and pork barbecue.
“There is a variety of Eastern Shore delicacies and authentic Maryland seafood,” Waters said. “There is something for everyone.”
Last year, the event drew a crowd of more than 91,000 people, despite a couple of weather concerns, Miller said.
In 2015, more than 100,000 people came out to Springfest, making it the second highest turnout in event history. The best year Springfest had was in 2004, when 118,000 stopped by the four-day festival, Miller added.
“We have been waiting all winter for spring,” Waters said. “Springfest is the beginning of our season and a great way to get outside, enjoy the weather, the salt air and the sunshine.”
There will be plenty of activities for children including inflatable bounce houses, a rock climbing wall, hair wraps and sand art.
Dozens of free musical performances will be taking place all weekend long from classic rock to country tunes and a number of cover bands.
Visitors can catch free shows starting at 10:15 a.m. every day through Sunday, with Blind Wind, Rick K & The ALLNIGHTERS, the Beach Bumz and Randy Lee Ashcraft & The Saltwater Cowboys lined up, just to name a few of the acts. Sir Rod will close out Springfest on Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
“When people catch a concert at Springfest they aren’t just in for a great show, but an experience they will never forget,” Waters said. “It is a great way to make a memory for a friend, a loved one or a family member. If you haven’t checked it off of your bucket list, you certainly should do so.”
In the fall, Clint Black, Christopher Cross and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy have been tapped to headline Sunfest.
“We have three great names who have well-known songs,” Miller said.
Since parking is limited in downtown Ocean City, shuttle buses will be offered to and from the West Ocean City Park and Ride on Route 50 beginning at 6 a.m. every day of the event.
For more information on the shuttle service, call the Ocean City Transportation Department at 410-723-1606.
“So much of the event is undercover so don’t let a weather forecast detract you from coming to Ocean City and Springfest,” Miller said.
Twenty-seven years ago, Springfest started out as an arts and crafts festival with a car show, he added.
“It grew so much we had to separate the events into Springfest and Cruisin’ Ocean City,” Miller said. “The recognition of Springfest continues to increase as the event grows and prospers each year.”
Springfest runs Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, May, 7, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information, visit www.ococean.com/springfest or call 800-626-2326.
The free event kicked off Thursday and runs through Sunday under large tents in downtown Ocean City.
“Springfest is a favorite start to the summer season in Ocean City with great food, arts and crafts and live music,” said Frank Miller, Special Events superintendent for the Town of Ocean City.
Currently, the festival is in full swing with thousands of people from all across the country expected to attend and peruse 184 unique craft booths, get a bite to eat at one of the more than 30 food vendors or jam out to dozens of free concerts in the inlet parking lot.
Admission is free to Springfest, although headlining musical acts required tickets, but they are already sold out.
“Those who have been to Springfest know how special the four days of fun under the tents can be,” said Jessica Waters, communications manager for the Town of Ocean City. “If you haven’t been, you certainly should not pass up the opportunity to check out the great music, amazing arts and crafts and the delicious food.”
At least 184 artisan vendors will be on site selling paintings, photography, wood products, apparel, personalized items, crafts, jewelry, glassware, decorative items and many more treasures.
“Mother’s Day is coming up, and Father’s Day too,” Waters said. “Springfest is a great place to find one-of-a-kind gifts for your parents or loved ones. I love taking home something new each year that I cannot find anywhere else.”
Mid-Atlantic Ford is slated to bring a couple cars in addition to their two-level, interactive display.
Springfest will offer hungry visitors a range of options with more than 30 vendors inside the food tent and beyond serving a variety of festival foods including baked goods, jerky, crab cakes, wraps, pit beef, funnel cakes, chicken tenders, pizza and pork barbecue.
“There is a variety of Eastern Shore delicacies and authentic Maryland seafood,” Waters said. “There is something for everyone.”
Last year, the event drew a crowd of more than 91,000 people, despite a couple of weather concerns, Miller said.
In 2015, more than 100,000 people came out to Springfest, making it the second highest turnout in event history. The best year Springfest had was in 2004, when 118,000 stopped by the four-day festival, Miller added.
“We have been waiting all winter for spring,” Waters said. “Springfest is the beginning of our season and a great way to get outside, enjoy the weather, the salt air and the sunshine.”
There will be plenty of activities for children including inflatable bounce houses, a rock climbing wall, hair wraps and sand art.
Dozens of free musical performances will be taking place all weekend long from classic rock to country tunes and a number of cover bands.
Visitors can catch free shows starting at 10:15 a.m. every day through Sunday, with Blind Wind, Rick K & The ALLNIGHTERS, the Beach Bumz and Randy Lee Ashcraft & The Saltwater Cowboys lined up, just to name a few of the acts. Sir Rod will close out Springfest on Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
“When people catch a concert at Springfest they aren’t just in for a great show, but an experience they will never forget,” Waters said. “It is a great way to make a memory for a friend, a loved one or a family member. If you haven’t checked it off of your bucket list, you certainly should do so.”
In the fall, Clint Black, Christopher Cross and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy have been tapped to headline Sunfest.
“We have three great names who have well-known songs,” Miller said.
Since parking is limited in downtown Ocean City, shuttle buses will be offered to and from the West Ocean City Park and Ride on Route 50 beginning at 6 a.m. every day of the event.
For more information on the shuttle service, call the Ocean City Transportation Department at 410-723-1606.
“So much of the event is undercover so don’t let a weather forecast detract you from coming to Ocean City and Springfest,” Miller said.
Twenty-seven years ago, Springfest started out as an arts and crafts festival with a car show, he added.
“It grew so much we had to separate the events into Springfest and Cruisin’ Ocean City,” Miller said. “The recognition of Springfest continues to increase as the event grows and prospers each year.”
Springfest runs Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, May, 7, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information, visit www.ococean.com/springfest or call 800-626-2326.