Unused PTO? Here’s Why Philly Is Flocking to Ocean City This Fall
Summer gets all the glory, but fall is the unsung hero. As the crowds thin and the heat finally breaks, shore towns settle into a slower, easier rhythm that’s perfect for a long weekend escape.
If beachfront music festivals and cool mornings on the boardwalk are your thing, it’s time to pack the car. Ocean City, Maryland has everything from star-studded outdoor concerts to laid-back weekend festivities that embrace every season.
Seaside Festival Season
Gone are the days of concerts in stuffy spaces. Ocean City’s music scene embraces the beauty of the beach with several multi-day, multi-genre festivals this fall.
The Ocean’s Calling Festival (September 27–29) kicks things off with headlining rock icons like Weezer, Fall Out Boy, and Green Day. Sets on the beach and the boardwalk make you feel 16 again, while the gourmet food vendors, gentle breeze, and mellow energy remind you why it’s good to be an adult.
The following weekend, grab your finest pair of cowboy boots. The Country Calling Festival (October 4–6) lineup features country powerhouses on three oceanfront stages. Grab funnel cake between LeAnn Rimes and Carrie Underwood, or hop on Slingshot to warm up your vocals before belting Luke Bryan’s “Country Girl.” On Sunday, wander Inlet Park before Luke Combs closes out the weekend.
As Halloween draws near, Sunfest (October 24–27) serves up local favorites with a seasonal twist. Alongside live music and craveable boardwalk bites, you’ll find a spooky beach maze (beware: pirates!), racing pumpkins rolling down the boardwalk, and dogs in costume stealing the spotlight at the Howl-O-Ween Pet Parade.
If you’re saving PTO for closer to Thanksgiving, start your vacay a little early with the Rising Tides Festival (November 22). It’s a day of pure nostalgia, from ‘70s soul hits by The Spinners to ‘90s legends like Vanilla Ice and early-2000s chart-toppers like LFO. Beyond the stage, lace up your skates at the pop-up roller rink or vibe out at the silent disco. Spend Saturday at the festival and the rest of the weekend soaking in the area’s natural beauty, biking on the boardwalk, or strolling the shoreline at sunset.
You can even get into the holiday spirit a little early with a stroll through Ocean City’s Winterfest of Lights. From November 20 through New Year’s Eve, Northside Park transforms into a mile-long wonderland complete with twinkling lights and hot chocolate stations.
Here’s your sign to go ahead and burn through those last few days of PTO doing something different. Ocean City is celebrating its 150th anniversary with an endless summer, and you’re invited.
Celebrate 150 years of endless fun in Ocean City, Maryland, where every season brings even more reasons to smile. To learn more about this year’s events, visit ococean.com.
This is a paid partnership between Ocean City and Philadelphia Magazine