Night in Venice ... Ocean City, New Jersey
I've owned a property in Ocean City since 1988 when I was still working in the "real world." And I recall about three or four years when I would read about "Night in Venice," but we were working on our little 1920s cottage on St James Place, or entertaining weekend visitors; and we never seemed to get out to see the parade. Then a couple of years my wife, Leslie, and I would bike around the bay area in the Gardens checking things out. We knew the most important step was to find a bayfront owner to invite us to a party ... which didn't happen right away. I recall one summer when our son, Nick, was working here in Ocean City and dating a girl living on the Rivera lagoon. He was the first to get an invitation to a "Night in Venice" party.
Since that time, and now as of 1993 working at French Real Estate, our fortunes improved. One year an agent here at French got us invited to the Coast Guard location on the Gardens lagoon. Great location for viewing the parade. Then we got invited to a very large open bayfront owned by another agent's parents in the Gardens. We attended several parties in that location. Then we met my close friend, Ted, where we always attend his party. In fact, while our house was being built, we lived in one of his bayfront location condos for a couple of years. We had our own party to parallel his. We always manage to get to that party early or later.
Last year we also attended another party at the Gums again on the lagoon. Another great location. We were invited this year, but we also received an invitation to ride in the Ocean City Yacht Club boat along with the Commodore and a variety of OCYC members. So we are doing this tonight to see all the decorated houses from the Longport Bridge to 23rd Street.
Night in Venice is a major attraction here in Ocean City, New Jersey. It's been ongoing for about 50 years without ever having a rainout. This year the starting time has been moved to 8PM because of the tides and their impact on the boats. There is a lot more history to Night in Venice, but you can read that each year in the various local papers. I thought you might enjoy a "first-person" account instead.
I think Ocean City has some great traditions. Night in Venice is one of them. Although "locals" tend to celebrate much more than visitors ... it is also an opportunity to get to see something very special. I enjoy this tradition ... it continues to be a family-oriented thing which fits the style of the community in which it is being celebrated - Ocean City, New Jersey. Dap
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