OCEAN CITY, MD – (December 7, 2016): If you weren’t in the holiday spirit before Saturday’s Annual Christmas Parade in Ocean City, there is no doubt participants and visitors left beaming with the spirit of the season. As Christmas colors lined the streets and Christmas carols filled the air, the community parade boasted nearly 50 entries including high school bands, holiday floats, antique cars and much more. What follows are a list of the Christmas parade winners, 2016.
Professional judges reviewed the participating units and presented awards in nine categories, including Coca Cola’s Best Overall Parade Entry and the Carousel Award for the Best “Ocean Vacation” themed entry. The first, second and third place winners were:
- School Band: Snow Hill High School Band (pictured) first place, Pocomoke High School Marching Warriors Band, second place, and Stephen Decatur High School, third place.
- Commercial Float: Trimper’s Rides, first place, OC Tri Running Sports, second place, and The Harrison Group “Beachie” Christmas, third place.
- Non-Commercial Float: Ocean City Elementary School, first place, Assateague National Seashore, second place, and Bearded Men’s Society of Ocean City, third place.
- Antique Vehicle: Seacrets Distilling Company, first place, 1961 Mercedes Benz 1902SL Roadster, second place, and Melvin Thomas 1960 Ford, third place.
- Fire Company Representation: Ocean City Fire Ambulance, first place, Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department, second place, and Ocean City Fire Department, third place.
- Marching Unit: Snow Hill Marine Corp JROTC, first place, Stephen Decatur High School NJROTC, second place, and East Coast Westsiders Marching Band, third place.
- Costume/Mascot: Delmarva Shorebirds Sherman, first place, Chick-Fil-A West Ocean City Cow, second place, and Sherwood of Salisbury Kippy Kia, third place.
- Motorized Vehicle: Matteo’s Salsa Loco Tiki Bus, first place, H Traffic Control, second place and Jeep Week Representatives, third place.
- Coca Cola Award – Parade entry with the most energy & fun: OC Stars
- Carousel Award – Best “Ocean Vacation” Entry: Harrison Group “Beachie” Christmas
- Berlin Automotive Group Award – Best Holiday Presentation of a single vehicle or group of automobiles: The Ropewalk
Awards were presented during the post-parade reception, hosted by the Carousel Hotel. “We had a wonderful day, with terrific weather and an outstanding and enthusiastic crowd,” commented Ocean City Special Events Director Frank Miller. “A very special thanks to all of our parade participants and spectators for making the 34th Annual Ocean City Christmas Parade a great success and a true example of a happy holiday celebration at the beach!”
