Hot Air Balloons, Kites & Laser Lights: Ocean City’s Summer Send-Off Was One to Remember

Ocean City knows how to send off summer, and the Summer Send-Off on the last weekend of August gave beachgoers one more reason to grab a chair, a blanket and head to the sand. The completely free, family-friendly event brought kites, laser shows and, most notably, five hot air balloons set up right on the beach between 3rd Street and Dorchester Street.

And let me tell you — seeing hot air balloons on an Ocean City beach is not something you see every day.

What We Saw

The balloons were erected on the sand as the sun went down, creating a pretty spectacular backdrop against the evening sky. When the balloons were illuminated, they could even be seen by people driving into town from the Route 50 Bridge.

I decided to get a different perspective and headed up on the Ferris wheel at Jolly Roger. From that bird’s-eye view, seeing hot air balloons sitting on the beach was pretty remarkable. It was one of those moments that made you stop and appreciate just how unique Ocean City can be.

A Free Event With Plenty of Room to Watch

One of the best things about the Summer Send-Off was that it was completely free. There was plenty of room along the beach for families and visitors to spread out with blankets and beach chairs and enjoy the entertainment. People who made it to the event were quick to share their reactions online, with many describing the balloons and overall evening as beautiful and impressive.

But not everyone knew the event was happening. One of the biggest complaints popping up online was that the Summer Send-Off simply wasn't advertised enough. Some people said they had heard nothing about it until it was already happening and would have loved to attend.

There were also some weather-related snags throughout the weekend. The Town of Ocean City kept attendees updated through its social media channels as weather conditions affected portions of the event.

Will the Balloons Fly Next Year?

While the balloons were definitely the highlight, there was one thing some spectators were hoping to see — the balloons actually take flight.

The five balloons remained on the ground rather than lifting off, which left some people wondering if they would eventually get to see them floating over the beach.

Another common observation was that only one or two balloons were illuminated at the same time, rather than all five lighting up together. Seeing all five glowing simultaneously would have created an even more spectacular sight.

Still, the event gave Ocean City a memorable way to close out August and celebrate the final stretch of summer.

We Want to See More Next Year

If it returns, hopefully even more people will know about it, the weather cooperates and those five colorful balloons get the chance to light up the entire beach at once — or maybe even take flight.

Because if my view from the Ferris wheel was any indication, Ocean City + hot air balloons is a combination worth seeing.