(May 29, 2015) Thousands of football enthusiasts wearing purple and black will be taking over Ocean City this weekend to participate in the fourth annual Ravens Beach Bash along with players, coaches, cheerleaders and the Ravens’ mascot, Poe.
Festivities started yesterday, May 28, and will run through Saturday night with a parade, 98Rock live broadcasts, pub crawls, a flag football beach tournament, a light show and bonfire.
Events will take place at various venues throughout Ocean City, although the Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel on 101st Street will host a bulk of the Beach Bash activities.
“It’s such a fun time for everyone in the family,” said Renee Seiden, director of sales and marketing at the Clarion. “There are lots of events and activities to choose from, with the exception of the flag football tournament, all of the activities on the beach [at the Clarion] the day of the actual Beach Bash [Saturday] are free.”
A couple of current Ravens players, alumni and coaches will be on hand during the weekend to meet fans.
Typically, the Ravens organization brings alumni players who played on the first Super Bowl team and current players tend to be those who are about to breakout in the NFL, Seiden said.
“[Ravens players] have always been very personable and love to mix and mingle with the crowd,” she added. “Defensive Coordinator, Coach Dean Pees, has been here every year and absolutely loves this event.”
On Friday morning, fans can meet at the Greene Turtle on 116th Street from 6-10 a.m. for Bacon & Beer.
“People seem to enjoy having a beer with their breakfast and watching the live radio broadcast,” Seiden said.
A popular Baltimore Ravens tradition, the Purple Friday Caravan, will travel all over Ocean City on Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For those unfamiliar, the Ravens hold this event every Friday there is a home game in Baltimore, Seiden said.
The traveling caravan will bring Ravens cheerleaders, mascots and playmakers to different establishments, schools and other locations in Ocean City.
During the afternoon, a West Ocean City bar crawl with Ravens playmakers will commence with stops at Hooters, Sunset Grille, Harborside, Crab Alley, Full Moon Saloon and the Greene Turtle. Tickets can be purchased for $25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Clarion, though the event sold out last year. A bus will transport participants to and from West Ocean City for the bar crawl.
Around the same time, Northside Park on 125th Street and Coca-Cola will be hosting a flag football clinic for 8- to 15-year-olds where they will learn the importance of exercise and smart food choices with the Baltimore Ravens youth clinic staff.
Participants will stop at five stations for about 10 minutes to learn about pass routes, back pedaling and reading the defense to name a few, from 4-6 p.m.
To register, contact the Ocean City Recreation and Parks at 410-250-0125.
On Friday night, Ravens fans can gather at Dead Freddies on 64th Street or families can Ride with the Ravens at Jolly Rodger Amusement Park on 30th Street.
A purple plunge into the Atlantic Ocean will take place on 18th Street from 7:45-8:45 a.m. on Saturday morning to kick start the day’s activities.
The 51st annual Ravens Roost parade will make its way up Baltimore Avenue from 19th Street to 26th Street starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
On the Clarion beach from 12-5 p.m., the Ravens Beach Bash will be in full swing with cornhole, beach volleyball, music, inflatables and the annual Flag Football Tournament.
“It’s just a really fun day and 98Rock will be broadcasting live during the event,” Seiden said. “There are definitely activities for the kids as well as the adults.”
Registration is already closed for the five-on-five, no-contact flag football tournament, and more details can be found on www.asgevents.com.
The National Volleyball League (NVL) and the Baltimore Ravens are partnering to host a beach volleyball “Clinic With The Pros” from 2-3 p.m., which will take place on the beach directly in front of the Clarion on Saturday. Adult and junior fans will have the opportunity to join NVL pros for skills practice, instruction and contests with several Ravens players and cheerleaders stopping by the event.
Another bar crawl with the playmakers will head down Coastal Highway Saturday afternoon making stops at Macky’s Bayside, Bull on the Beach, Pickles Pub, The Crab Bag and Cowboy Coast Cantina.
Tickets can be purchased for $25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today, Friday, at the Clarion if they are not already sold out.
A goodbye party will take place at Fish Tales on 22nd Street from 7-10 p.m. with a bonfire, live music and laser light show going down at the Clarion during the same time.
“This event is a way for the Baltimore Ravens to thank their fans and to spend some time with them when they’re not in the middle of football season,” Seiden said. “It’s a fun, relaxed way to spend the weekend with other football fans who are passionate about the Ravens.”
For a full list of Beach Bash activities, visit www.baltimoreravens.com/ravenstown/beach-bash.html
