OCEAN CITY — Blessed by unseasonably balmy weather, the first weekend of the walk-through Winterfest of Lights was an unqualified success with thousands enjoying the modified event.
The 47th Annual Winterfest of Lights opened last Thursday with a virtual opening ceremony and tree-lighting. On a typical Thursday before Thanksgiving, thousands would cram into host Northside Park to watch the opening ceremonies, specifically the OC Stars youth singing group from Ocean City Elementary School, but, of course, this year has been far from typical.
The annual holiday event, which runs roughly from the week before Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, typically attracts over 100,000 visitors who ride the Boardwalk tram through massive light displays arrayed throughout the vast Northside Park complex.
This year, however, because of COVID-19, like so many of the town’s other special events, Winterfest of Lights has been dramatically altered, although the experience thus far has proven to be equally rewarding for many. There is still the massive Christmas tree with its synchronized lights and music and hundreds of large light displays situated around a roughly half-mile loop around the lagoon.