Springfest takes over Ocean City

By Lisa Capitelli
OC Today

That end-of-season festival had helped to extend Ocean City’s season well into the fall, so Hall reasoned that a spring festival of similar size, scope and flavor might give the traditional summer season something of a head start. The council agreed and put in motion a plan to make it so.

And then, of course, it rained.

Hall got a fair amount of kidding about the “rainfest,” but as the four-day event opened yesterday at the inlet parking lot for its 15th year — Springfest is open through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — there is no kidding about its impact as a source of entertainment for residents and as a draw for visitors.

Springfest has grown to almost the same size as Sunfest, with nearly 120,000 people attending last year. In 2004, Springfest saw a 16.4 percent increase in attendance from the previous year and exceeded the five-year average.

Excellent weather was a big reason why attendance was up, according to Veronica Donaldson, advertising and marketing manager for the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department. She added that the first day of the event last year drew extremely high numbers because of the beautifully seasonal temperatures and people anxious to get out doors after a long winter.

Just this April, “Sunshine Artist, America’s Premiere Show and Festival Magazine,” rated Springfest 27th on a list of 200 top festivals in the United States. When the magazine last did its ranking in 2002, Springfest was ranked 34th.

Donaldson knows the festival has grown because ticket sales for the entertainment have gone up and the vendors are doing so well.

Thousands of people come to the event, she said, because they are tired of the cold winter days and want to see the beach and feel the warm sunshine. The festival grounds are also filled with bright flowers, bringing spring to their lives, she added.

Blue and green, representing the ocean and fresh grass and leaves are this year’s colors. Yellow umbrellas will represent the bright sunshine.

As veterans of these events know, the big top tents are where much of the activity takes place, whether it’s eating or shopping for crafts.

Under the big tents this year are many new arts and crafts complemented by other wares located throughout the midway area. Altogether, some 184 arts and crafts vendors will have booths this year, with something different in each one. In addition, 50 commercial and 15 food vendors will have their products available.

That also includes the city’s Springfest boutique, with Ocean City blinking buttons, T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, visors, purses and water bottles.

Visitors can also fill out a Springfest questionnaire and earn a chance to win $100 worth of merchandise. Questionnaires are near the ticket booth on the festival grounds.

Springfest would be a sizable crafts fair on its own, but the food is part of the experience, with 30 food and drink vendors on the grounds. On the menu this year are crab cakes, the ever-popular crab fluffs, burgers, hot dogs, chicken legs, barbecue, fries, pizza, pretzels, salads, ice cream, cakes, pies, and hot apples and warm cinnamon buns.

In additional to traditional fare, there will be a variety of ethnic offerings, such as oriental dishes, Mediterranean cuisines and gyros as well as the more exotic alligator, emu meat, kabobs and sweet deep fried Twinkies.

All vendors must past muster to participate in Springfest and are selected through the jury process. Then, too, there is only so much room, a circumstance that has led to a growing vendor waiting list for the past three years.

Springfest is nothing if not a family event and organizers make certain that children are entertained with crafts, sand art, candle art, temporary tattoos, face painting, bouncing around in Xtreme Events interactive inflatables on the beach and rock climbing wall.

Children can also get personalized music CDs and piggy banks. Lollipop the Clown will stroll the festival on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. and on Sunday Michael Rossman performs his amazing feats comedy show from noon to 4 p.m.

Visitors can also get palm and tarot card readings or sample some potions, have caricatures drawn and have their hair braided or wrapped in strings and beads.

In addition to the arts, crafts, food and activities, Springfest is filled with musical entertainment from big band to country, to rock n’ roll.

Admission is free to the Springfest grounds, but tickets are required for headline acts, Dierks Bentley on Friday and Kool & the Gang on Saturday. Both shows begin at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $10-$30 for Bentley’s show and $10-$35 for Kool & The Gang. Tickets may be purchased at the ticket booth on the grounds.

Also performing at Springfest this year are Frank Curreri’s Tribute to Frank Sinatra, JR Booker, Randy Lee Ashcraft and the Saltwater Cowboys, Captain Quint’s Jimmy Buffet tribute band, Mary Lou and the Untouchables, Still Surfin,’ Michael Tracey White, Georgia Lea and Stone Cold Country, Jesse Garron’s Tribute to Elvis, Shore Jazz with Holly Lane and the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Line Dancers.

New to the Springfest stage are Rick K and the All Nighters performing rock n’ roll oldies, country and pop; M.A.S.F.I.K. (Me and Some Friends I Know), a rhythm and blues, jazz and funk band; and The Subway Show Band, which does music of the 1950s and 1960s.

The Zim Zemarel Orchestra will close the festival at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Parking is restricted at Springfest and city officials urge visitors to ride the bus to the festival grounds. Ocean City offers a 24-hour, ride-all-day-for-$2 service. Shuttle buses will operate from the Ocean City Park and Ride located just west of Ocean City off Route 50.

Parking is free and the shuttle bus fare of $1 is good for all-day use. Additional Park and Ride locations are located at Ocean City Municipal Parking Lot, 100th Street, Public Safety Building on 65th Street, Northside Park at 125th Street (walk to 125th Street bus stop), Ocean Plaza Mall 94th Street and Gold Coast Mall 115th Street.

The Boardwalk tram will also offer service daily. The tram costs $2.50 per person one-way and delivers riders directly to Springfest grounds. Children under 42 inches tall ride for free. The tram runs from 10 a.m. to midnight.