June 21st, 2022 by WCBC Radio

Fourth of July fireworks in Ocean City will not happen again this year as a labor shortage for the vendor has canceled the annual event. Ocean City officials received surprising news on Tuesday when they learned the two fireworks shows scheduled for downtown and at Northside Park would not go on as planned. The fireworks vendor contracted to provide the two shows for both holiday celebrations told resort officials that labor shortages resulted in having inadequate staff to host the events as planned.

Town officials immediately began contacting additional vendors in the hope of finding a new supplier for both of the cancelled shows. For the record, the Town of Berlin’s Fourth of July fireworks show is still on as planned, although Berlin has a different vendor. City Manager Terry McGean said Ocean City was quickly pivoting in a different direction to provide entertainment on the mid-summer milestone.

“You know what they say when things don’t go as planned,” he said. “You make a new plan, which is exactly what we’ve done.”

The outcome of the quick turnaround comes with fresh dates and several unique lineups, including a free concert by American Idol star and Salisbury resident Jay Copeland. The town’s new plan includes events uptown and downtown on July 3 and July 5. On July 3, an intimate Independence Day celebration is planned in conjunction with the Sundaes in the Park event, featuring a 7 p.m. concert by Mike Hines and the Look, followed by “a condensed fireworks show at 9 p.m.,” according to the city.

On Tuesday, July 5, at 8 p.m., Copeland will take the stage at Northside Park as part of the Fourth of July celebration. Also on July 5, Ocean City will feature live music beginning at 8 p.m. and fireworks beginning at 9:30 p.m. The show will be a departure from Ocean City’s traditional Independence Day fireworks display and will include pyrotechnic elements from Celebrations Fireworks Company