Headed to Ocean City for Labor Day weekend? What you need to know before you visit

Olivia Minzola and Laura Benedict Sileo, Salisbury Daily Times
·6 min read

The kids are headed back to school but there's still one blowout weekend left in the summer beach season: Labor Day weekend. There are plenty of fall events in Ocean City to draw you back for an extended weekend, but there's nothing like savoring that one last breath of summer.

Grab your towel, sling your beach chair over your shoulder and topped off the cooler with ice. Here's everything you need to know to celebrate the holiday in Ocean City:

What's the weather forecast?

A crowd makes their way down the Ocean City Boardwalk on Saturday, June 11, 2022.
A crowd makes their way down the Ocean City Boardwalk on Saturday, June 11, 2022.

Coming off 90 degree days the previous weekend, Labor Day weekend will be slightly cooler but still offer warm beach days. Friday will bring sunny skies and a high of 77, according to the National Weather Service.

Saturday and Sunday will be mostly sunny, with a high of 78 and 80, respectively.

Accuweather says sunny Friday with a high of 81. It will be and partly sunny Saturday with a high of 83. Sunday will bring intervals of clouds and sun with a high of 85. Monday will be partly sunny and humid with a chance of thunderstorms; high of 84.

The remainder of the week is forecast to be 81-84 degrees and mostly to partly sunny.

Labor Day weekend events

The family-friendly Sundaes in the Park will hold its final event of the season from 7 - 9 p.m. Sunday at Northside Park. Ice cream and beverage options are available for purchase. Controversy band Prince Tribute is scheduled to play a free show. Fireworks follow the show over the bay, weather permitting.

Explore the Art League of Ocean City, located at 502 94th St., with a free craft in the courtyard at 11 a.m. Saturday. Children must have adult supervision.

For live music, catch up with Roger Hillis' Delmarva Now column.

LIVE MUSIC:Rock on! Concerts and more highlight Labor Day at the beach

Want a beach bonfire?

For those interested in building a bonfire along the town's 10-mile stretch of sand, permits are required. For more information, including regulations, restrictions, and to apply for a permit online, visit www.ocbonfires.com.

ODITITES: Odd Ocean City houses: A castle, observatory and other curious ones to discover

What to expect at restaurants

For the past two years, many Ocean City businesses, both big and small, have struggled to recruit and retain seasonal employees. The town, which requires about 12,000 seasonal workers annually, is asking visitors to pack their patience this summer season.

Expect to see restaurants moving at a much slower pace this holiday weekend as severe labor shortages continue to disrupt the resort town. Many of the town's college student workers have already returned to school.

STAFFING:Ocean City restaurants, bars tapped for fall crowds — with chaser of anxiety

PEOPLE: Meet 'Captain Maryland,' a mallet-wielding and Old Bay-loving superhero

Guests may be faced with longer wait times, limited menus and shorter business hours. To combat this, vacationers might choose to cook at their rental property for breakfast, lunch or dinner, saving money and time.

Lifeguards on reduced staffing

Delaney Humphrey of the Ocean City Beach Patrol works on the beach at 54th Street June 28, 2022, in Ocean City, Maryland.
Delaney Humphrey of the Ocean City Beach Patrol works on the beach at 54th Street June 28, 2022, in Ocean City, Maryland.

Ocean City Beach Patrol continues to guard the beaches, but as lifeguards return to college or high school, lifeguard stands will be further spread apart.

At peak season this year, the Beach Patrol had 178 personnel, with 85 stands deployed between the Ocean City Inlet and the Delaware state line, according to the Ocean City Beach Patrol. In a typical year, staffing ranges from 180 to 200-plus with 91 stands deployed. The number of guards used for extra activities, like camps, were cut this year to keep more stands deployed.

As staffing dwindles in August and September, stands will continue to be placed further apart during Labor Day weekend and through the final day of lifeguards for the 2022 season, on Sept. 25. Weekday and weekend staffing varies. For a daily list of streets where lifeguards are stationed, visit town's website.

BEACH PATROL BEHIND THE SCENES: ‘The greatest adventure’: On watch with lifeguards in Ocean City

Beach Patrol reminds beachgoers to keep their feet in the sand until the lifeguard is in the stand as swimming without a lifeguard puts you at high risk.

Sand and sun safety

When digging a hole, always make sure it is no deeper than the knees of the shortest person in your group.

Sand is unstable and can collapse at any given moment. If someone falls into a hole, they risk being trapped. Collapses have proven to be deadly, as sand weighs about 100 to 112 pounds per cubic foot.

DIGGING: Sand cave-ins can be deadly and happen anywhere. Here's what to know about them

Always remain diligent when walking on the beach, as some beachgoers will dig holes but forget to fill them in. Refilling holes is necessary for the safety of all.

And as you are enjoying those last rays of summer sun, don't forget your sunscreen. A beach umbrella and hat can also help avoid that lobster-red, aloe-craving burn.

BURN: How to take the sting out of a sunburn after a long day at the beach

Parking, bus and tram

Ocean City’s municipal buses traveling along Coastal Highway. Buses will arrive at their stops about every 15 minutes, from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. Bus service will not be available between the hours of 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.

Standard bus fare is $3 per person for a ride-all-day pass. Children 42 inches in height or under, senior resident bus pass holders and ADA Certified Disabled card holders may ride for free.

FUN GUIDE: A to Z guide to Eastern Shore lingo. Talk like a local on your Ocean City vacation

The Boardwalk tram service runs from noon to midnight daily. Tram fare is $4 per person, per boarding, for a one way ride up or down the Boardwalk.

Tram driver and conductor staffing remains limited, however, peak demand hours are mostly being met, according to Ocean City transit.

TRIMPER'S: This artist keeps Trimper's iconic 110-year-old carousel horses in motion

Metered parking is in effect throughout town. Paid parking is also available at the following locations: Inlet Lot, Street and Municipal Lot, and West Ocean City Park-n-Ride. For more information, visit the town's website.

Don't want summer to end?

Ocean City has plenty of events planned for fall:

  • Wine on the Beach: Sept. 9-10

  • OC BikeFest: Sept. 14-18

  • Oceans Calling Festival: Sept. 30-Oct. 3

  • Endless Summer Cruisin': Oct. 6-9

  • Sunfest: Oct. 20-23

  • Shore Craft Beer Fest: Oct. 29

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Ocean City, Md. beach guide for Labor Day weekend 2022