Leap into a new calendar month after — you guessed it! — leap day.

Here's everything you need to know about the science behind leap years, when this year's leap day will occur and how to spend the upcoming leap day on the Eastern Shore.

What and when is leap day?

A leap day is the extra day added to a leap year, and occurs at the very end of the shortest month — February. The month of February normally spans 28 days. Hence, leap days, when they come, fall on Feb. 29.

This year, leap day falls on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024.

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How often do leap years occur?

Leap years typically occur once every four years, and have a total of 366 days, rather than 365.

However, there are exceptions to the leap year rule. Leap years take place every four years if the year is evenly divisible by 4, is also evenly divisible by 400 and is not evenly divisible by 100.

The extra day — leap day — helps calendars catch up with Earth’s rotation around the sun. The 366th day puts the 365-day Gregorian calendar back into sync with Earth’s orbit, which amounts to 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds, or 364.2422 days, reported USA Today.

Essentially, leap years ensure that the 12-month calendar matches up with the seasons.

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When is the next leap year?

The last leap year was 2020. This year, 2024, is also a leap year.

The next five leap years will occur in 2028, 2032, 2036, 2040 and 2044.

How to spend your leap day on the Eastern Shore

This upcoming leap day, indulge in an array of activities in Ocean City, Maryland. Here's a look at what special deals and shows are being dished out in the popular resort town on Feb. 29:

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Wheel of Fortune LIVE:

Wheel of Fortune LIVE — America’s game show — is headed to Ocean City on Feb. 29, just in time for leap day. The interactive game show will take place at the resort town's Roland E. Powell Convention Center, located at 4001 Coastal Highway, at 7 p.m.

Contestants are randomly selected from the audience to join the host on stage and spin a replica of the iconic Wheel, solve puzzles and win prizes such as trips to Hawaii, or cash prizes of up to $10,000. Audience members can join in on the fun with games and puzzles.

Opposite Directions:

Spend the evening portion of your leap day at Seacrets, jamming out to acoustic rock duo Opposite Directions. The band is comprised of Darin Engh on vocals, acoustic guitar, bass, keyboard and harmonica and Bob Wilkinson on vocals, acoustic guitar, bass and harmonica.

Opposite Directions was formed in 1986. Since then, the band has played up and down the East coast, from Maine to Florida, and as far out West as Colorado and Wyoming. The band's upcoming performance will take place from 5-9 p.m. at Seacret's Tiki Stage.

Marlin Moon Restaurant:

Local foodies can spend their leap day in style at Ocean City's very own Marlin Moon Restaurant. The seafood restaurant, celebrating the "extra day to save and extra day to savor," is offering one-day-only Feb. 29 food and drink specials for just $29.

Marlin Moon Restaurant is located at 3301 Atlantic Ave. in DoubleTree by Hilton Ocean City Oceanfront. This leap day, foodies can order Freddie's Seafood Pasta for $29 before washing it down with a bottle of SeaGlass wine — also for only $29.

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Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: You get an extra 24 hours in 2024: How to spend Leap Day in Ocean City