Halloween season is in full swing on the island, the boardwalk is dogs-welcome for one weekend only, and there is construction to plan around downtown, mid-island and in the Gardens. Here is what is happening in Ocean City this week, and what it means if you own a home here.
This weekend: Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24-25
- Dog Days on the boardwalk. Dogs are welcome on the boardwalk from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
- Howl-O-Ween Parade, Saturday. The Humane Society of Ocean City's costume parade for dogs. Registration starts at 2 p.m. at the Sports and Civic Center (6th Street and the Boardwalk), and the parade steps off at 3 p.m.
- Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweep, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Volunteers register online at cleanoceanaction.org and check in at the Music Pier.
- Halloween Costume Skate, Saturday, 4 p.m. to dusk. At the Ocean City Skate Park, 5th Street and Asbury Avenue, with prizes for best costume and best trick.
Coming up
- Halloween House Decorating Contest. Owners can still enter their house: sign up at ocnj.us/halloweenhouse by 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21. Judging is 6 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 22 and 23.
- Halloween Fest at the library, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 6 to 8 p.m. Free, all ages, at the Ocean City Free Public Library, 1735 Simpson Avenue.
- Chamber of Commerce Welcome Night, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 6 to 7:30 p.m. A free event at the Sports and Civic Center. A good one if you are new to town.
- 78th Halloween Parade, Thursday, Oct. 29, 7:15 p.m. Up Asbury Avenue from 6th to 11th Street. Expect downtown parking to fill early.
- Trick-or-treating, Saturday, Oct. 31, 5 to 8 p.m.
- First Night 2027 admission buttons for the New Year's Eve celebration are on sale now.
What owners should know
Boardwalk detour at 14th Street. Reconstruction of the boardwalk between 14th and 16th Streets is under way. If you walk or ride the length of the boardwalk, exit at 14th Street and come back up at 17th. Owners near the work zone should expect construction noise during the day.
Old police headquarters demolition, Central Avenue. Demolition is planned for the week of Oct. 26. The alley will have limited access and the driveways next to the site will be closed while the work is done.
Lane closures at 34th Street. Atlantic City Electric is replacing underground cables at 34th Street and Bay Avenue and along Simpson Avenue near the 34th Street ACME, with lane closures expected until about Thanksgiving. If you head off the island that way, leave a little extra time.
Sewer work in the Gardens. New Jersey American Water is finishing its sewer main replacement in the alleys behind W. Surf, W. Seabright, W. Seaspray and W. Inlet Roads. Alley access may be limited, and water service is interrupted only for the final connections. Concrete and grass will be restored once the trenches settle.
Flood-exposed batteries. The Cape May County Fire Marshal's Office is warning that batteries and rechargeable devices that sat in floodwater, such as e-bikes, scooters, power tools and backup power systems, can be a fire risk even if they look fine. Don't charge them or put them in the trash or recycling; call the Cape May County MUA at 609-465-9026 for disposal guidance. If your shore house took on water, it is worth checking the garage and storage areas.
34th Street Sandcastle Park. The rebuild is on schedule, and the dedicated fence pickets and pavers have been saved to go back into the new park.
The market this week
Our October market report is out: 65 homes sold in Ocean City in the past 30 days, 240 are for sale, and the island has about 4.7 months of supply. See the numbers for your neighborhood, or find out what your home is worth.
Not on the island this week? Check the live beach and boardwalk cams.
Sources: Mayor's Update, Oct. 16, 2026; City of Ocean City Halloween events; Fire Marshal battery warning; Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce events calendar. Times and dates can change, so check with the organizer before you go.