By the Stainton’s Team | Published July 1, 2025 | Ocean City, NJ
This isn’t just any Fourth of July. This year, America turns 250 years old, and honestly, we can’t think of a better place to be for it. Grab a water ice, shake the sand out of your flip flops, and just… be here. OC has a way of feeling like home the second you cross the bridge, and this summer (with 250 years of this country’s story behind us) that feeling hits a little differently.
Close your eyes for a second. Can you smell it? That perfect cocktail of sunscreen, saltwater, and Kohr Brothers soft serve drifting down the Boardwalk. The sound of waves, the thump of footsteps on wooden planks, kids laughing, a string band warming up somewhere in the distance. That’s OCNJ in July. It is absolutely magical.
Whether you’re a lifelong local, a summer regular, or making your first trip down the shore for the holiday, we’ve got you covered. In this post, the Stainton’s team is sharing our favorite patriotic picks to shop right now plus some insider tips for making the most of the 4th of July weekend in Ocean City. Let’s get into it!
Shop Red, White & Blue: Our Patriotic Gift Roundup
If you haven’t made it into Stainton’s yet this summer, the 4th of July weekend is a great excuse. We’re home to a bunch of local small businesses, all under one roof. On the clothing side you’ve got brands like East Coast Club, Gnarly Barnacles, and Sindia Trading Co. We also carry original work from local artists like Candace’s Canvasses and Bogy, and boutiques like Surf Cottage, Making Waves, Klothes Kove, and The Teal Tail. A lot of what we carry you genuinely won’t find anywhere else in OC.
We’ve also got a good mix of home and decor vendors like The Cricket Box, Mulberry Designs, and Woodcraft Creek; if you’re looking for something for your shore house or a gift to bring home. Come browse, say hi, and see what catches your eye. And while you’re planning your weekend, check out our events calendar on the Stainton’s site to see what’s going on around town.
☀️ OC Insider Tips: Summer Favorites from the Stainton’s Team
We spend our summers right here in Ocean City, and over the years we’ve figured out a thing or two about how to do a shore day right. Here’s what our team is personally recommending this 4th of July weekend, straight from us to you.
| 🍳 Breakfast First OCNJ has no shortage of great breakfast spots. Jon & Patty’s, Hooked on Breakfast, Ready’s, and Augie’s are just a few of the options around town, and honestly there are plenty more worth exploring. Grab a table somewhere, ease into the morning, and you’ll be set for the day. |
| ☕ Coffee Covered OC has a solid coffee scene no matter where you’re starting your day. Ocean City Coffee Company on the Boardwalk is an easy grab-and-go. Holiday, Swell Cafe, and Positively 4th Street are all great options around town. And if you haven’t heard yet, Landmark Cafe just opened on Asbury Ave and is already worth a visit. Lots of good choices out there. |
| 🌊 Get Out & Explore: OCNJ Has It All There is genuinely so much to do here. Mini golf on the Boardwalk is a must, Playland rides are great if you’ve got kids (or just feel like it), and the arcades are a solid backup on a cloudy afternoon. If you want to get out on the water, surfboard rentals, fishing, and kayaking the bay are all easy to find. And if you’re up early, a morning beach walk before the crowds show up is hard to beat. The shorebirds are out, the light is good, and it’s a completely different OC than you see at noon. |
| 🎆 Don’t Miss These 4th of July Weekend Events! Ocean City is going all out for America’s 250th, and the event lineup this weekend is seriously something special. Here’s what we’re most excited about: Friday, July 3 — Mummers Night on the Boardwalk String bands between 6th and 14th Street, 7-9 PM. Free! Saturday, July 4 — Kite Flying Competition Near the Music Pier at 7 PM. Saturday, July 4 — Ocean City Pops Free Outdoor Concert and Patriotic Drone Show 8 PM at Carey Stadium (6th and Boardwalk). Free admission followed by a patriotic drone show. Saturday, July 4 — Fireworks 9 PM, launched from a barge off 9th Street beach. Best views from the beach or Boardwalk between 5th and 14th Street. Every Monday, July 6 through Aug 17 — America 250: Lights Over Ocean City Drone Show A free 15-minute patriotic drone show after dusk, south of 6th Street beach. The “America 250: Lights Over Ocean City” drone show running every Monday through August 17th is something we’re especially excited about. It’s the kind of thing you’ll be talking about for years. Free, stunning, and right here in our backyard. What a summer to be in Ocean City. For the full schedule of events across the weekend, head over to our events page on the Stainton’s site. It’s your best friend for planning every minute of your holiday visit. |
Happy 4th of July from All of Us at Stainton’s!
Before the fireworks light up the sky over 9th Street beach, swing by Stainton’s and pick up your red, white, and blue favorites. We’re here, we’re stocked, and we’d love to see you. From our Stainton’s family to yours, we wish you a safe, joyful, and utterly spectacular Fourth of July. Here’s to 250 years, and to celebrating them right here on the greatest shore in America.
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