Ocean City celebrating the 25th Annual Springfest Arts and Crafts Festival

Ocean City celebrates the start of the season with the 25th Annual production of Springfest, Mother’s Day weekend, May 7-10, 2015. Families looking to make Mom’s day with a trip to Ocean City can enjoy the amenities of Springfest, rated #5 Arts and Crafts Show in the United States, and take in the sites and shops along the historic boardwalk and beach. The event features over 250 vendors selling arts and crafts and visitors should also bring their appetite, as the vendor list includes 30 food vendors serving a variety of delicious offerings, from famous Eastern Shore delicacies to a wide assortment of ethnic food.

A variety of live entertainment on two stages provides music all day long with anchoring headline acts. Springfest is located in the Inlet Lot at the south end of Ocean City’s famous Boardwalk. Springfest is fun for people of all ages and admission to the four-day event is free, including all entertainment, with the exception of the headline acts.

Country music’s legendary recording artist, Vince Gill will perform to a sold-out audience Friday night in Springfest’s Entertainment Pavilion. He has been honored by the Country Music Association with 18 CMA Awards, including two Entertainer of the Year awards and five Male Vocalist Awards. Gill has also earned 20 Grammy Awards, more than any other male country music artist. Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Gill has recorded more than 20 studio albums, charted over 40 singles on the U.S. Billboard charts and has sold more than 26 million albums.

On Saturday night, rock legends Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will perform. Benatar has always been a trail-blazer and now graces the stage as a living legend with more than three decades in rock ‘n’ roll. In 1979, Benatar was introduced to Giraldo leading to a winning partnership in music and, in 1982, in marriage. Together, with Benatar as vocal lead and Giraldo on guitar, keyboards and often as producer, they achieved two Multi-Platinum albums, five Platinum albums, three Gold albums and 19 Top 40 singles, including the Top 10 hits, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”, “Love Is a Battlefield”, “We Belong” and “Invincible”. During the early days of MTV, Benatar was one of the most heavily played artists on the popular music channel. Her hits continue to be as unforgettable now as they were at the dawn of MTV.

Also at Springfest, Beatlemania Again! will perform Thursday night at 7 p.m., with every song performed live. The production features three amazing costume changes throughout the show, which takes you on a musical journey. “Meet The Beatles” starts the show with The Beatles arrival in America early 1964. Watch as Beatlemania Again magically transforms into “Sgt. Pepper” during the psychedelic years. Finally, experience the excitement of the last chapter of the Beatles career with “Get Back”. For only $10 to $15, you can witness “the second invasion.” Tickets will be available on the festival grounds at the Entertainment Pavilion ticket booth.

Don’t miss your chance to purchase tickets early for the Sunfest headlining acts. Tony Orlando takes the stage Thursday, September 24, 2015. Wynonna and the Big Noise bring live country back to the beach Friday, September 25, 2015. Sunfest turns up the volume Saturday, September 26, 2015 with the back to back performances by the Spin Doctors and Gin Blossoms. All ticketed Sunfest shows begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the Springfest Entertainment Pavilion ticket booth.

Since parking in the downtown area is limited, the Town of Ocean City will offer shuttle bus service to and from the West Ocean City Park and Ride on Route 50 beginning at 6 a.m. Thursday, May 7 and operating throughout the event, May 7-10. When the Ocean City Park and Ride service is not available, Shore Transit will provide service to and from both the Park and Ride and the South End Transit Station. For more information about the West Ocean City Park and Ride service, call the Ocean City Transportation Department at 410-723-1606.

Hours are Thursday – Saturday 10:00am – 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 25th Anniversary fireworks will take place Saturday evening following the concert pending weather with Sunday evening as a rain date. For more information about Springfest 2015, call the Ocean City Recreation & Parks Department at 410-250-0125, or toll-free 1-800-626-2326.