Ocean City, Dewey Beach bars, more will be rocking for New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve and holiday bashes galore are set to take place at beach businesses — and some music venues are also using the end of the year as a time to preview events they have in store for 2026.
Seacrets has trio of big bashes, for Christmas, New Year's Eve and Love on Tap
In Ocean City, Seacrets has a number of major events in the offing. First up is its annual shindig with the very long moniker. This year's edition of the Seacrets & Ocean 98.1 Customer Appreciation Christmas Party will take place at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19.
Music performers include the Fitzkee Brothers, Nelson "Nelly" Emokpae, Howi Spangler, Michael Sky and Slainte Baby. Admission is free, but patrons are asked to bring an unwrapped toy (to be donated to the Toys For Tots charity).
Secrets' New Year's Eve party will also include a whole lot of music Wednesday, Dec. 31. There will be appearances by Full Circle, Garden State Radio, Sky City Social and Radio Stranger in addition to multiple DJs.
The cover charge will start out at $20 at 5 p.m. and jump to $30 at 8 p.m. Those who wish to skip to front of the line can purchase the LineLeap option in advance until Tuesday, Dec. 30.
Last but not least at Seacrets, tickets have gone on sale for the annual Love On Tap: Shore Craft Beer Fest, which will include live music by the group Dancing Elephants. The afternoon festival will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 ($45, $70).
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Ocean City keep big shows coming with Doo Wop Project, Patton Oswalt
Elsewhere in OC, things are also quite busy at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center — and will continue to be all year 'round. First up is the return of Broadway favorite The Doo Wop Project, which will bring its new Echoes of The Street show to the stage at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27. While the three "orchestra" sections up front have sold out, seating remains in the middle and rear of the venue ($39 to $51).
The OC Performing Arts Center has also just announced its first major comedy concert of 2026, which will take place in conjunction with the annual Ocean City Film Festival. Superstar comedian Patton Oswalt will appear at the center at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 5. The show is part of Oswalt's upcoming "Effervescent" tour.
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Bottle & Cork, Rusty Rudder bring New Year's Eve parties to Dewey Beach
In Dewey Beach, the legendary Bottle & Cork nightclub will have a retro-themed New Year's Eve when it presents a reunion by one of its top local draws from way back in the 1990s — the high-energy cover band Mr. Greengenes. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. with music by opening act KleptoRadio to kick off the evening ($90).
The Cork's nearby sister business the Rusty Rudder will host the annual New Year's Eve appearance of its long, long, long-running house band Love Seed Mama Jump at 9 p.m. There will also be performances by Stealing Savanah, the Gab Cinque Band and 3AM Tokyo. The Rudder's outdoor deck will be covered by a tent, and there will be a fireworks display over the bay ($120).
Rehoboth Ale House on the Mile keeps it rocking with two upcoming shows
The Rehoboth Ale House On The Mile, which is actually located just north of Dewey's town limits on Route One, has two nights of rock 'n' roll merriment on tap. First up is The Nutcracker Ball, which will showcase a half-dozen recording and touring artists at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20 ($30). The roster includes Elephants Dancing (6 p.m.), the Ashley LaRue Band (6:45 p.m.), Vana Liya (7:40 p.m.), Damn Skippy (8:35 p.m.), Jarv (9:40 p.m.) and Joey Harkum (10:30 p.m.).
New Year's Eve at the Rehoboth Ale House On the Mile will feature a double bill of rock acts who also write and record their own music. Doors will open at 8 p.m., with music by Kavoosi & The Typos and the Ian Lander Trio at 9 p.m. ($60).
E-mail Roger Hillis at rogerhillis@gmail.com
This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: New Year's Eve parties will be rocking at Ocean City, Dewey Beach bars
