Juneteenth events and Health & Wellness Expo highlight Ocean City weekend

A celebration of the rich history of African-Americans in Ocean City will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday.

The outdoor Juneteenth celebration on Haven Avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets is free to attend and will include music, stand-up comedy, special guest speakers, a gospel power hour, vendors, food trucks and family activities.

At 3 p.m. Sunday, the Ocean City Arts Center will present Karen “Queen Nur” Abdul-Malik in an early celebration and commemoration of Juneteenth in the Chris Maloney Lecture Hall of the Ocean City Public Library, 1735 Simpson Ave.

It is free and open to the public.

Queen Nur is a nationally renowned storyteller, teaching artist and folklorist. 

The Willingboro, Burlington County, woman is one of the five South Jersey recipients of the New Jersey State Council of the Arts’ inaugural Heritage Fellowships.

The program begins with a story honoring ancestors, with Queen Nur telling that story at Elmina Castle in Ghana. 

The journey continues in celebration of resilience and resistance through the “knowing” of the right to freedom that was expressed in the hushes and hollers as coded messages through songs, chants and field hollers. 

The performance renders a powerful story of Henry Box Brown and leads us to the story of the writing of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 2½-year delay in its reaching Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. 

Storytelling is intertwined with African drumming, including a log drum (the first drum made in Africa), slit gongs and cajons.

This program is made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Visit the Ocean City Arts Center website for more information and to reserve your seat, or call 609-399-7628. Visit Queen Nur’s site at queennur.com.

 The annual Health, Fitness & Wellness Expo is set for 8 a.m. to noon Saturday (Photo courtesy of Ocean City)
  

The annual Health, Fitness & Wellness Expo is set for 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Ocean City Music Pier. 

The event features health food, yoga and fitness classes, speakers, vendors, blood pressure screenings, a kids corner and more. 

All are invited to this free event, sponsored by the Ocean City Healthy Living Advisory Council.

The program includes:

• 8 to 8:50 a.m.: Chakra Yoga with Sound Healing

• 9:30 to 10 a.m.: Jiu Jitsu Demo

• 10:15  to 10:45 a.m.: HIIT Class

• 11  to 11:30 a.m.: Athleisure Fashion Show

JUNE 21 –  The Philadelphia Wind Symphony: The 40-plus member Philadelphia Wind Symphony will perform traditional wind band classics to round out their 2023- 2024 season.
Their performance will serve as an official musical celebration to start the summer featuring marches, soloists and entertaining selections for the entire family to enjoy. The concert begins at 8 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets available at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice.

JUNE 22 – Antique Auto Show: More than 300 vintage vehicles will be on display on the Tabernacle grounds (Sixth Street and Asbury Avenue) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. followed by a Boardwalk parade. For more information, visit jerseycape.aaca.com.

JUNE 24 – Let’s Sing Taylor — A Live Band Experience Celebrating Taylor Swift: Two concerts (5 and 7:30 p.m.) at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets available at etix.com. Produced by BRE Presents.

JUNE 25 – Kenny G: The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. Tickets available at etix.com. Produced by BRE Presents.

JUNE 30 – Bernadette Peters Performing with the Ocean City Pops: Peters will join the Pops at the Ocean City Music Pier to kick off the 2024 season. The award-winning actress and singer’s career spans film, television and stage. She won Tony Awards for her roles in the musicals “Annie Get Your Gun” and “Song and Dance,” and she received five other nominations and an honorary award. Four of the cast albums on which she starred have won Grammy Awards. Tickets for this show are sold out.