OCEANS CALLING MUSIC FESTIVAL 2024 INFORMATION GUIDE
As we prepare to leave the summer of 2024 behind, it’s time once again to gear up for one last trip to the beach for the season…Oceans Calling Festival! This guide is to provide some last minute tips and info to help everyone feel a little more prepared and ready to have fun.
Where’s the festival? How do I get there?: Ocean City, Maryland at the Inlet beach: 809 South Atlantic Ave, Ocean City, MD 21842. Parking is extremely limited in the area, so try to make use of the West Ocean City Shuttle bus, the local Beach Bus which runs up and down Coastal Highway, rideshare services, or walk or ride a bike if you’re staying anywhere along the boardwalk! Check out the full info on getting to the festival here.
How many stages are there? How will I find my way around?: The layout of the festival is super simple. There are 3 stages: Sea Bright, Rockville, and Carousel. The two largest stages, Sea Bright and Rockville, are on the far ends across the beach from each other, and the Carousel Stage is closest to the Rockville Stage in the paved area that typically serves as the Inlet parking lot. Here’s a map:
When are my favorite bands performing?: Here is the full schedule day by day.
Of course it’s not a festival without some difficult schedule conflicts (like The Beach Boys vs. The All-American Rejects…ouch), but c'est la vie. Can’t wait to run back and forth across the beach on Friday to catch O.A.R, 311, Cage The Elephant, Sublime, and Blink-182 back to back to back to back :)
What am I allowed to bring? What’s the bag policy?: A full list of allowed and prohibited items is available on Oceans Callings website. In terms of bags, clear bags or very small clutch purses and fanny packs are allowed, as well as hydration packs which do not need to be clear. No bags larger than 12”x6”x12” will be allowed.
Are tickets still available?: The festival is fully sold out, however resale tickets may be available as people have last minute changes of plans. The official resale for tickets can be found on Ticket Exchange by Ticketmaster. If you buy from any other third party source or an individual just be very careful and always do your due-diligence to avoid being scammed.
Now for some general tips and advice:
Arrive early. This will allow you to beat some of the traffic both on the road and in the festival entrance lines. There’s a lot to do and see within the festival grounds that is worth getting your money's worth out of your ticket!
Spend some time exploring the boardwalk and rides. The festival grounds are unique compared to other festivals, especially if you’ve never been to Ocean City, because there are local businesses and an amusement park located within the gates of the festival. This includes shops, restaurants, games and rides, giving you plenty to do beyond the music.
Pack your patience or consider leaving before the bitter end. If you’re staying beyond walking distance from the festival and need to rely on buses or ride shares, it may be worth walking away a few minutes early to avoid the massive crowds as everyone leaves at the end of the night. Alternatively, consider grabbing a drink or bite to eat along the boardwalk to wait out the crowds for a while.
Check the weather. What was supposed to be the first year of Oceans Calling in 2022 ended up canceled due to a hurricane, and there was a small bit of rain last year as well, so rain is not out of the norm for this time of year in Ocean City. Keep an eye on the forecast as the days get closer and pack accordingly. Consider packing a poncho or rain jacket even if it looks sunny, just in case.
HAVE FUN!!! Keep an eye on your friends and be aware of your surroundings, but also feel free to live it up: enjoy some yummy food and drinks, dance your heart out and enjoy your weekend to the fullest :) Hope to see you in the pit!