Freebies put on by beach towns are a plus for locals, tourists

It was a hot, summer afternoon. The type of day that makes beachgoers stay in the ocean all day.

Elizabeth Jones, of Philadelphia, was sitting on a bench along the Bethany Beach Boardwalk waiting for her kids and husband to meet her at the beach.

For Jones, there is something beyond the beach that brings the family back to Bethany year after year: free events put on by the town such as movies on the beach and bonfires.

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"We love them," she said. "We always do as many as we can. They give the kids something to do and gives me and my husband a break. The towns do a good job thinking about families and giving us something to do."

Tourists stream to the beach towns in the droves during the summer. Lately, they have been expecting more and more for their experience, and towns have replied in kind by holding these free events.

But, for towns, free events represent so much more than mere activities.

"It strengthens your bonds within the community," said Krys Johnson, communications director for Rehoboth Beach. "You have a bond with your public, your residents, your government officials. You are bringing joy to people. I think in this day in age it is so important. We need that."

These events foster a sense of community pride, she added, with many of the events put on happening year after year.

In Dewey Beach, the Rehoboth-Dewey Chamber of Commerce will put on the events for the town, said chamber executive director Carol Everhart, and have been doing so for seven years.

"You are seeing hundreds of people coming to these every time," she said. "Businesses appreciate them because it keeps the visitors longer."

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In Dewey, Everhart said, the town provides the parking. The chamber does these events, she said, because it promotes business and tourism while fulfilling a civic responsibility.

There's also the bandstands in Bethany and Rehoboth that are popular. 

Ocean City began their free programs during the Great Recession of the late 2000s, said Ocean City communications manager Jessica Waters.

The town started to put on these events to give people added value when they come to Ocean City, she said.

"We consider them to be value added events," Waters added. "We recognize people are saving a lot of money to come here and are spending a lot when they get here, and it's an option for families to do during their stay."

The goal of value added events is not to draw people into town but to give people in town something to do, said Frank Miller, special events director for Ocean City.

"These events are just to give added value," he said. "It's the goodnight kiss."

Ocean City also sees added benefit from their O.C.toberfest, Sunfest and Springfest, Miller said, which draws people in during the shoulder season and adds extra revenue for businesses.

"Events like this are designed to draw people in," Miller said. "These are big events that aren't added value events that do draw people in."

Melanie Pursel, the executive director of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, said these free events are a way for the town to give guests a "thank you for coming."

The towns are always looking to do something new, she said, such as adding fireworks to Sundaes in the Park at Northside Park and the new 100 nights of lights along the Boardwalk.

"We hope that people will share these great experiences as well and leave with a positive image of Ocean City," she said. "It is definitely an investment on the part of the town and in fact some of the area businesses have sponsored certain events such as movies on the beach to ensure that there are a number of events throughout the entire town."

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Ocean City does not put on these events for the economic benefits, Waters said, but she did say it is possible there is an economic benefit to having these free events.

They're not something they expect to get money from, she added, and they are put on solely to enhance the experience for visitors.

"We hope people come back to OC for what they are able to do when they come here," she said. "We hope that they recognize there are a lot of additional options, things to do here that won’t have them reaching into their pocket books during their stay."

Mike Kennedy, of Marriotsville, Maryland, agrees.

He and his family just arrived, but before he got to Bethany he did not hear about the free events put on my towns and they would not impact his decision to go to a beach or not.

"We just like the beach to begin with," he said. "But these free events do provide something for the kids. I think the idea of free events is awesome. I think it adds more value for people on vacation."

Visitors love these events, said Julie Malewski, the events director and media coordinator for Bethany Beach.

The events, which have been going on since "at least 2012," Malewski said, are sponsored completely by the town, and the town tries to work with businesses to attract visitors to the town, even during the shoulder season.

"Bethany used to be a town that shut down with the Jazz Funeral on Labor Day," she added. "But now, because of the efforts to offer more free events during shoulder seasons, it is becoming a year round resort."

However, there are some businesses who find issue with the free events put on by tons, said Kristie Maravalli, the executive director of the Bethany-Fenwick Chamber of Commerce.

These businesses feel as if these events bring people out of their businesses to go to these events, she said, but the matter is split, with some businesses thankful for these events because they bring people into town.

"The visitors — the ones we see here — they love the free events," she said. "Not just because they are free, but because they are great. All of our towns do a great job, but obviously Bethany is our pinnacle town.

"That whole town does a good job catering to a unique experience. It is great to have that type of event for families because one they are free but it it also provides different things to do."

Rehoboth Beach has been doing concerts at their bandstand for decades, Everhart said, and people love them.

But that pales in comparison to everyone's favorite free activity.

"I guess our favorite is going to be Sea Witch, and that is basically a totally free event made possible by our sponsors," she said. "It’s a three-day event now, Friday through Sunday with some events on Thursday night. That particular event is so jammed packed with fun it draws a lot of people. Close to 200,000. It’s like a July 4 weekend. That is our biggest and the one people seem to have day after day after day."

In Rehoboth Beach, Ocean City and Bethany Beach, these events are put on by the town with no outside sponsorship save for Cinema by the Surf — which is sponsored by the Rehoboth Beach Film Society — and movies on the beach in Ocean City — which are held at the Carousel once a week.

People coming back year after year can serve as a revenue boost for the town, Johnson said. The town collects revenue through parking meters, and people shop at the stores in the downtown area.

"It is revenue for communities," she added. "People go to gas stations, they shop. There is a far reaching economy boost for these free events as well."

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