Ocean City, Maryland – Ocean City became a vibrant music hub in late September and early October 2025, hosting two major festivals that brought tens of thousands of visitors and significant economic benefits. The Oceans Calling Festival ran from September 26 to 28, attracting approximately 55,000 attendees daily, which totaled over 160,000 people over three days. The festival featured 43 bands, headlined by acts like Green Day, Lenny Kravitz, Fall Out Boy, and Noah Kahan, performing on three stages along the beach and boardwalk. Despite a rainy second day, festival-goers enjoyed a smoother experience thanks to improvements such as better stage placement, additional restrooms, relocated food vendors, and a new beach sidewalk. Water taxi services also played a role, ferrying more than 1,000 attendees during the event.
Following Oceans Calling, the Country Calling Festival took over Ocean City from October 3 to 5, showcasing top country music stars including Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, and Brooks & Dunn. This three-day festival maintained similarly high attendance, with ticket sales surpassing 50,000 per day, continuing the city’s momentum as a premier festival destination.
Together, these two festivals are estimated to have generated around $300 million to $325 million in local economic activity. This figure includes revenue from room taxes, sales taxes, food taxes, and spending at hotels, restaurants, and shops. Local business owners expressed enthusiasm for the influx of visitors who helped extend the tourism season into October, providing a vital boost to the community’s economy.
On the safety front, Ocean City police reported a limited number of incidents despite the large crowds. The event organizers hired on-site medical teams and security personnel, allowing city law enforcement to focus primarily on traffic management and emergency access. Only one major injury necessitating a medical flight was recorded during the two weekends, underscoring the overall well-managed security and public safety efforts.
City officials and festival organizers are encouraged by the successful turnout and economic impact, aiming to continue these festivals annually as a key part of Ocean City’s tourism and cultural calendar.
Photo submitted by: K. Moss