Angels in Oilskins Festival

This event is FREE to attend

The Museum Society invites you to celebrate a monumental double anniversary: the United States’ historic 250th anniversary and the U.S. Coast Guard’s 236 years of service! Join us at the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum for a day packed with history, music, and hands-on fun for the whole family.

Inside the Museum: A Living History Tour

Step inside the Life-Saving Station for a special, curated tour highlighting the nation’s earliest forms of marine rescue. As you explore, each room will come alive with unique, interactive lessons:

• Historic Medicine: Discover the medical tools and treatments used during the early life-saving service.

• Surfmen Life: Learn about the daily lives of the surfmen—from the food they ate to the unique crafts they created during their downtime.

Outside on the Boardwalk: Demonstrations & Activities

Step out onto the Boardwalk, where our wonderful museum partners are bringing the celebration to life with live music, interactive demonstrations, and hands-on activities!

• Live Music & Sea Shanties: Sing along to maritime history with live music by The Jolly Tars.

• Maritime & Rescue History:

  • Navy Nurse Presentation: Dive deeper into the history of military medicine.

  • Indian River Life-Saving Station: Explore the fascinating history of coastal rescue.

  • Zwaanendael Museum: Watch a fascinating demonstration on lighthouse erosion.

• Hands-On Crafts & Skills:

  • U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary: Master the ropes and learn how to tie authentic nautical knots.

  • The Ward Foundation: Watch expert decoy carving demonstrations.

  • Rackliffe House & the Julia A. Purnell Museum: Watch a live spinning demonstration.

  • Taylor House: Check out historic 1830s rag rugs and locally made quilts, then let the kids weave their own mug-coaster rug or create a felt quilt square to take home!

• Animals & Family Fun:

  • Colonial Newfoundland Rescue: Come meet and greet adorable, heroic rescue dogs.

  • Saltwater Mini Farm: Meet live farm animals!

• Books, Media & Local Flavor:

  • Author Corinee Schultheis: Discover her local books and beautiful sea glass.

  • Beach to Bay: Catch live interviews happening throughout the event.

  • Harrison’s Harbor Watch: Stop by the Beach Soup and Oyster Bar for a taste of local (and historic) coastal flavor!