OCEAN CITY, Md. - It's a festival that has been plagued by weather.
Last year, the first Oceans Calling Music Festival was cancelled because of the remnants of Hurricane "Ian."
A storm last weekend, followed by windy conditions this week pushed set up crews behind in schedule.
But, as thousands descended on Ocean City Friday morning, all breathed a sigh of relief as the gates opened on time at noon sharp.
They came from places near and far, from as close as Delmarva and Maryland, to as far away as Michigan and South Carolina and beyond.
Visitors said the festival's diverse lineup attracted them.
"A lot of throwbacks from the 90s that I think everybody enjoys," said Missy Shade, visiting from Berks County, Pa. "Every single day there's somebody different. And it's just nice to be at the beach in the fall."
The Oceans Calling Festival is an event crafted to have something for everyone, and bridge gaps in generations through music, bringing families closer together.
"We love Alanis!," shouted Mandy and her daughter Molly Reeder, visiting from Calvert County, Md. "She's my favorite. It's a family thing. This is my third time seeing her, and it'll be my kid's first time," Mandy said.
For a few visitors, the festival offered a nostalgia for what is for some a younger and more carefree stage in life.
"We just thought we'd come down and enjoy it, so. Literally every band that reminds us of college," said Rebecca and Brayden Gruchow, visiting from Grand Rapids, Mich.
In Greek mythology, the Sirens lured sailors to danger with their song, just one example of a long and complex cultural history connecting music and the ocean.
But the siren song of Ocean City this weekend, sung by names such as John Mayer, Jack Johnson, and OAR, calls sailors and more not to danger, but to family fun.
"I'm kind of a foodie, so the food in Ocean City is always a good time, and you know, getting to spend some quality with good people is always good," said Brandon Tufillaro, visiting from Elmira, N.Y.
And before the gates even opened, some visitors were already planning for Oceans Calling 2024.
"I definitely want to come back for next year's Oceans Calling," Tufillaro said. "We come down every year for vacation anyway, so we love Ocean City and always ready to come down."
And thus we commence what is hoped to be a new family tradition on the boardwalk in Ocean City.
