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Memorial Day Weekend Kicks Off Ocean City's Busy Summer Season!

BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- Memorial Day Weekend kicks off Ocean City's busy summer season and with schools now beginning after Labor Day, families get to enjoy it even longer.

Ocean City typically welcomes 6 million visitors a summer.

RELATED: Thousand Of Marylanders Hit The Road For Memorial Day Weekend

Extending the vacation season means a bigger boost in tourism dollars, which is crucial to their bottom line.

Ocean City is the ultimate getaway for families.

"Nice place to come and relax and enjoy the festivities and food," Elebert Garner says.

From the the iconic boardwalk to the sandy shore that extends for miles, it's an annual summer tradition that Ocean City businesses rely on.

"I've been coming here since 1963," Noel Ficarotta says.

"The past couple of years, roughly two, we've been coming here," Hank Rose says.

"I've been coming here since 1961," Betty Walston says.

"This is our time we make it or break it, so we are really looking forward to a great season," says Anna Dolle Bushnell, owner of Dolle's Candyland.

"About 90 percent of our business from now until Labor Day," says Tony's Pizza Server, Denver Kovach.

Loyal customers fuel Ocean City's economy.

Helping places like Tony's Pizza Spot and Dolles, the oldest candy shop on the boardwalk.

Now with schools starting after Labor Day, Ocean City has even more to bank on.

"Helps all the businesses on the boardwalk all hotels all restaurants puts smiles in everyone's faces," says Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan.

An extended vacation calendar gives beach goers at least 100 days to indulge under the sun.

About a quarter million visitors are expected this Memorial Day Weekend, the peak is typically July.

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