Martin Z. Mollusk Day

Ocean City's hermit crab mascot will seek his shadow during the local version of Groundhog Day at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 8th, on the beach next to Music Pier (between Moorlyn Terrace and Ninth Street). Martin Z. Mollusk has been successfully predicting an early summer every year for more than four decades (sometimes, of course, with his operators' creative use of flashlights).

History of Martin Z. Mollusk Day

Each May, Martin Z. Mollusk Day is celebrated in Ocean City, New Jersey, and a family-friendly beach resort city located about 10 miles south of Atlantic City. First celebrated in 1975, the day took place on the first Thursday of May from 1976 to 2015, and has since been celebrated on the first Saturday in May. The date was devised by Mark Soifer - then Ocean City's director of public relations - in part as a way to get media attention for the city, as they didn't have the big budget to do so.

Martin Z. Mollusk is actually a hermit crab, not a mollusk, and he plays a similar role as Punxsutawney Phil did in Groundhog Day. On Martin Z. Mollusk Day, we celebrate to make clear whether Martin can see his shadow. If he does, it means summer will arrive a week early - which is good for business, and that's what everyone in the city is hoping for. As of 2012, Martin had only not seen his full shadow once - in 1985. That year he saw half of his shadow and summer came three and a half days early instead of a full week.

It was celebrated at 9th Street Beach, near the Music Pier, Boardwalk and Moorlyn Terrace. Then, the event developed increasingly. Pomp and Circumstance as Martin Z. Mollusk who is taken to the beach, is played by Ocean City High School Band. Martin Z. Mollusk, Doctor Ernest Frankenstein and the nurses check his blood pressure to make sure his health to make the bull go after his shadow. Trash Buster who is an environmental character checks the beach about its cleanness for Martin. "The World's Only Wind Ringtone Band" was there and they played "Brother Can you spare a Chime." Ocean City Fish was also involved, with Suzanne Muldowney dressing up as the Little Mermaid Shelley. Big Mama Llama that is a llama from Bready Farms in nearby Tuckahoe is also on the beach. If she shakes her head or nods, it shows Martin has seen his shadow. Spectators were given a shell representing a hermit crab as a souvenir. They also sang Martin's theme song, which sounds similar to "Some Enchanted Morning."

How to celebrate Martin Z. Mollusk Day

Celebrate the day by attending the Martin Z. Mollusk Day event at 9th Street Beach! If you can't make it to New Jersey, you can check out some video clips from past events. You can also get yourself a hermit crab. Do not hesitate to bring them to the beach and see whether they can see their shadow or not.