Sunfest has been selected as 2012 Free State’s Finest Best Festival in the Lower Eastern Shore region of Maryland

Ocean City, MD – Readers of Maryland Life Magazine have selected Ocean City’s annual Sunfest as the 2012 Free State’s Finest Best Fest Festival in the Lower Eastern Shore region of Maryland.

“We are very pleased to receive this honor from the readers of Maryland Life Magazine,” said Tom Shuster, Ocean City Recreation and Parks Director. “Our staff and all of the town’s departments work very hard to make Sunfest the great festival it has become and we are looking forward to this year’s event being better than ever.”

Ocean City’s 38th annual Sunfest takes over the Inlet Lot and beach Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 20-23 as the Town kicks off its “second season” with four days of music, food, arts, crafts and just plain fun. Admission to Sunfest is free.

Also rated by Sunshine Artist, “America’s Premier Show and Festival Magazine,” the number one tradition art and craft show in the nation, Sunfest features over 180 crafters, along with live music, hayrides on the beach and a wide and delicious offering of food.

Opening day on Thursday, Sept. 20 begins with a parade down the Boardwalk beginning at 9:30 a.m. at 12th St. and the Beach Plaza Hotel and ending at the festival grounds with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m.

Live entertainment plays throughout the event. All entertainment is free with the exception of evening headline shows.

Sha Na Na will perform on Thursday. Sha Na Na has successfully celebrated the nostalgia of rock and roll music for the past four decades– in concert, in the movies, on television and on records. Tickets for Sha Na Na’s Sunfest performance are $15 to $25.
Lonestar will take the stage on Friday. The band has reunited with original lead singer Richie McDonald and is touring and recording a new album in 2012 to mark the group’s 20th anniversary. The Texas-bred band, known for merging their country roots with strong melodies and rich vocals, has achieved 10 number-one country hits including “My Front Porch Looking In,” “Mr. Mom” and “I’m Already There.” Tickets are $20 to $45.

Bret Michaels appears Saturday. Michaels first rose to fame as the front man of the band Poison. The band charted 10 singles in the Top 40 including the number-one single “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.” Michaels’ solo career has been equally successful. His solo album “Custom Built” topped the charts. He competed on the Donald Trump NBC hit “Celebrity Apprentice,” and went on to “Trump” the competition with his Trop-A-Rocka Snapple drink. Tickets for Bret Michaels’ Sunfest concert are $25 to $55.

Tickets for all three shows are on sale at the Ocean City Convention Center Box Office on 40th St. Box office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets will also be available on site during Sunfest, or at www.ticketmaster.com , 800-551-7328.

For more information about Sunfest 2012, visit www.ococean.com or call 800-626-2326.