Oceans Calling returns to the Ocean City Boardwalk this Friday through Sunday for its third year, with Dave Matthews Band, Twenty One Pilots and Mumford & Sons headlining a lineup of more than 40 acts across three stages built into the sand near the Inlet.
The festival runs Sept. 25-27 on the beach south of the Boardwalk’s North Division Street line, the same footprint it’s used since debuting in 2024. Each day is built around two headliners, with a full slate of supporting acts spanning rock, alternative, folk and hip-hop.
Friday, Sept. 25: Dave Matthews Band headlines alongside Hootie & the Blowfish, with Ludacris, O.A.R., Liz Phair, Yellowcard, Shaggy, Everlast, Gavin DeGraw, Better Than Ezra, KT Tunstall and others rounding out the day.
Saturday, Sept. 26: Twenty One Pilots and Gwen Stefani top the bill, backed by Goo Goo Dolls, Third Eye Blind, All-Time Low, 311, Violent Femmes, Dashboard Confessional, Everclear and Corinne Bailey Rae.
Sunday, Sept. 27: Mumford & Sons and Matchbox Twenty close out the weekend, joined by My Morning Jacket, CAAMP, The Head and the Heart, Hanson, Jet and OK Go.
It’s a lineup the Chronicle first reported in March, when organizers opened presale tickets across GA+, VIP, Platinum and Ultimate tiers. Beyond the music, this year’s festival again features celebrity chef appearances from Robert Irvine and Antonia Lofaso, hosting duties from actor Jason Biggs, and access to the rides at Jolly Roger at the Pier for ticket holders looking for a break between sets.
Getting there means planning around the same logistics that have applied in past years: there’s no on-site parking south of North Division Street, so organizers are again directing attendees to shuttle from the West Ocean City Park and Ride, the Ocean City Convention Center or the 100th Street Municipal Lot, with beach buses running express service along Coastal Highway for a standard $4 all-day fare.
Weather-wise, festivalgoers should plan for a damp start. Friday is carrying roughly a 65% chance of rain with a high near 66 degrees, so ponchos or layers are worth packing for opening day. The outlook clears up fast from there — Saturday is shaping up dry with a high near 68, and Sunday looks mostly clear as well, with only a slim 10% chance of rain. None of that is expected to threaten the schedule; it’s the kind of pop-up coastal shower that organizers and past attendees have shrugged off before; the festival pushed through rain during its 2024 debut without major disruption. Worth watching regardless, since Boardwalk weather can shift quickly this close to the water — check the festival’s own alerts if Friday’s forecast holds closer to showtime.
This Southern Maryland Chronicle coverage of Oceans Calling and Country Calling is supported by Coast 2 Coast RV Rental, a family-run RV rental company offering a variety of campers for families, festivals, vacations and campground stays. Learn more or browse available rentals at Coast2CoastRVRental.com
