Holiday weekend festivities begin early in Ocean City, New Jersey

OCEAN CITY, New Jersey (WPVI) -- Crowds packed the beach and boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey Sunday for the Fourth of July weekend.

Laura McLaughlin of West Chester went down the shore with her twin daughters and husband. She says the crowds are the most she's seen down there since pre-pandemic days.

"It's definitely more crowded than in previous years. Even in town, driving around, it's definitely crowded. A lot more people looking

to get out of the house," said McLaughlin.

Lifeguards in Ocean City kept a close eye on swimmers.

Swimmers told Action News while the water was cold and the waves were a little choppy, there were no major rip currents to report.

"The weather is perfect, not too hot, not too cold," said Heaven Allen of Lawnside, N.J.

Many experts say this Fourth of July will likely be the heaviest travel holiday since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many experts say this Fourth of July will likely be the heaviest travel holiday since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beachgoers were already making their way to Ocean City, New Jersey, days before July 4.

Drone 6 showed the crowds of people from above in Ocean City for the holiday weekend.

Down below, little ones were making sand castles with their siblings.

"I was helping my sibling make a sand castle, so I went over there, I got the water, and I got the wet sand. I built it over here," said Hershane Jones from Philadelphia.

After a few unconventional years because of the pandemic, people are back who have been coming all their lives.