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H2O International (H2Oi) is a weekend-long car event formerly held on the east coast in Ocean City, Maryland. The event was originally a meet-up for those with Volkswagen and Audi vehicles, but over the years has attracted crowds with many different car makes and models.
After years of speeding violations, accidents, intense noise and disorderly conduct, Ocean City residents and police have worked hard to get the event canceled. Those in charge of the official event have since moved it to Atlantic City, New Jersey, but thousands still gather in Ocean City every year.
Most of the weekend is spent one of two ways: either driving cars down the main strip known as Coastal Highway, or standing on the curb watching them drive by.
It is not unusual to see people at H2Oi dressed in costumes and masks. Here, two bicyclers wear head-to-toe costumes as they ride along Coastal Highway.
Cars stopped at a red light rev their engines while spectators cheer them on and record on their phones,
A group of people dressed as bananas cross Coastal Highway as they chant “I’m a banana!”
Although the event was relocated to Atlantic City in 2018, Ocean City police still brought in back-up from neighboring counties and posted temporary signs with lowered speed limits to let the car fanatics know they weren’t messing around. Many people chose to watch from the sidewalks instead of driving their own cars for fear of getting a ticket.