It’s not too early to plan your holiday getaway to the Jersey Cape. The spirit of Christmas comes early to your favorite beach towns beginning in the nation’s oldest seaside resort of Cape May and ending in Ocean City with a First Night celebration. Santa plans a quick getaway to the Jersey Cape to enjoy holiday season activities in Cape May, The Wildwoods, Stone Harbor, Avalon, Sea Isle City, and Ocean City, beginning Nov. 18. Check out the holiday activities below and make your Jersey Cape holiday getaway plans now. www.escapetothejerseycape.com.
AVALON
Festival of Trees: Nov. 18-26: Avalon. Thanksgiving festivities begin with the start of the Festival of Trees. Starting Friday, Nov. 18, shoppers can cross off items on their Christmas list while visiting stores throughout town. While in stores, you’ll see a variety of beautifully decorated trees and wreaths of varying themes for you to bid on! Bidders can preview and place bids online or via mobile app throughout the length of the event. Afraid you’ll be outbid? No problem! Participants will receive notice of bidding competition with a chance to raise their bids to win the Christmas tree or wreath for the holiday season. Bidding will run through Saturday afternoon, Nov. 26, and mobile app bidders will be alerted of their winnings at 2pm. www.visitavalonnj.com
Festive Friday: Nov. 25: Avalon. Thanksgiving is over, now it’s time to get festive! Stroll Dune Drive while shopping in the many stores and boutiques and enjoy live music and children’s performances throughout the day. www.visitavalonnj.com
Snowfest Saturday: Nov. 26: Avalon. Throughout the shopping district in Avalon. Make plans to return to Avalon through Saturday for great shopping specials and more live music, performances, and children’s activities throughout town. www.visitavalonnj.com.
CAPE MAY
Cape May’s Holiday Season: Cape May. Six weeks (Nov. 18-Jan. 1, 2023)
The holidays always come early to this seaside town famous for gingerbread, gaslights and Victorian hospitality, beginning with Holiday Preview Weekend (Nov. 18-20). Sip wassail, hop aboard a holiday themed trolley tour, take tea with Mrs. Claus or stop by the Physick Estate, lavishly decorated in true Victorian style. Learn more about the holiday traditions of the Victorian era of the 1890s, experience a Dickens Christmas extravaganza, a Lamplighter Christmas Tours, Ghosts of Christmas Past Trolley Rides or the annual Christmas Candlelight House Tours (Dec. 3, 10, 17) Enjoy food and wine events, craft fairs and so much more for the merriest of holiday seasons. Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts. 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278;
In between there are performances at Cape May Stage featuring One Christmas Carol beginning Nov. 16 and running through Dec. 30. www.capemaystage.org and the East Lynne Theater Company presenting Christmas Presents from the Past beginning Nov. 25. www.eastlynnetheater.org
OCEAN CITY:
“Earlier Than The Bird” Downtown Shopping Extravaganza: Nov. 19: Get out earlier than the bird and jump start your holiday shopping the weekend before Thanksgiving. Shop in your pajamas for early bird shopping specials. 8 a.m. to Noon. www.oceancityvacation.com.
Free Horse and Carriage Rides: Nov. 19-20, 25-27, Dec. 3-4, 10-11, 17-18: The Asbury shopping district becomes a “Miracle on Asbury Avenue” celebrating the holiday with beautifully decorated shops and special holiday offers, free horse and carriage rides throughout the downtown, photos with Santa Claus and much more. For more information call 800-BEACH-NJ. www.oceancityvacation.com.
SEA ISLE CITY:
Holiday Parade & Mayor’s Tree Lighting: Nov. 25: Santa Claus is coming to town! Kick-off the holiday season with a parade beginning at 6 p.m. at 31st St. and Central Ave. and following a route along Central and Landis Aves. Fire engines, costumed characters and Saint Nick on a holiday float will highlight the parade. Immediately following, don’t miss the tree lighting ceremony and other festivities will happen at Excursion Park. Holiday events in December in Sea Isle City include Santa’s Calling, a Holiday Lighting Contest, Brunch with Santa, a live nativity event and New Year’s Eve fireworks. For more information on all the holiday activities, 609-263-8687 or visit. www.visitsicnj.com.
STONE HARBOR:
Stone Harbor Holiday Weekend: Nov. 25-26: Bring the family to Santa’s summer home and enjoy a variety of activities to celebrate the holidays including a Holiday Market, Pet Parade, Tree Lighting, Hospitality Night, Kids’ Downtown Holiday Dash, and a Caroling event. Stone Harbor’s Christmas Parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 26 and travel along Third Ave. from 107th Street, right onto 96th Street to Second Ave. www.stoneharbornj.org.
THE WILDWOODS:
Family Holiday Celebration & Tree Lighting: Nov. 19 - Dec.31. Enjoy five weekends of family fun in the Wildwoods. Friends, family, and holiday cheer, make Christmas the most wonderful time of the year! Celebrate in the Wildwoods this winter season and experience the magic of the holidays. There is plenty of entertainment and activities to help create family memories including, a Shopping Village, bonfires, parades, light shows, craft fairs, tree lightings, visits with Mr. and Mrs. Claus and so much more. For more information call 609-729-9000 or www.WildwoodHoliday.com.