Cape May County is perhaps at its best in the fall. Beach days transition into cool flannel nights, and the festival season officially begins as Labor Day rings in the end of the summer tourist season. Summer might be over, but some of the year’s best events happen in the Fall. Check out our guide to upcoming Fall festivals around Cape May County.
List is in order by date.
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West Cape May Tomato Festival
Saturday, September 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Backyard Park, 732 Broadway
We will celebrate all things tomato at our themed festival! Proceeds from the event benefit the WCM Shade Tree Commission in its endeavor to protect and improve the tree canopy of West Cape May. Come on out and share in the spirit of community. We look forward to celebrating the state’s well-known fruit with you in September!
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Wildwoods End-of-Summer Block Party
Sunday, September 4 from 1 to 10 p.m.
Fox Park on Ocean Ave
Enjoy free music, entertainment, food vendors, craft vendors and more as we say goodbye to another great summer here in Wildwood. For additional information about the festival call 609.522.5837 or visit www.WildwoodNJ.org.
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Firemen’s Convention & Parade
Friday and Saturday, September 16 and 17
Wildwoods Convention Center parking lots
Firetrucks and fire apparatus from around the state will be displayed in the Wildwoods Convention Center parking lots on Friday, September 16 from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday, September 17 from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Five Mile Beach Volunteer Firemen’s Association will also present an expo of fire equipment and vendors of fire related products.
The Firefighter’s Parade will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. along New Jersey Avenue, from Cresse Avenue in Wildwood Crest, proceeding north to 26th Avenue in North Wildwood.
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Sea Isle Fall Family Festival
Saturday, September 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sea Isle Promenade
The festival will begin with a Seaside Vendor Craft Market along the oceanfront Promenade. The popular Fall Family Festival Food Court will be open in front of Excursion Park, located at JFK Boulevard and Pleasure Avenue, where a tempting selection of local delicacies and traditional festival-fare will be on sale.
Meanwhile, inside Excursion Park, festival-goers will enjoy live music and a variety of free family activities. We will once again have free amusement rides from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Migration Festival
CANCELED DUE TO STAFFING SHORTAGES
The Wetlands Institute, 1075 Stone Harbor Blvd.,
At The Wetlands Institute, fall is an especially good time to experience the changing of seasons and the spectacle of migration of raptors, warblers, waterfowl, and more. The Wetlands Institute will host its annual Fall Migration Festival with hands-on nature activities, crafts, guided tours, and more.
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Ocean City Airport Festival
Saturday, September 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
26th and Bay Ave, Ocean City
The annual festival, hosted at the Municipal Airport, includes a ground display of unusual airplanes ranging from World War II Planes to Classics and Warbirds. The event will feature a parachute jump from Team Fastrax.
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Harvest Brew Fest
Saturday, September 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street
Enjoy craft beers and celebrate South Jersey during this all-day festival that celebrates all things local! Enjoy local food vendors, local artisans, local craft beers and local musical talent.
This event is FREE to attend. Varying costs for food, beer, and crafts vendors.
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Boots at the Beach County Music Festival
September 16 – 18
New Jersey Ave, North Wildwood Entertainment District
The popular festival features live country music and everything country: vendors, dancing, crafts and food. Admission to the festival is FREE! FOr a list of bands, visit BootsAtTheBeach.com
Friday: Noon – 10 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Wildwood Fall Classic Car Show
September 22 – 25
Pacific Ave and Wildwoods Convention Center
The Fall Classic Car Show 2022 will take place in Downtown Wildwood on Pacific Avenue and the Wildwoods Convention Center on September 22nd – 25th. More details will be coming soon! For more information call 609.778.7887 or wildwoodcarshows.net
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Irish Fall Festival
September 23 – 25 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
New Jersey Ave in North Wildwood
The popular, and usually very crowded, Irish Festival returns. Street vendors will display their Irish memorabilia, and food vendors will offer a variety of Irish and non-Irish treats. On Friday and Saturday there will be free live entertainment continuously from noon until 8:30 p.m.
Sunday at 12:30 p.m., the parade begins at 20th and Surf Avenues and will continue to Spruce and Olde New Jersey Avenues.
Visit CMCAOH.com for a detailed schedule of events.
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Cape May Oktoberfest
Saturday, September 24 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Jackson St, Carpenter Lane and Beach Ave, Cape May
Come celebrate a day full of fun, music, German food and plenty of Beverages!
Stroll Along Jackson Street, Carpenter Lane and part of Decatur Street and take time to browse the artisans selling crafts, unique gifts, antiques & collectibles
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Seafarer’s Celebration
Saturday, September 24 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
New Jersey Avenue between Rambler Road and Miami Avenue, Wildwood Crest
Dozens of crafters and food vendors, family entertainment, live music, children’s
activities and much more overlooking beautiful Sunset Lake. Event moves to
Centennial Park (Fern Road & Ocean Avenue) for live music at 7:30 p.m., followed
by spectacular beachfront fireworks at 9 p.m. FREE. Info: 609-523-0202
or www.wildwoodcrest.org.
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Savor September Beer, Wine and Food Festival
Saturday, September 24 from 12 to 8 p.m.
96th Street, Stone Harbor
Savor the gorgeous fall weather and the last remnants of summer with Stone Harbor’s annual Savor September Festival! Take a stroll down 96th Street and enjoy a wide variety of offerings from local wineries and breweries, live music, art, food vendors, and much more!
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Upper Township Fall Festival
Sunday, October 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Amanda’s Field, 1091 NJ-50, Woodbine
Come join Upper Township for family fun! There will be food trucks, free laser tag, and fun fall activities. –
Middle Township “Olde Tyme” Fall Festival
Saturday, October 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Downtown Court House on Mechanic Street
The popular festival returns! Rides, entertainment, food, and activities come to downtown Court House. There will be a costume contest for pets and kids. For more info, call Middle Township Special Events at 609-465-8728
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Wildwood Olde Time Italian Festival
Friday and Saturday, September 30 to October 1
Fox Park in Wildwood
Celebrate Italian culture and heritage at Fox Park on Ocean Avenue between Burk and Montgomery Avenues in Wildwood on Friday, September 30 from 5-11 p.m., and on Saturday, October 1 from noon – 11 p.m. for the 16th Annual Olde Time Italian Festival. Come experience an ‘Olde World’ family festival including a procession of the Saints, delicious Italian food favorites, merchandise vendors, games, and continuous FREE live entertainment.
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Avalon Arts and Seafood Festival
Saturday, October 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (rain date Oct. 9)
Surfside Park to 30th Street & the Beach, Avalon
This year, the Avalon Arts & Seafood Festival will feature a focus on vendors with original artwork and photography, craft and artisan items, food, and island businesses!
The event will also feature the returning favorites of live music, children’s activities, local beer and wine, and the Sound Advice Lounge for the Saturday football games.
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Stone Harbor Classic Car Show
Saturday, October 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
200 Block of 96h Street
Car enthusiasts, you won’t want to miss Stone Harbor’s second annual Classic and Vintage Car Show! The display will be followed by an award show and a car parade down 96th Street! For an application to participate or for more information, please email tourism@shnj.org.
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West Cape May Lima Bean Festival
Saturday, October 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
732 Broadway, behind the Fire House
West Cape May celebrates her farming heritage with the Annual Lima Bean Festival in the Borough’s Backyard Park! The festival will delight locals and visitors alike with a vast array of recipes, crafts and products available.
Any questions for this event should be directed to the Event Organizers,Theresa and Erin at (609) 884-1005 ext 100 or 101 or via email to festivals@westcapemay.us
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Cold Spring Village Pumpkin Festival
Saturday, October 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cold Spring Village, 733 Seashore Road
This fun, free event will take place on the grounds of Historic Cold Spring Village and is presented by the Lower Township Rotary Club. Guests are encouraged to donate non-perishable goods to the ‘Share the Harvest’ Food Drive.
Families can enjoy pumpkin painting and games throughout the day. A variety of crafters will sell their wares along the Village’s shell-paved lanes. Vendors will be selling hot dogs, funnel cake, and other snacks. Visit a haunted house at the Village Barn. Don’t miss the Children’s Halloween Parade at 11 a.m.
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Wildwoods Food and Music Festival
Sunday, October 9 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Byrne Plaza
This free event features a full day of fantastic food options, music, shopping and more. The festival will take place in Downtown Wildwood.
The festival will include messy pie-eating contests, craft vendors and much more. The festival will provide fun for the kids with a “Kids Korner,” open from noon to 5 p.m. featuring games, pumpkin painting, and inflatable bounce houses.
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Ocean City Fall Block Party
Saturday, October 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
From 5th – 14th Streets on Asbury Ave.
Over 400 crafters, food vendors, music and more. Due to the forecast for strong wind and heavy seas, the fireworks display scheduled for 9 p.m. Saturday has been canceled. For more information, call 1-800-BEACH-NJ.
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Cape May Audubon Fall Festival
October 17 – 20
Cape May Convention Hall
Join us at the Cape May Convention Hall for a wide variety of international birding tour companies, publishers and magazines, artists, leading optics brands, and, of course, Nature Nick. All free and fun for the whole family.
Cape May Convention Hall will be packed with all kinds of nature-related vendors, plus a live animal show every couple of hours by Nature Nick.
Please contact Deb Shaw at 609-400-3836 or deb.shaw@njaudubon.org with any questions.
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Wildwoods 50s, 60s, 70s Weekend
Friday and Saturday, October 14 – 15
Wildwoods Convention Center
Come to the Wildwoods for a weekend of throwback music and for a free street fair. Friday night features a ’50s Dance Party featuring The Cameos from 6:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $16 plus tax per person.
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Ale O’ Ween
Saturday, October 22
565 Dennisville Rd
The 3rd Annual Dennis Township Ale O’ Ween community festival will be taking place on Saturday, October 22nd featuring local breweries, food trucks, and live entertainment!
Don’t forget to bring your lawn chair!
We will be accepting a limited amount of vendors on a first come / first served basis. Please contact me at matalucci@dennistwp.org to get on the list!
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“Creepy Jeepy” at the Zoo
Saturday, October 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cape May County Zoo
There will be a jeep decorating contest, Trunk or Treat, a costume contest and parade, and more fun events at the Zoo! The event is only open to the first 150 Jeeps.
Trophies for the top 5 Jeeps!!
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Muscle Car Invasion and Trunk or Treat at the Zoo
Sunday, October 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cape May County Zoo
This Modern Muscle Car Invasion is new for 2022 and inclues a Trunk or Treat. The event will will have center stage with modern muscle cars proudly parked on the main lawn area and decorated for Halloween. The best dressed cars will receive a Trophy!
There will be a trunk or treat, a kids costume contest and parade, an adult / group / club costume contest, and food on-site.
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Boo at the Zoo
Saturday, October 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cape May County Zoo
The Cape May County Park and Zoo’s annual “Boo at the Zoo” event returns! Sponsored by the Cape May County Board of Commissioners, this event is free and open to the public.
Visitors of all ages are invited to wear a costume to this fun family event, which includes activities for the kids, games, candy, entertainment, animals, an inflatable obstacle course, pirate ship and more. A Costume Contest will start at 11 a.m., registration begins at 10 a.m. An awards presentation will follow the Halloween costume contest with exciting entertainment and our very own ambassador animals. No Rain Date.
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Olde Tyme Harvest Festival
Saturday, October 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mechanic Street, Cape May Court House
Middle Township celebrates fall with one of its biggest festivals of the year. This fall-fest will have rides, vendors, food trucks, live music, and more.
Guests are encouraged to come in their best Halloween costumes, and a pumpkin decorating contest will be held.