Tree lightings, usually around Thanksgiving, let mayors, business owners, and community leaders declare the official start of the holiday season with the flip of a switch. They are an annual delight here on the shore – find one near you with our guide. Orange = clickable link.
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Physick Estate Holiday Tree Lighting
Saturday, November 18 at 7 p.m.
Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May
Santa and his elves have decked out the Physick Estate with thousands of lights and holiday trimmings. Enjoy a free performance of holiday classics by the Atlantic Brass Band as we join Santa in lighting the tree!
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Sea Isle Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting
Friday, November 24 from 6 to 7 p.m.
Along Landis Avenue
Presented by the Sea Isle City Department of Tourism – the mayor’s tree lighting ceremony will follow at Excursion Park. Call 609-263-8687 for more info.
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Ocean City Christmas in the Downtown
Friday, November 24 from 2 to 5 p.m.
Asbury Ave, Ocean City
Join the merchants & Chamber in kicking off an old-fashioned Downtown Christmas. The event culminates with the illumination of City Hall, and the arrival of Santa.
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Avalon Festive Friday Tree Lighting
Saturday, November 24 at 5 p.m.
Veterans Plaza, 2101-2117 Dune Dr, Avalon
Santa and Mayor McCorristin will arrive at Veterans Plaza on Friday at 5 p.m. for a special tree-lighting celebration.
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Friday, November 24 at 6 p.m.
Meet at the 200 block on 96th Street
The 7-Mile-Players, a local kids theater group, will sing carols at 5:45 p.m., and the tree lighting will follow at 6 p.m. This lighting is part of Stone Harbor’s borough-wide holiday weekend.
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Saturday, November 25 from 2 to 6 p.m.
Cape May County Zoo
The start of the holiday season begins with Santa’s Tree Lighting Celebration, which is planned from 2 to 6 p.m. Join the Holiday festivities with Santa’s village shopping, live music and carolers, ice sculpture carving, and lots of family-friendly free entertainment.
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Saturday, November 25 at 5 p.m.
ICONA Avalon, 7849 Dune Dr., at the sand bar
To kick off ICONA’s Winter Wonderland, they will host a tree lighting. The Christmas tree in front of the Sandbar and the “Keg Christmas tree” in front of Avalon Brew Pub will both be lit. Local vendors will be there at the shopping village, and ice skating goes on until 8 p.m.
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Upper Township Tree Lighting
Monday, November 27 at 6:30 p.m.
Town Hall, 2100 Tuckahoe
Santa will be present, along with the mayor and Committee members, to kick off the holiday season. Light refreshments will be served.
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Tuesday, November 28 at 7 p.m.
Lower Township Recreation Center, 2600 Bayshore Rd
The Program begins at the Recreation Center with speakers and entertainment followed by a candle-lit procession to the front of the Municipal Building. A wreath will be placed at the Vietnam Memorial and the Lower Cape May Regional Choir will sing followed by the lighting of the Township Trees. The event concludes with refreshments in the Townhall Meeting Room.
Trees of Hope Lighting
Thursday, November 30 at 5:30 p.m.
3819 New Jersey Ave, Wildwood
Thanks to the Mita Family, owners of the ICONA, and the Avalon, NJ, Lions, Cape Assist will host the lighting of the “Trees of Hope,” decorated trees that provide a glowing visual representation of hope to anyone battling addiction.
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Friday, Dec. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Congress Hall, 200 Congress Pl., Cape May
The evening kicks off with live music from the Don Evans Trio at 6 p.m. and with a concert and sing-a-long featuring the Congress Hall Festive Choir at 7:30 p.m. After the singalong, at 8 p.m., everyone will count down together and light the switch.
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West Cape May Tree Lighting
Friday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m.
Wilbraham Park, at Myrtle Avenue and Perry Street
Visitors can enjoy music, holiday favorites sing along, and light refreshments
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Friday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m.
Sunset Lake at Atlanta and New Jersey Avenues
Tree lighting ceremony to kick off the Christmas season in the borough. Music, light refreshments, va visit from Santa Claus, and more! For more info call 609-523-0202 or visit wildwoodcrest.org.
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Friday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.
Rotary Park in Cape May
The festive family program will include caroling, remarks from dignitaries, and a special visit from Santa Claus!
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Friday, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m.
Byrne Plaza, Wildwood
For more information call 609.729.5501 or visit WildwoodHoliday.com
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Saturday, Dec. 2 at 5 p.m.
Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Courtyard, 1st & Central Avenues
Christmas tree lighting event includes music, refreshments, self-guided tour of the lighthouse and Santa Claus! Free admission. More info, call 609.522.2955 or visit NorthWildwood.com
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Middle Township Tree Lighting & Parade
Friday, Dec. 8 at 6 p.m.
Downtown Cape May Court House
The parade lineup begins at 5 p.m. at Memorial Field and steps off at 6 p.m. The parade will travel north along Route 9 to Mechanic Street – the tree lighting will take place after the parade, in front of the library.
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Wildwoods Convention Center Tree Lighting
Saturday, Dec. 9 at 4:30 p.m.
Inside the Wildwoods Convention Center
The lighting is at 4:30, but starting at 9:30 a.m., the center will host holiday-themed crafts and movies, photos with Santa, choir performances, children’s craft making table, a magician, face painting, dance performances, Story Time with Mrs. Claus and much more!