A Guide to Thanksgiving Weekend in Cape May County

This weekend is one of the busiest of the year. Local bars will be full, and every municipality in the county will host so many holiday events that it can be hard to keep track. Let us help you through the chaos – find something to do this weekend.

Orange text means there is a clickable link to the event’s website.

Avalon / Stone Harbor

Stone Harbor Fall Fun Fest 

Wednesday, November 22 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.  

Stone Harbor Library events room 

Drop in for an afternoon of family fun, featuring fall-themed crafts, games & activities, and cookie decorating. No registration is required – just show up! 

Avalon: Story Time with Mrs. Claus 

Friday, November 24 at 10 a.m.  

Avalon Free Public Library  

Children of all ages, experience the wonder of the season with a very special story time featuring Mrs. Claus! 

Hospitality Night in Stone Harbor 

Friday, November 24 from 6 to 9 p.m.  

96th Street in Stone Harbor 

Enjoy a festive evening sipping & shopping your way through our wonderful small businesses. Bring your holiday shopping lists and shop small while enjoying complimentary sips & snacks. 

Stone Harbor Holiday Pet Parade 

Friday, November 24 at 1 p.m.  

281 96th St, Stone Harbor 

Sponsored by the Borough of Stone Harbor and Paw Prints.

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Stone Harbor Tree Lighting 

Friday, November 24 at 6 p.m.  

Meet at the 200 block on 96th Street 

Stone Harbor Carousel & Holiday Market   

Friday, November 24 and Saturday, November 25 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.   

Water Tower Lot, 95th Street & Second Ave 

Avalon Turkey Trot 5k & Walk  

Friday, November 24 at 10 a.m.  

30th & Avalon Ave. 

Burn off those Thanksgiving calories and kick-off Festive Friday in Avalon. Register at the event or online in advance.  

Festive Friday in Avalon 

Friday, November 24  

Avalon’s Shopping District  

From live music to children’s performances, character appearances, face painting, an art bar, crafts, giveaways, hot chocolate, and more! Santa and Mayor McCorristin will arrive to Veterans Plaza on Saturday at 5pm for a special tree-lighting celebration. 

Avalon Fire Dept. 110th Anniversary 

Saturday, November 25 at 10 a.m.  

3100 Dune Dr, Avalon 

Come celebrate over a century of the volunteer fire department with this special dedication. There will be an open house and speakers, including Jeff Van Drew and Mayor John McCorristin. Special merch will be on sale, including t-shirts and a challenge coin celebrating the anniversary. Food includes snacks and hot dogs.  

ICONA Avalon Tree Lighting 

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 our “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 until 8 p.m. 

Stone Harbor Christmas Parade  

Saturday, November 25 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.   

96th Street in Stone Harbor  

Bring the family, wear your best holiday accessories and enjoy Stone Harbor’s Famous Christmas Parade! 

Saturday Snowfest in Avalon 

Saturday, November 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Get a good night’s sleep…Snowfest Saturday has it all! Santa Claus himself will be on hand for photos with the youngsters, and families can enjoy bounce houses, carnival rides, obstacles courses, and more! 

Cape May Island

Black Friday on the Washington St. Mall 

Friday, November 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

All along the Washington Street Mall in Cape May 

Santa, Mrs. Claus, Elves and Musicians will be strolling the mall from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (tentative times). They will be taking pictures with our visitors on the mall and collecting money for our Cape May Food Bank – also come out for great deals! Shop local! 

Holiday Craft & Collectibles Show 

Cape May Convention Center   

Friday, November 24 from 10 to 3 p.m.  

Congress Hall Winter Wonderland

Begins Nov. 24, runs through New Year

200 Congress Pl, Cape May

Complete with candy cane-striped tents, Congress Hall’s iconic Vendor Village returns just in time for the holiday shopping season! This year’s beautifully decorated vendor village features seventeen specialty stores, each featuring Cape May gifts, souvenirs and curiosities perfect for everyone on your list. The Congress Hall Express, a small train, will circle the grounds and take kids on rides. A Christmas carousel brings holiday cheer.

Ocean City

Ocean City Turkey Trot 5k

Thursday, November 23 at 8:30 a.m. 

Music Pier, 825 Boardwalk

This run will benefit the Ocean City Humane Society.  

Ocean City Christmas in Downtown 

Friday, November 24 from 2 to 5 p.m.  

Asbury Ave, Ocean City 

Join Ocean City’s downtown merchants and the Chamber of Commerce in kicking off an old-fashioned Downtown Christmas. The celebration culminates with the illumination of City Hall and the arrival of Santa at 5 p.m.

Meet Santa in Ocean City 

Friday, November 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Santa will be in Ocean City every Friday through Christmas from 9 to 11 a.m. at Soifer Park, and from noon to 3 p.m. at Music Pier.  

Horse and Carriage Rides

Friday, Nov. 25 from 12 to 3 p.m.

6th & Asbury Ave

Holidays with the Ocean City POPs

Saturday, November 25 at 6 p.m.

Ocean City Music Pier

Holidays with the Ocean City POPs Enjoy your favorite holiday songs with the Ocean City Pops. Led by conductor Vince Lee, the Pops will perform classic favorites and modern hits featuring soloist Sara Maimone of Ocean City. For tickets visit www.OceanCityVacation.com/BoxOffice

Offshore

Belleplain Turkey Trot Dog Hike 

Thursday, Nov. 23 at 9 a.m. 

Belleplain Park Office 

Zoo Tree Lighting 

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 including a performance by the John Walter Community Band.

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. 

Belleplain Full Moon Hike 

Monday, November 27 at 7:30 p.m. 

Belleplain Park Office 

Sea Isle City

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 the parade at Excursion Park. The parade runs south on Central from 49th to 84th Street, then continues on 84th to Landis, then turns north on Landis and ends at JFK Boulevard. Call 609-263-8687 for more info.  

Ludlam Hotel’s Winter Village

Friday and Saturday, November 24 and 25

The popular village is BACK! Come out for Ice Skating, visits from Santa, giveaways, dueling pianos, live DJs, beautiful holiday decorations, and more. Check out the full schedule via the link in the event title.

Shop Small Weekend

Friday and Saturday, November 24 and 25

Businesses in Sea Isle City will have special discounts to encourage locals to support small businesses.

Wildwoods

Wildwood Crest Turkey Trot 

Thursday, November 23 at 9 a.m.  

Crest Pier, 5800 Atlantic Avenue 

There will be a 5K run and a 1-mile fun walk for all ages.  Please join us for a fun-filled Thanksgiving morning. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the race starts at 9 a.m. 

Christmas in North Wildwood 

Friday, November 24 to Sunday, November 26  

Along Olde New Jersey Ave 

Enjoy a scavenger hunt with prizes, free jitney on Saturday, outdoor firepits, strolling Santa, hot chocolate, festive lights, decorations, and music. Friday & Saturday from 2 p.m. and Sunday from noon.  

Family Holiday Beach Bonfire 

Friday, November 24 from 5 to 9 p.m.  

2nd & Surf Ave., North Wildwood  

Enjoy family fun including music and free photo ops with Santa and other winter wonderland characters! Food available for purchase. Donation fee TBA. 

Wildwoods Shopping Village 

Saturday, November 25 

Byrne Plaza, Wildwood 

Local artisans, jewelry, specialty shops, handcrafted items, holiday decorations, baked goods, boutique shops, gifts, holiday music, & more. This event will also serve as a gift drop location for The Lynch Who Stole Christmas From The GrYnch Program