Winter Wonderland at Congress Hall
FREENovember 27 – December 31 · Cape May
Congress Hall’s holiday village on the lawn, Thanksgiving weekend through New Year’s Eve.
Christmas at the Jersey Shore 2026
18 confirmed Christmas events across 10 Shore towns, from the weekend after Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve.
Reviewed September 17, 2026
Cape May is the Shore's Christmas town: Cape May MAC's candlelight house tours open the Victorian district on December Saturdays, and Congress Hall runs its Winter Wonderland from Thanksgiving weekend through New Year's. Ocean City runs its Christmas parade down Asbury Avenue on the first Friday of December, and most towns light their tree on the Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Every event below carries a 2026 date confirmed by two independent publishers. Traditions whose date has not been posted yet are left off rather than guessed — check back, or see the full season on Holidays at the Jersey Shore.
November
Sea Isle City Winter Village
FREENovember 27–28 · Sea Isle City
Thanksgiving-weekend holiday village in Excursion Park with Friday’s tree lighting.
Christmas in the Downtown: Our Miracle on Asbury Avenue
FREENovember 27 · Ocean City
Day-after-Thanksgiving holiday kickoff on Asbury Avenue with Santa at 5 PM.
Point Pleasant Beach Tree Lighting & Santa’s Arrival
FREENovember 27 · Point Pleasant Beach
Bay Avenue tree lighting with Santa by fire truck, the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Wildwoods Holiday Shopping Village
FREENovember 28 · Wildwood
Small Business Saturday holiday market at Byrne Plaza.
Spring Lake Christmas Train Village
FREENovember 28 · Spring Lake
Free model-train Christmas village in Duggan Hall, Wednesday–Sunday from November 28.
December
Ocean City Christmas Parade
FREEDecember 4 · Ocean City
Holiday parade on Asbury Avenue with Santa in a horse-drawn carriage.
Christmas Candlelight House Tour
December 5 · Cape May
Cape May MAC’s candlelight tour of decorated historic homes — December 5, 12 and 19.
First Night Ocean City
December 31 · Ocean City
Family-friendly New Year's Eve with drone shows and midnight fireworks.
Cape May Christmas Tree Lightings Night
FREEDecember 4 · Cape May
Both Cape May tree lightings — Rotary Park and Congress Hall — on one December Friday evening.
Manasquan Candy Cane Hunt
FREEDecember 4 · Manasquan
Candy Cane Hunt on Main Street, the first Friday of December.
Lavallette Hometown Christmas Weekend
FREEDecember 4–5 · Lavallette
Holiday weekend across the Lavallette shops, ending with Saturday’s tree lighting.
Downtown Toms River Tree Lighting
FREEDecember 4 · toms-river
Downtown Toms River tree lighting at Town Hall, first Friday of December.
The Wildwoods Holiday Spectacular
December 5 · Wildwood
Holiday concert at the Convention Center with The Duprees, benefiting the Bobby Rydell Foundation.
Asbury Park Santa Run
December 5 · Asbury Park
Thousands of Santas run a 5K from the Stone Pony, benefiting Lunch Break.
Lavallette Tree Lighting
FREEDecember 5 · Lavallette
Lavallette’s tree lighting with caroling and Santa at the Municipal Building.
Sea Isle City Family & Friends Night
FREEDecember 10 · Sea Isle City
Holiday hospitality evening at participating Sea Isle businesses.
Boxing Day Christmas Hymn Sing
FREEDecember 26 · Cape May
Classical Cape May’s free Boxing Day carol sing at the Church of the Advent, 4 PM.
Planning a Christmas weekend at the Shore
- The candlelight house tours are ticketed through Cape May MAC and run on three Saturdays only. Book the tour before the room.
- Parade night and the first house tour fall on consecutive evenings in different counties — a two-night stay covers both.
- Most year-round restaurants take reservations for the holiday weekends; see what is open in winter.
More holiday-season pages
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Nearest airport: Atlantic City International (ACY)
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