LBI Surf Fishing Classic
August 29 - November 29, 2026 · Ship Bottom
One of America's oldest surf fishing tournaments with $25,000+ in prizes.
Holidays at the Jersey Shore 2026
38 confirmed events across 14 Shore towns from Thanksgiving weekend to New Year's Eve — candlelight tours, Christmas parades, tree lightings and First Night.
Reviewed September 17, 2026
The Shore's holiday season has a shape. It opens on Thanksgiving weekend, when the tree lightings and the first parades land on the Friday and Saturday after the holiday. The first two weekends of December carry the rest of the parades and Cape May's candlelight house tours. Then it goes quiet until the week between Christmas and New Year's, when the Wildwoods host a basketball tournament and Ocean City closes the year with First Night.
Everything below is a dated event drawn from our calendar. An event appears only when two independent publishers have printed its 2026 date; events without a confirmed date are left out rather than estimated, so this list grows through the autumn as towns post their schedules.
Running all season
Winter Wonderland at Congress Hall
November 27 - December 31, 2026 · Cape May · Thu 3:00 - 8:00 PM; Fri 2:00 - 9:00 PM; Sat 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM; Sun 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Congress Hall’s holiday village on the lawn, Thanksgiving weekend through New Year’s Eve.
Argos Farm Fall Festival
September 12 - November 1, 2026 · Lacey Township · Sept: Sat-Sun 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (plus Sept 28-30, 2:00 - 6:00 PM); Oct: Thu-Fri 2:00 - 6:00 PM, Sat-Sun 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Pumpkin picking, corn maze, and fall activities at Shore area farm.
Confirmed Holiday Season 2026 Dates
Last updated: September 17, 2026
| Date (2026) | Event | Town | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5 – Nov 8 | Cape May Restaurant Weekend | Cape May | Three-course prix-fixe menus from $38 |
| Nov 5 – Nov 6 | NJEA Convention | Atlantic City | Registration for NJEA members |
| Nov 6 – Nov 7 | Chicago at Hard Rock Live | Atlantic City | Tickets from $60 (per Hard Rock) |
| Nov 6 – Nov 8 | Disney On Ice presents Spotlight Magic! | Atlantic City | Ticketed via Boardwalk Hall |
| Nov 7 | 5 Mile Beach Half Marathon, 10K & 5K | Wildwood Crest | $40 (5K/10K) to $90 (half marathon), per RunSignUp |
| Nov 7 | The Best of Steve Martin & Martin Short | Atlantic City | Ticketed via Ocean Casino Resort |
| Nov 13 | Sugarland at the Borgata | Atlantic City | Ticketed via the Borgata |
| Nov 17 – Nov 19 | NJ League of Municipalities Annual Conference | Atlantic City | Registration via NJLM |
| Nov 20 – Nov 22 | Sea Isle City Fall Girls Weekend | Sea Isle City | Free |
| Nov 20 | Gwen Stefani at the Borgata | Atlantic City | Ticketed via the Borgata |
| Nov 21 | Cape May Holiday Preview Weekend & Physick Estate Tree Lighting | Cape May | Free |
| Nov 21 | Earlier Than the Bird Shopping | Ocean City | Free |
| Nov 21 | Manasquan Turkey Trot | Manasquan | Registration closed — the field limit has been reached; no race-day entries |
| Nov 27 – Dec 31 | Winter Wonderland at Congress Hall | Cape May | Free |
| Nov 27 – Nov 28 | Sea Isle City Winter Village | Sea Isle City | Free |
| Nov 27 | Christmas in the Downtown: Our Miracle on Asbury Avenue | Ocean City | Free |
| Nov 27 | Point Pleasant Beach Tree Lighting & Santa’s Arrival | Point Pleasant Beach | Free |
| Nov 27 | Avalon Turkey Trot 5K & 1.5-Mile Walk | Avalon | $35 online (through November 26); $45 race day, per RunSignUp |
| Nov 27 | The Temptations and The Four Tops | Atlantic City | Tickets from $79 (per Hard Rock) |
| Nov 28 | Wildwoods Holiday Shopping Village | Wildwood | Free |
| Nov 28 | Spring Lake Christmas Train Village | Spring Lake | Free |
| Dec 4 | Ocean City Christmas Parade | Ocean City | Free |
| Dec 4 | Cape May Christmas Tree Lightings Night | Cape May | Free |
| Dec 4 | Manasquan Candy Cane Hunt | Manasquan | Free |
| Dec 4 | Paul Anka: You Are My Destiny Tour | Atlantic City | Tickets from $74 (per Hard Rock) |
| Dec 4 – Dec 5 | Lavallette Hometown Christmas Weekend | Lavallette | Free |
| Dec 5 | Christmas Candlelight House Tour | Cape May | Ticketed (price not yet posted for 2026) |
| Dec 5 | The Wildwoods Holiday Spectacular | Wildwood | Ticketed via the Bobby Rydell Foundation |
| Dec 5 | Asbury Park Santa Run | Asbury Park | Registration via the organiser; the price steps up after October 2 and the run is expected to sell out |
| Dec 5 | Lavallette Tree Lighting | Lavallette | Free |
| Dec 10 | Sea Isle City Family & Friends Night | Sea Isle City | Free |
| Dec 11 – Dec 12 | Earth, Wind & Fire at Hard Rock Live | Atlantic City | Tickets from $80 (per Hard Rock) |
| Dec 11 – Dec 12 | Goosemas at Boardwalk Hall | Atlantic City | Ticketed via Boardwalk Hall |
| Dec 26 – Dec 31 | Boardwalk Basketball Classic | Wildwood | Ticketed; see bbclassic.com |
| Dec 26 | Boxing Day Christmas Hymn Sing | Cape May | Free |
| Dec 31 | First Night Ocean City | Ocean City | Admission button; 2026 price not yet posted |
Full calendar exports (JSON & iCal) are on the open data page.
November
Cape May Restaurant Weekend
November 5–8 · Cape May
Four nights of prix-fixe menus across Cape May, November 5–8.
5 Mile Beach Half Marathon, 10K & 5K
November 7 · Wildwood Crest
Fast, flat course through the Wildwoods—half marathon, 10K, and 5K options.
Cape May Holiday Preview Weekend & Physick Estate Tree Lighting
FREENovember 21 · Cape May
Dickens village transformation kicks off Cape May holiday season.
Sea Isle City Winter Village
FREENovember 27–28 · Sea Isle City
Thanksgiving-weekend holiday village in Excursion Park with Friday’s tree lighting.
NJEA Convention
November 5–6 · Atlantic City
The state teachers’ convention — Atlantic City’s busiest November hotel weekend.
Chicago at Hard Rock Live
November 6–7 · Atlantic City
Chicago plays two nights at Hard Rock Live, November 6–7.
Disney On Ice presents Spotlight Magic!
November 6–8 · Atlantic City
Disney On Ice at Boardwalk Hall, five shows November 6–8.
The Best of Steve Martin & Martin Short
November 7 · Atlantic City
Steve Martin & Martin Short at Ovation Hall, November 7.
Sugarland at the Borgata
November 13 · Atlantic City
Sugarland at the Borgata Event Center, November 13.
NJ League of Municipalities Annual Conference
November 17–19 · Atlantic City
The municipal officials’ conference — three midweek days that fill AC hotels before Thanksgiving.
Sea Isle City Fall Girls Weekend
FREENovember 20–22 · Sea Isle City
Deals and events at participating Sea Isle businesses, the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Gwen Stefani at the Borgata
November 20 · Atlantic City
Gwen Stefani at the Borgata Event Center, November 20.
Earlier Than the Bird Shopping
FREENovember 21 · Ocean City
Early-morning holiday shopping on Asbury Avenue, the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
Manasquan Turkey Trot
November 21 · Manasquan
The 43rd five-mile Turkey Trot, the Saturday before Thanksgiving — sold out.
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.
Avalon Turkey Trot 5K & 1.5-Mile Walk
November 27 · Avalon
Charity 5K and family walk from Avalon Community Hall, the Friday after Thanksgiving.
The Temptations and The Four Tops
November 27 · Atlantic City
The Temptations and The Four Tops at Hard Rock Live, November 27.
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.
Boardwalk Basketball Classic
December 26–31 · Wildwood
Six-day high school tournament at the Convention Center, December 26–31.
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.
Paul Anka: You Are My Destiny Tour
December 4 · Atlantic City
Paul Anka at Hard Rock Live, December 4.
Lavallette Hometown Christmas Weekend
FREEDecember 4–5 · Lavallette
Holiday weekend across the Lavallette shops, ending with Saturday’s tree lighting.
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.
Earth, Wind & Fire at Hard Rock Live
December 11–12 · Atlantic City
Earth, Wind & Fire, two nights at Hard Rock Live, December 11–12.
Goosemas at Boardwalk Hall
December 11–12 · Atlantic City
Goose’s two-night Goosemas at Boardwalk Hall, December 11–12.
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.
Where to stay for the holidays
The towns with the most on this season, by count of confirmed events.
Atlantic City
11 confirmed holiday events
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Cape May
6 confirmed holiday events
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Ocean City
4 confirmed holiday events
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Book a holiday weekend at the Shore
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Nearest airport: Atlantic City International (ACY)
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Parades, lightings and First Night — added to the Thursday email the week two publishers confirm them. Never a guessed date.
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Keep going
- Christmas in the Shore towns — the December spoke
- November at the Shore and December at the Shore
- January events — First Day and the polar plunges
- Fall at the Shore — what came before
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