North Wildwood NJ Events Calendar 2026
Every festival, parade, concert and tournament on the North Wildwood calendar — with confirmed 2026 dates.
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North Wildwood runs 29 annual events across the 2026 calendar, weighted toward sporting events, car & motorcycle and food & drink events. Free Beaches & Family Fun. September is the busiest stretch with 7 scheduled events, and 17 of the town's events are free to attend.
The anchor event is Wildwoods Airshow at Wildwood Beach, held September 12-13, 2026.
North Wildwood beaches are free — no badge required, which keeps event days cheap for families. Everything below is drawn from our Cape May County events dataset — 27 of the 29 entries carry a confirmed 2026 calendar date.
Collapse March in North Wildwood
March in North Wildwood
All March shore events →Collapse April in North Wildwood
April in North Wildwood
All April shore events →Collapse May in North Wildwood
May in North Wildwood
All May shore events →Wildwoods Restaurant Showcase
Sample dishes from dozens of Wildwood restaurants—proceeds support student scholarships.
Wildwoods International Kite Festival
North America's largest kite festival with world-class flyers, night fly, and indoor exhibition.
Spring Wildwood Kustom Hot Rod & Muscle Car Show
35th annual classic car show on the Wildwood Boardwalk. Free admission.
Wildwood Summer Kick-Off Weekend
Memorial Day weekend launch of summer with fireworks, rides, and entertainment.
Collapse June in North Wildwood
June in North Wildwood
All June shore events →Barefoot Country Music Fest
Northeast's largest outdoor country festival on Wildwood Beach with 40+ artists.
North Wildwood Flag Day Ceremony
Annual Flag Day ceremony honoring the American flag at the city's veterans memorial.
Collapse July in North Wildwood
July in North Wildwood
All July shore events →North Wildwood Christmas in July with Santa Claus
Santa visits North Wildwood Beach for Christmas in July with photos, candy canes and live holiday music, presented by the North Wildwood Beach Patrol.
Surfing Santas
Costumed surfers, paddleboarders and boogie-boarders take to the water at 15th Avenue beach for Christmas in July, with prizes for best costumes.
Kelly's Kidz 5K & Family Fun Walk
Chip-timed 5K and family fun walk on the Wildwood Boardwalk starting and finishing at Seaport Pier, held during Christmas in July weekend.
Q102 Beach Tour Featuring Nelly
Q102's Summer Beach Tour concert featuring Nelly on the boardwalk at Seaport Pier, billed as the biggest summer event in South Jersey.
Anglesea Nights
Thursday-night street food and performance festival in the North Wildwood Entertainment District, with food trucks, vendors and roaming street performers.
NJ State BBQ Championship & Anglesea Blues Festival
KCBS-sanctioned BBQ competition with live blues music in North Wildwood.
Collapse August in North Wildwood
August in North Wildwood
All August shore events →National Night Out - North Wildwood
North Wildwood's National Night Out at Bill Henfey Park, with police, fire, public works, beach patrol and recreation displays around the block.
National Lighthouse Day at Hereford Inlet Lighthouse
National Lighthouse Day at Hereford Inlet Lighthouse marks the 237th anniversary of the 1789 Lighthouse Act with a ceremony and children's games.
"Live Like Bolle" 5K Run
Annual 5K run and 1-mile walk on the beach in North Wildwood, starting at the 15th Street lifeguard station.
Heart of Surfing Surf Day
Free adaptive surf day at 2nd Street Beach for families with autism or other developmental disabilities, run by the Heart of Surfing non-profit.
North Wildwood Flea Market
Over 100 vendors line JFK Blvd from 7th to 12th Avenues for North Wildwood's summer flea market.
Collapse September in North Wildwood
September in North Wildwood
All September shore events →Irish Fall Festival
Largest Irish festival on the East Coast with music, dancing, boxing, and grand parade.
Roar to the Shore
Discontinued after 2019 — Wildwood denied permits in 2020 and the rally has not returned.
Wildwood Kustom Hot Rod & Muscle Car Show
51st annual classic car & street rod show on Wildwood Boardwalk.
Roots Classic VW Show
Pre-2000 VW celebration on the Wildwood Boardwalk. Air-cooled and water-cooled.
Wildwoods Airshow
Free two-day beach airshow featuring military jets, vintage planes, and aerobatic performers.
Seafarers Celebration
End-of-summer street festival with live music and fireworks over Wildwood Beach.
Boots at the Beach Country Music Festival
Two nights of country music on the Seaport Pier, North Wildwood.
Collapse October in North Wildwood
October in North Wildwood
All October shore events →The Race of Gentlemen
Vintage cars and motorcycles drag race on Wildwood Beach—strictly pre-1953 machines.
Collapse November in North Wildwood
November in North Wildwood
All November shore events →Collapse December in North Wildwood
December in North Wildwood
All December shore events →Greater Wildwood Jaycees Christmas Parade
Traditional Christmas parade ending with tree lighting ceremony.
Also on the North Wildwood calendar
- North Wildwood St. Patrick's Day Parade — March 14, 2026 (12 PM)
- Music Pier Summer Concert Series — June-August
- North Wildwood Fireworks — Fridays in summer + July 4th
- Captain Kidd Pirate Day — Third Saturday in May
- Thunder Over the Waves Airshow — Mid-September (2 days)
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Nearest airport: Atlantic City International (ACY)
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North Wildwood events — frequently asked questions
What events are happening in North Wildwood, NJ in 2026?
North Wildwood has 29 annual events on the 2026 calendar. Confirmed dates include Blues, Brews & Country Festival (March 6-8, 2026), MudHen IPA 5K & Beer Mile (April 25, 2026), Spring Wildwood Kustom Hot Rod & Muscle Car Show (May 8-9, 2026), Wildwoods Restaurant Showcase (May 12, 2026), Wildwoods International Kite Festival (May 22-25, 2026). Full listings by month are on this page.
What is happening in North Wildwood in July and August 2026?
Peak season in North Wildwood brings 11 dated events: NJ State BBQ Championship & Anglesea Blues Festival on July 10-12, 2026, North Wildwood Christmas in July with Santa Claus on July 25, 2026, Surfing Santas on July 25, 2026, Kelly's Kidz 5K & Family Fun Walk on July 25, 2026, Q102 Beach Tour Featuring Nelly on July 30, 2026, Anglesea Nights on July 30 - August 13, 2026, National Night Out - North Wildwood on August 4, 2026, National Lighthouse Day at Hereford Inlet Lighthouse on August 7, 2026.
Are there free events in North Wildwood?
Yes — 17 of North Wildwood's 29 annual events are free, including Wildwoods International Kite Festival, Spring Wildwood Kustom Hot Rod & Muscle Car Show, Wildwood Summer Kick-Off Weekend, North Wildwood Flag Day Ceremony.
What is the biggest event in North Wildwood?
Wildwoods Airshow, held at Wildwood Beach, is the largest event on the North Wildwood calendar, drawing around 400,000+ people. Free two-day beach airshow featuring military jets, vintage planes, and aerobatic performers.
Where should I stay for North Wildwood events?
North Wildwood sits in Cape May County, and event weekends book out well ahead — especially anything falling on a summer Saturday. Hotels and vacation rentals in North Wildwood and the neighbouring Cape May County towns are the practical options; book before the headline events fill the town.
Where to stay for North Wildwood events
Event weekends are the hardest nights of the year to book in North Wildwood. Compare hotels and vacation rentals before the calendar fills.
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Keep exploring North Wildwood
- North Wildwood town guide
- Things to do in North Wildwood
- All Cape May County events
- Jersey Shore events hub
- Events near Wildwood
- Events near Wildwood Crest
- Events near Stone Harbor