You might not think of the Jersey Shore as a winter destination, but it’s pretty spectacular during the holidays. Here are some of our favorite Christmas attractions happening by the beach this season.
ATLANTIC CITY HOLIDAY PARADE & VILLAGE
Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City
December 13
The avenue will be lit up with music, magic and a holiday tree as the parade marches by. After, head to the market for some holiday shopping.
BREAKFAST & DOLPHIN WATCH WITH SANTA
Cape May Whale Watch, Cape May
December 6
The 2-hour breakfast cruise aboard the American Star includes a continental brunch with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and almost-guaranteed sightings of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, plus a variety of birds and historical landmarks in the distance.
CHRISTMAS AT THE HANGAR
NASW Aviation Museum, Cape May
November 29
Check out all the authentic aircraft and military artifacts, but during this event, there will also be photo ops with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, unique holiday gifts, free hot chocolate and cookies, craft tables for kids, food trucks, a beer and wine garden, and live music.
CHRISTMAS IN CAPE MAY
Various locations, Cape May
Through January
Kick off the season at the West Cape May Christmas Parade, check the schedule for tree lightings, book a seat at Breakfast with Santa, hop on Cape May MAC’s holiday-themed trolley, and shop at the outdoor village at Congress Hall.
CHRISTMAS PARADE
Downtown Cape May Court House
December 5
Line the streets in Middle Twp. to see your favorite Christmas characters walk and roll by during the parade; then stay for the festival and tree lighting ceremony.
CHRISTMAS PARADE
Asbury Avenue, Ocean City
December 5
Lights, garland, wreaths and bows adorn “The Avenue” as the parade’s bands, floats and other entries come down the street. Look out for characters like The Grinch, and Martin and Mollie Mollusk. Santa Claus provides the finale to the parade, greeting boys and girls from a horse-drawn carriage.
CHRISTMAS TRAIN VILLAGE
Duggan Hall, Spring Lake
November 29 to December 31
The Duggan Building exhibits a re-creation of the beautiful town of Spring Lake via a train village.
CRAFTS AT CHRISTMAS SHOW
Cape May Convention Center, Cape May
December 6
The annual craft expo will have dozens of vendors set up for your holiday shopping needs.
FAMILY HOLIDAY BEACH BONFIRE
2nd & Surf Ave., North Wildwood
November 28
Enjoy music and photo ops with Santa and other winter wonderland characters, hosted by North Wildwood Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1.
FAMILY HOLIDAY CELEBRATION & TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood
December 13
There will be holiday-themed crafters and movies, photos with Santa, choir performances, a children’s craft-making table, a magician, face painting, dance performances, Story Time with Mrs. Claus, and then at 4 pm a tree lighting ceremony.
GREATER WILDWOOD JAYCEES ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE
Central Avenue, Wildwood
December 5
After the parade, winners will be announced for best decorated floats, and the most festive business lighting contest.
HOLIDAY JINGLE SIP & SHOP VENDOR MARKET
Garden State Distillery, Toms River
December 7
Jenn Zazzara of Shore Crafted brings together local makers, artisans and small businesses for a day of shopping and sipping on craft cocktails.
HOLIDAY LIGHTS TROLLEY RIDES
526 Washington St., Cape May
Select dates, November 22 to December 31
Hop onto one of Cape May’s festive trolleys. As you listen to holiday tunes, you’ll glide past the historical Victorian houses of South Jersey. This ride will blast you into the past. It’s an open-air trolley, so don’t forget to bring a blanket.
HOLIDAY TRAIN EXPO
Ocean City Music Pier, Ocean City
December 6-7
The show will feature running displays, model trains of all gauges and vendors selling various scale model trains.
HOLIDAY WONDERLAND & CHRISTMAS MARKET
Heritage Park, Manahawkin
December 13
Makers, bakers, food vendors, Santa and Mrs. Claus, fire pits, a hot cocoa bar, a beer truck benefitting the Stafford Twp. PBA, and live entertainment are all part of the holiday action.
HOLIDAYS AT HENVILLE: SHOPPING VILLAGE
MudHen Brewing Company, Wildwood
December 7, 14 and 21
Browse vendors in the parking lot while enjoying hot cocoa, s’mores stations, caricatures, face painting, and live music in the Biergarten. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on-site for photos.
ISLAND HOLIDAY WEEKEND
Stone Harbor
November 29-30
The parade on Saturday is one part of the Island Holiday Weekend, which includes a holiday market, carousel, scavenger hunt, Festival of Trees, magician tricks, pet parade, tree lighting, Downtown Holiday Dash, winter crafts, and a holiday cookie stroll.
KRINGLE COVE
Whitechapel Projects, Long Branch
November 28 – January 3
Shop all weekend from different vendors set up each day at The Long Branch Holiday Bazaar. There will be a live DJ, holiday craft workshops and face painting for kids. Kringle Cove will have each room decorated so that you feel like you’re in a holiday movie. Make your own s’mores or order pizza. There will be pet photos with Santa on Saturday. You can make a reservation for Very Merry Brunchmas or the Christmas Carol Cocktail Experience.
LBIF HOLIDAY MARKET
Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences, Loveladies
November 15 – December 14
Artists, makers and small businesses from across LBI will be selling fine art, ceramics, jewelry, textiles, and handcrafted gifts. Many pieces come from LBIF’s ceramics residents and the Plein Air Plus exhibition. On Small Business Saturday (November 29) there will be special local vendors exclusive to this day only, making it an opportunity to find one-of-a-kind gifts. There will be live music, food trucks, festive drinks, hot chocolate, and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
MARLIN CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND
1326 Laurel Avenue in Sea Girt
Throughout December
This year’s over-the-top Christmas display uses projection mapping and a light show to feature scenes from various Christmas movies. New for 2025 is Santa’s Toy Factory, the Candy Cane Lane Projection Show, an 8-foot Santa with reindeer, an expanded Christmas tree farm, new Nightmare Before Christmas characters, and a Disney Christmas Village. Tune your radio to 88.9 FM to hear synchronized music to the lights.
MIRACLE BAR
Avenue, Pier Village, Long Branch
Throughout December
While the decor is Instaworthy on its own, the true star of the show is the cocktail menu at each location. Noteworthy drinks at Miracle locations include the Christmapolitan, a twist on the classic made with vodka, elderflower, dry vermouth, spiced cranberry sauce, rosemary, lime and absinthe mist and for those who have been naughty, there’s the Hot Buttered Rum, served hot. Other deliciously merry cocktails such as Carol Barrell, Snowball Old Fashioned, Koala Kooler and Christmas Cricket are sold in mugs and glasses you can purchase for your at-home Christmas parties.
NOYES HOLIDAY MARKET & GINGERBREAD VILLAGE
Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University, Atlantic City
December 6-7
Activities include craft vendors, photos with Santa, a gingerbread village contest, live music, food and drinks, craft making, and a toy drive.
OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS ON THE FARM & WALK-THROUGH LIGHT SHOW
Allaire Community Farm, Wall Twp.
Friday to Sunday, November 28 to December 28
Stroll through the beautifully lit 25-acre farm, visit a festive 100-year-old barn-turned-Christmas market, watch classic holiday movies, marvel at the model train exhibit, and bring the kids to the new interactive game area. There are yuletide wagon rides and the return of the Polar Express Train, featuring dazzling light tunnels and a breathtaking 45-foot Santa.
OUTDOOR WINTER WONDERLAND
Middletown Sports Camp, Middletown
November 28 to March 8
Considered part Jersey Shore (aka Sandy Hook) and part Bayshore, this will be the place to skate, sip and shop during the holiday season, with its new winter festival that includes festive music, lights and décor; vendors; fire pits; igloos; and the center of it all, the outdoor ice skating rink.
PIER VILLAGE HOLIDAY EVENTS
Pier Village, Long Branch
Through December
The Jersey Shore gets a touch of the North Pole with Barkfast with Santa and pup photos with Mr. Claus, a gingerbread house making contest for dogs, a Pink Friday Shopping and Food Crawl, and a Christmas tree lighting.
PORTA HOLIDAY MARKET
Porta, Asbury Park
November 30
The holiday pop-up sip & shop will feature 25 local handmade artists and makers.
SANTA PAWS
North Wildwood Entertainment District
December 6
Your pets will get doggie treats and photo ops with Santa at participating establishments along the route. Prizes will be awarded for best doggie costumes.
SANTA’S HIDEAWAY ADVENTURE
The Ocean Casino Resort, Atlantic City
Through December 24
Santa’s secret hideaway is located at the end of a virtual elevator adventure, which takes you from the AC Boardwalk to the North Pole. After spending 15 minutes snapping photos with Santa, you can snack on hot chocolate and cookies.
SEAS & GREETINGS
Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, Pt. Pleasant
December 13, 20, 27-28
jenkinsons.com/series/seas-greetings
Holiday activities get a Jersey Shore twist, including appearances by Diving Santa, pictures with holiday princesses, the Bubble Snow Show, a holiday magic show, Fishmas Tales and ice skating.
SHIP BOTTOM ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE
Borough of Ship Bottom
December 6
This beach town on LBI will celebrate 100 years of Christmas as the parade travels from 5th to 25th streets along the boulevard.
SNOWFEST SATURDAY
Avalon
November 29
There will be bounce houses, obstacle courses, slides, trampolines, a rock wall, ice sculpting and carnival rides. Santa will be in his sleigh at 21st & Dune Drive for family photos, and there will be holiday performances throughout the day.
SOMERS POINT CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY PARADE
Somers Point
December 6
The parade begins at Dawes Avenue School and continues down Shore Road to City Hall, with groups of bands, floats, decorated trucks and boats, and of course Santa along the way.
SPECTACULAR SHOP SMALL EXTRAVAGANZA
Margate
November 28-30
Aside from great sales and discounts for shoppers, the parade through town will be led by America Sign Language (ASL) Santa on Saturday.
SUNDAES WITH SANTA AND FRIENDS
Brigantine Community Presbyterian Church, Brigantine
December 13
Meet Santa, make your own ice cream sundaes, and spend time with the Absecon Veterinary Hospital Animal Therapy Team. Proceeds benefit lifesaving treatment costs for animals through Laddie’s Legacy.
TINSELTOWN HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE
Atlantic City
Through December
Amp up your holiday spirit with a collection of lights displays, tree lightings, the Festival of Trees, the Noyes Holiday Market & Gingerbread Village, the Winter Wonderland Parade on the Boardwalk, and holiday theater shows (like The Nutcracker and Christmas in Concert).
TOMS RIVER TRAIN SHOW
Toms River Elks Lodge, Toms River
December 21
Members of the Ocean County Society of Model Railroaders will set up operating Legacy, TMCC, and Lionchief trains on fastrack layouts. Joe Mania, of JLM Trains in Freehold, who is a Lionel authorized service center who repairs and restores prewar, postwar and modern trains, will be meeting train lovers as well.
VENTNOR CITY TWILIGHT HOLIDAY PARADE
Ventnor Avenue, Ventnor
December 6
There will marching bands, fire trucks, floats, classic cars, Santa and Mrs. Claus in the parade.
WILDWOOD’S WINTER WONDERLAND
Holly Beach Park, Wildwood
December 12-13, 19-20; then continuing through mid-January
The light show will run every half hour from 5-9 pm, along with free hot chocolate, popcorn, a letters to Santa station, and a visit from Mr. & Mrs. Claus. The light show and decorations will be on display nightly from 6:30–7 pm through mid-January.
WINTER VILLAGE
Excursion Park, Sea Isle City
November 28-29
Families can visit with Santa and his special guests, plus watch holiday performances, listen to Christmas songs, and shop for gifts in the Shopping Village.
Editor’s Note: Always check times, dates and weather updates before heading out.
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Read More:
The Ultimate Guide to Holiday Attractions in NJ, NY and PA
Where to See Holiday Lights in New Jersey
Christmas Markets In and Around New Jersey to Visit This Season
