Cape May, New Jersey, transforms into a magical winter wonderland during the holiday season, blending its beachy Victorian charm with festive cheer. Known for its historic architecture and coastal beauty, the seaside town provides an enchanting array of family-friendly activities to celebrate Christmas. Whether strolling along gaslit streets on a walking house tour, savoring seasonal treats at Congress Hall, or hopping on a themed trolley ride to take in the twinkling lights, there’s no shortage of ways to soak in the holiday spirit in this picturesque destination. Read on to learn more about all there is to do in Cape May, New Jersey at Christmas time.
Visit the Winter Wonderland at Congress Hall
Each holiday season, Congress Hall (200 Congress Place) — the oldest seaside resort in America — transforms into a Winter Wonderland with an outdoor shopping village and children’s activities. The Enchanted Vendor Village showcases local and regional merchants selling everything from clothing and jewelry to Philadelphia sports fan merch and pet accessories. Kids can enjoy a spin on the merry-go-round or take a train-bound tour through Congress Hall’s North Pole on the Congress Hall Express. The Winter Wonderland at Congress Hall is open every Thursday through Sunday through December 31st, 2024. Hours of operation can be found on the Congress Hall website.
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Shop + Stroll Down the Washington Street Mall
From fashion and accessories to home goods and specialty items, the Washington Street Mall has it all. Washington Street Mall is a pedestrian-only outdoor mall located just a few blocks from the beach. The 75+ small businesses that make up the Washington Street Mall celebrated Small Business Saturday on November 30th, 2024 with many businesses hosting sales and specials. Plus, a Christmas choir performed and Santa Claus stopped by for photos from 2PM to 4PM. On December 13th, 2024 the mall will host Hospitality Night which is a popular Washington Street Mall tradition where participating merchants provide discounts and specials along with free bites and drinks. A full directory of stores at the Washington Street Mall can be found on its website.
Watch the West Cape May Christmas Parade
The West Cape May Community Christmas Parade has been kicking off the holiday season on the first Saturday in December for the last 58 years. The holiday parade marches through town beginning at the West Cape May Volunteer Firehouse (732 Broadway), heading South on Broadway, turning east on Perry, and finishing its route through to the end of Carpenter Lane in the City of Cape May. This year, the parade will be held on Saturday, December 7th, 2024 at 5PM.
Attend a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Cape May hosts several different tree-lighting ceremonies during the holiday season. On Saturday, November 23rd, 2024 locals and visitors enjoyed a free performance of holiday classics by the John Walter Cape Community Band and watched Santa light the tree at the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate (1048 Washington Street), which is also Cape May’s Victorian House Museum. The tree lighting ran from 5PM to 8PM. La Mer Beachfront Resort (1317 Beach Avenue) hosted its Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, November 30th from 5PM to 8PM with live entertainment, firepits, festive drinks, and a visit from Santa Claus. Congress Hall’s annual tree lighting ceremony will take place on Friday, December 6th featuring live music from the Festival Choir. The Cape May City Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will also be taking place on Friday, December 6th at 7PM in Rotary Park (400 Lafayette Street) with caroling and a special visit from Santa Claus.
Go on a Holiday-Themed Trolley Ride
The Cape May MAC (Museums + Art + Culture located at 1048 Washington Street) hosts a few different trolley ride experiences during the holiday season. The “Holiday Lights” trolley ride takes passengers through the historic streets of Cape May to admire the gorgeous Victorian houses adorned with twinkling lights. “Santa’s Trolley Rides” are led by Mrs. Claus who tells stories and leads holiday songs on a jolly holiday ride through town. The “Spirited Cape May Christmas Trolley Ride” shares stories of ghostly appearances in the 1879 Physick House as well as recordings of shadowy spirits strolling around Cape May on cold December nights. The trolleys are open-air and blankets are recommended.
Take a Christmas Candlelight House Tour
Cape May MAC launched its first Christmas house tour in 1974 and it has been a beloved annual tradition and a highlight of the holiday season in Cape May ever since. The Christmas Candlelight House Tour will be provided on December 7th, 14th, and 21st in 2024. Participants will stroll along gaslit streets and visit homes, inns, bed and breakfasts, churches, and hotels to see interiors decorated for the holidays. This self-guided walking tour is centered in a 3/4-square-mile area of the Cape May Historic District. Ticket purchasers obtain a map and wristband the day before or the day of the tour at the Physick Estate (1048 Washington Street). Advance purchase is highly recommended. Trolley shuttles will not be provided. Tickets for the Christmas Candlelight House Tour can be purchased here.
Eat, Drink, + Be Merry
From guided walking tours to last-minute gift shopping, a visit to Cape May during the holiday season will definitely work up a thirst and an appetite. For light fare, visitors are invited to experience the magic of the holiday season at La Mer Beachfront Resort’s Nutcracker Tea Party on December 8th and 15th, 2024. The resort is also hosting Brunch with Santa and Mrs. Claus on December 14th and December 21st at 1317 Beach Avenue. Exit Zero Filling Station — a casual American restaurant with a retro diner vibe — is hosting themed brunches throughout December featuring The Polar Express, Elf, and How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Exit Zero is also hosting a brunch with the Grinch on Sunday, December 15th with a themed menu at 110 Sunset Boulevard. For those looking to indulge in some adult beverages, the Willow Creek Winery is hosting its annual Sleigh the Holidays Sip + Shop market event at 168 Stevens Street.
Check Out “An Old Fashioned Christmas Exhibit”
“An Old-Fashioned Christmas Exhibit: Holiday Traditions through the Years,” is a yuletide display at The Carroll Gallery located in the Carriage House on the grounds of the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate. The charming exhibit features a stately Christmas tree, a Dept. 56 Dickens Village, model trains, nostalgic photos from Christmas past, toys, a place to drop off letters to Santa, and much more. Admission to “An Old Fashioned Christmas Exhibit” is free.
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Plan a Holiday-Themed Weekend Getaway
The hotels, resorts, Airbnbs, and inns in Cape May are just as magical in the winter as they are in the summertime. Beach Plum Farm (140 Stevens Street) provides a special, holly jolly “Holiday Home” getaway that includes a guided candle-making session at POUR (405 West Perrt Street), a wreath-making and table-scaping session, and a farm-fresh lunch on Monday afternoon + breakfast each morning while staying at its adorable farm cottages. The Mason Cottage (623-625 Columbia Avenue) — a Cape May bed and breakfast known for its award-winning holiday decorations and designer Christmas trees — is a quaint and charming inn with a cozy parlor fireplace, which is perfect for relaxing in front of after a day of shopping and sightseeing. The Lokal Hotel (5 Stockton Place) is a micro-resort and boutique hotel that is pet-friendly and has a heated pool. With their unique blend of charm, comfort, and holiday cheer, Cape May’s hotels provide a wonderful home base for creating unforgettable holiday memories.
We Visited Every Rest Stop on the GSP; Here’s What We Liked at Each
Rest stops along the Garden State Parkway provide food, fuel, clean restrooms, and education for famous New Jerseyians. Out-of-state visitors and local travelers can take a break from their vehicles to enjoy exhibits with artifacts, interactive video monitors, and memorabilia, as well as a plethora of fast food eateries, coffee shops, and convenience stores. In 2021, Governor Phil Murphy celebrated National New Jersey Day by announcing that the state's turnpike authority would rename the service areas along the Garden State Parkway after nine members of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Local icons who received the high honor of a dedicated rest stop include Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston, Judy Blume, Jon Bon Jovi, Connie Chung, James Gandolfini, Larry Doby, Celia Cruz, and Bruce Willis. Read on to learn more about the service areas and rest stops on New Jersey’s Garden State Parkway.
Photo Credit: Famartin, Creative Commons
Bruce Willis Service Area — Cape May
18 Garden State Parkway MP 18, Ocean View, NJ 08230
Milepost: 18.3, Center median between exits 17 and 20
Actor Bruce Willis, best known for his roles in the Die Hard franchise and the 1980s show Moonlighting, is not a New Jersey native, but while growing up, his family moved to Carneys Point, where he attended Penns Grove High School. Services at the Bruce Willis Service Area include APlus Convenience Store, Sunoco Service Station, restrooms, and the New Jersey Tourism Information Center, which is open all year, 7 days a week, from 8:30AM to 4:30PM. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, this service area is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is open from 6AM to 10PM for the rest of the year.
James Gandolfini Service Area — Montvale
172 Garden State Parkway, Montvale, NJ 07645
Milepost: 171, Center median between exits 171 and 172, north and southbound
James Gandolfini — best known for his role as Tony Soprano in the HBO television series The Sopranos — grew up in Park Ridge and graduated from Rutgers University. Services at the James Gandolfini Service Area include Dunkin', Auntie Anne's, Nathan's, Burger King, Applegreen Convenience Store, Sunoco Service Station, and restrooms.
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Larry Doby Service Area — Brookdale North
Garden State Parkway, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
Milepost: 153, between exits 151 and 153A, northbound
Larry Doby has a rest stop in Bloomfield named after him. The late baseball star who grew up in Paterson and later became the first Black player in the American League following Jackie Robinson. Services at the Larry Doby Service Area include an APlus Convenience Store, a Sunoco service station, electric vehicle charging stations (EVgo), and restrooms.
Connie Chung Service Area — Brookdale South
Garden State Parkway, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
Milepost: 153
Even though television journalist Connie Chung was born in Washington D.C., her award-winning contributions to journalism and long-term residence in the state got her a dedicated rest stop on the parkway. The Connie Chung Service area has a Burger King, Applegreen, Starbucks, McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, and restrooms.
Whitney Houston Service Area — Vauxhall
1 Vauxhall Road, Union, NJ 07083
Milepost: 142.3
Singer, actress, and film producer Whitney Houston grew up in East Orange and got her start singing in a Newark church. The Whitney Houston rest stop, located in Union, New Jersey, has a Shake Shack, Popeyes, Sunoco, Applegreen, and restrooms. The commuter lot at the Whitney Houston Service Area is open from 4AM to 2AM Monday through Friday, except holidays. All other days, there is a two-hour limit.
Jon Bon Jovi Service Area — Cheesequake
124 Garden State Parkway, South Amboy, NJ 08879
Milepost: 124, Center median between exits 124 and 124, just south of the Driscoll Bridge, north and southbound
Jon Bon Jovi, the lead singer of the rock band Bon Jovi, grew up in Sayreville. The rest stop formerly known as Cheesequake has a Starbucks, Burger King, Auntie Anne's, Popeyes, Z Market, and restrooms. As of August 2024, there are no fuel services available at this location until further notice. There are two commuter lots in the Jon Bon Jovi Service Area. The carpool lot at the south end is open from 4AM to 2AM Monday through Friday, except holidays. There is a two-hour parking limit on all other days. Bus service is provided by Academy from the lot at the north end of the service area.
Judy Blume Service Area — Monmouth
100 Garden State Parkway, Wall Township, NJ 07719
Milepost: 100, Located between Interchanges 98 and 100 north and southbound
Judy Blume, the celebrated children’s author who grew up in Elizabeth, has a service area named for her on the Garden State Parkway right at the Jersey Shore. The Judy Blume Service Area has a Starbucks, Shake Shack, Auntie Anne's, Z Market, a Sunoco service station, and restrooms. This service area has three commuter lots. The lot known as “Belmar South” is used primarily by carpoolers and can be accessed through backroads in Wall, New Jersey. The commuter lots are open from 4AM to 2AM Monday through Friday, except holidays. There is a two-hour parking limit on all other days. Bus Service from the Judy Blume Service Area is provided by the Academy at the Belmar North and Lukoil Commuter Lots.
Celia Cruz Service Area — Forked River
76 Garden State Parkway, Forked River, NJ 08731
Milepost: 76, Center median between exits 74 and 80 north and southbound
Celia Cruz, most known as the “Queen of Salsa,” is one of the most influential and iconic figures in Latin music. Cruz lived in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and her dedicated service area is located in Forked River. Services at the Celia Cruz rest stop include Burger King, Z Market, Dunkin', Nathan's, a Sunoco service station, and restrooms. The commuter lot at the Celia Cruz Service Area is open from 4AM to 2AM Monday through Friday, except holidays. There is a two-hour parking limit on all other days. Academy provides bus service to New York City from this location.
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Frank Sinatra Service Area — Atlantic
41.4 Garden State Parkway, Galloway, NJ 08205
Milepost: 41.4, Center median between exits 40 and 44 north and southbound
It's no surprise that the Atlantic City rest area is dedicated to Frank Sinatra, the late singer, and actor who grew up in Hoboken and often performed in A.C. throughout the 1940s into the 1960s. The Frank Sinatra Service Area has Dunkin', Burger King, Auntie Anne's, Z Market, a Sunoco service station, and restrooms. The commuter lot is open from 4AM to 2AM Monday through Friday, except holidays. There is a two-hour parking limit on all other days.
