26 Ways to Fall in Love with Cape May County
Summer may be packing it in, but that’s no reason to stop filling your calendar with fun and festivities. After all, autumn takes its shoulder season role seriously in Cape May County. There are pumpkins to pick and local wines to imbibe, car and craft shows to peruse and Halloween spooks to brave. Whether you’re a history buff, nature lover or foodie – or anything in between – we’ve rounded up 26 of the best ways to fall in love with Cape May County this season.
Festivals, Fairs & Show:
Green may not usually be on an autumnal color palette, but it certainly takes center stage when the Cape May County Ancient Order of Hibernians hosts its annual North Wildwood Irish Festival. The three-day festival runs from September 25 to 27, bringing Irish tunes, dancing and cuisine to town. The free 36th annual event includes a grand parade down Surf Avenue, streets of vendors touting Celtic crafts and Irish apparel, and so much more.
Do you like to quilt, or perhaps just like admiring the beautiful creations sewn by others?
Either way, you’re sure to enjoy the annual South Shore Stitchers Quilt Show at the Upper Township Community Center, 1790 Route 50, Tuckahoe, scheduled this year for October 16 to October 18. The theme of “Every Quilt Tells a Story” celebrates the South Shore Stitchers Quilt Guild’s 40 years of storytelling through quilting. There will be vendors, demonstrations and a raffle quilt. Admission is $10 for one day or $15 for a multi-day pass. Kids aged younger than 12 are admitted free.
There’s no better way to enjoy the fall season than with a harvest festival, and the Sea Isle City Harvest Classic returns to Excursion Park from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, October 17, packed with vendors, activities for kids, live music and more. Bonus: Local businesses and organizations will have scarecrows decorating the area, and revelers can vote for their favorite. Fall is a popular time for car shows, and there’s no shortage of them in Cape May County. To name just a few, check out Ocean City’s 51st Annual Fall Cruisin’ the Boards Classic Car & Street Rod Show from 9am to 5:15pm on September 12, the Cape May Antique Car Show from 8:30am to 3pm on September 19, and Wildwood’s Fall Boardwalk Classic Car Show the weekend of September 25.
Cheers to The Season
Wind down – or should we say “wine” down? – and relax by visiting a local winery, indulging in seasonal wines and ciders, and taking in the beauty of vineyards in the fall. Select a glass with warm baking spices, a background of cranberry or blackberry, or notes of vanilla and cinnamon. There’s Cape May Winery & Vineyard, Willow Creek Winery & Farm, Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery – the list goes on, much like the selection of delicious wines at each locale. Maybe you’d rather fall in love with a new brew? There are some stellar breweries in the county, and each likes to cater to the calendar with seasonal brews on tap, which include spiced pumpkin beers, rich porters and fresh-hop ales in the fall.
Swing by Mudhen Brewing Company in Wildwood, Behr Brewing in Cape May, Cape May Brewing Company in Erma or Slack Tide Brewing Company in Cape May Court House to get started – although that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Cape May MAC will host the Harvest Brewfest from 10am to 5pm. Free to attend, the event showcases local craft beers, food vendors, artisans and live music. Plus, the event supports the nonprofits museum education programs. Dont forget that the many (many!) amazing restaurants in Cape May County also cater to the fall by rotating seasonal eats onto their menus. We’re talking pumpkin gnocchi, butternut squash ravioli, wild mushroom risotto, apple crisp – the List goes on! Call ahead or check out local eateries on social pages to see what’s on the menu.
Spooky (and Sweet)
There are Halloween-centric events for all ages in Cape May County. Let’s start with Boo at the Zoo, which returns to the Cape May County Park and Zoo from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, October 24. The free family-friendly event welcomes visitors of all ages to wear a costume to the park and take part in games, inflatables, entertainment and more. A costume contest kicks off at 11am. Of course, you’d be remiss to miss the annual Ocean City Halloween Parade on Thursday, October 29, stepping off at 7:15pm. The Ocean City Exchange Club-sponsored event travels from Sixth to 11th streets along Asbury Avenue. And it’s not only free to watch – it’s free to be part of the parade, too!
Register at ochp.blogspot.com. Maybe ghost tours are more your thing? You could easily book one for every week of October by traveling around Cape May County. Ghosts By the Coast is a great way to learn about spooky local lore in Ocean City. Cape May itself has at least three tours: Ghosts & Mysteries Tour, Cape May Continental Ghost Tours, and Ghost Capers. Historic Cold Spring Village has some special otherworldly weekend events, too. Many local ghost tours recommend reservations, so check ahead.
Get Out In Nature
Did you know Cape May is considered one of the best bird-watching locations in North America, particularly when it comes to migratory seasons? We’re talking tens of thousands of birds flying through the county each fall alone. Check out the Cape May Bird Observatory for guided walks, trail recommendations and the best way to see as many species as possible. Speaking of Cape May, have you heard of Cape May diamonds? The unusual quartz stones wash up on the shores of Sunset Beach and Higbee Beach down in Cape May Point, and while not real diamonds, if you shine up the clear, smooth pebbles, they’ll shine like a diamond, too.
Cape May Point is also home to some beautiful trails to explore – as is much of Cape May County, all the way up to Ocean City: South Jersey Trails (southjerseytrails.org) is a great resource to find a new favorite hike in the area, including details like level of difficulty, accessibility features and if theres a public restroom nearby (because that’s a detail we all like to know). Not into hiking? It’s easy to check out Cape May County by sea, too. There is a bevy of boat rides, from fishing to dolphin watching, up and down Jersey’s southern shores. Or why not enjoy a scenic ride on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry and pay a visit to our neighbor to the south?
Expand local history knowledge
Cape May County’s beginnings date back to the 1600s, and there are a number of museums and organizations marking the county’s history over the past 300 years. The Ocean City Historical Museum, housed in the community center on Simpson Avenue, is home to beautiful exhibits looking at various aspects of the town’s past, including its earliest years in the late 1800s, the Boardwalk, the Sindia, lifeguards and so much more. The museum also offers self-guided walking tours to take in local history on foot.
Did you know that Cape May is home to the second-largest collection of Victorian buildings in the country, second only to San Francisco? Not too shabby. Actually, it’s not shabby at all – these beautiful structures with deep gabled roofs, turrets and gingerbread adornments are some of the most gorgeous buildings you’ll ever see. Take a stroll around Cape May to take it all in – or stop by the Emlen Physick Estate building to take an inside tour of a Victorian home. Another spot where you can step back in time is at the Endicott Reardon Family Museum in Upper Township, which highlights local life in the 1920s. The home that houses the museum is set up just like it would have been 100 years ago. There are special events on Tuesdays (reservations required), and entry is free, but keep in mind the museum closes for the season on September 30.
Liven things up with arts & culture
There is no reason to head up to Broadway to take in a show when Cape May County touts some of its own spectacular theater troupes. Some even bring Broadway stars to South Jersey! Cape May Stage will perform Your Name Means Dream – answering what makes us truly human – from September 9 through October 18, as well as three special performances of The American Soldier on October 23 through 25. Nearby East Lynne Theater Company, also located in Cape May, will finish its run of Lunar Eclipse through September 20, next pivoting to War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast from October 8 through November 1.
While the Greater Ocean City Theatre Company doesn’t have a production on stage this fall, the group is bringing back its annual Halloween Party at the Flanders Hotel. Set for 7pm on October 30, ticketed guests (proceeds benefit the nonprofit theater company) can come in costume to enjoy an evening of delicious eats, music and dancing, costume contests, games and more. Guests must be 21 or older. This year’s theme is Phantom/Masquerade.
Farm fresh & ripe for the picking
Heading to a farm for an afternoon is so very fall, isn’t it? And luckily, that’s a very easy thing to do in Cape May County. Stiles Farm and Nursery in Cape May Court House is a great spot to pick apples, offering a variety of the favorite fruit. Keep in mind, this farm is cash only.
At Rea’s Farm in West Cape May, picking a pumpkin is a whole experience, with hayrides, live music Fridays and even a Harvest Fest in September. Complete the whole autumn vibe with a cup of hot cider.
And if you don’t want to pick your own fall fare – no shame in that – stop by Andy’s Countryside Farm Market in Petersburg. You’ll have your choice of various types of pumpkins and gourds in all sizes, plus their mammoth mums are amazing. A lot of festivals celebrate our local Cape May County farm scene, too.
Don’t miss the Upper Township Historical Society’s AppleFest held the first Saturday of October at the John Wesley Gandy Farmstead in Greenfield. There are apple treats galore, plus an apple pie contest, vendors and farm tours. And on October 10, the West Cape May Lima Bean Festival returns from 9am to 4pm with live entertainment, magic acts, vendors and – of course – a spotlight on lima beans with recipes and eats.
By Kristen Dowd