Christmas on the Cape: Better Than Hallmark!

Picture this: It’s a starry December night. Towering above you is a 30-foot Christmas tree illuminated by 8,000 twinkly lights. Nearby, a rosy-cheeked elf hands out freshly baked cookies. Eager children board a miniature Polar Express, while couples canoodle under fuzzy blankets in a horse-drawn carriage. Everything smells like pine needles and hot cocoa. 

We know what you’re thinking: Why is Morey’s Piers describing the opening scene of a Hallmark film? Have we given up the roller coaster business in favor of cheesy screenwriting? Throw in a couple maple-syrup farmers and a bad guy from the big city trying to ruin a small-town Christmas pageant, and we might just be onto something! 

But here’s the thing, guys: We’re not actually talking about the Hallmark channel here. (A couple of Scrooges from our marketing department have actually banned that station from the office. How many cookie-related plot lines can one person endure?!)

What we’re describing is Christmas on the Cape, the closest thing you’ll find to a real-life Hallmark set. From Stone Harbor to Cape May, we’ve got carolers. We’ve got parades. We’ve got twinkly lights and mistletoe and more holiday spirit than a baker from Cookie Jar. (Yes, that’s the actual name of a town in the Hallmark universe. Yes, the characters actually manage to say it with a straight face.) 

Feeling paralyzed by choice? Don’t get your Christmas PJs in a twist. We’ve compiled our five favorite, festive happenings below. But (fair warning) participating in any of the following may turn you into a holiday fanatic who wears ugly Christmas sweaters, decorates too early and — gasp! — watches Hallmark. 

Your secret’s safe with us.

1. Shop the Winter Holiday Sale

Let’s be real: Holiday shopping can be stressful. But the elves at Morey’s Piers have your back! Running now through January 3, they’re offering deep discounts of up to 40 percent on various pier pass options for the 2020 season. The Wild Pass, for instance — which allows for all-day, all-season access to rides and water parks, and typically retails for $400 — is now available for $275 (or even less for certain age groups). Or opt instead for amusement ride and water park 10 packs – tickets make for great stocking stuffers. With savings up to $190, “it’s definitely something worth screaming about,” says Maggie Warner, Morey’s PR manager. Those looking to shop the deals are encouraged to visit moreyspiers.com, or to call 1-866-MOREYS1 daily between 8am and 8pm.

2. Visit a Winter Wonderland

Every year, the storied Congress Hall hotel in Cape May, just four exits south of Wildwood, turns their grand, ocean-side lawn into a magical Winter Wonderland complete with a carousel, poolside holiday market reminiscent of Manhattan’s Union Square, a 30-foot Christmas tree with 8,000 lights (we weren’t kidding about that!) and a choo-choo train for the kids. The whole thing kicks off on December 6 with a tree-lighting ceremony, live performances from the Festival Choir and homemade treats served up by some of the North Pole’s finest.  While in town, 

you can also take a cozy holiday lights tour in a horse-drawn carriage through the festive, Victorian streets of Cape May’s historic district (BYO hot chocolate), or opt for a holiday trolley ride.

3. Watch a parade

Small-town Christmas parades are like snowflakes or Curley’s Fries — no two are ever exactly alike. Prefer yours short and sweet? Check out the Greater Wildwood Jaycees Christmas Parade on December 6. Immediately following, you’ll want to head over to Byrne Plaza on Pacific Avenue for a holiday festival featuring carnival games, a tree-lighting ceremony, local vendors and live entertainment. The fun continues through the next day… and word on the street is that Santa may even make an appearance. Prefer your parades a bit more elaborate? The 54th annual West Cape May Community Christmas Parade (December 7, 5pm) takes over the entire town and lasts for several hours (see: a dozen marching bands). Wherever you end up, keep your eyes peeled — the Morey’s promo car might just make an appearance. 

4. Have breakfast with the big guy

It’s your last chance to plead your way onto the nice list! Several local venues are offering Breakfast with Santa, including the Inn of Cape May. For breakfast AND storytime, check out the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal. If you want to wear your Christmas jammies (and who doesn’t?), The Reeds in Stone Harbor is offering a PJ-friendly mealcomplete with holiday crafts and activities. Or, if you’d rather conspire with a mean Christmas villain, Cape May’s Exit Zero Filling Station is hosting Brinch with the Grinch, featuring green eggs and ham guaranteed to make your heart grow three sizes. 

5. Attend a wheel lighting!

You’ve heard of tree lightings – there’s a pretty great one happening at North Wildwood’s Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Courtyard at 4:30pm on December 6, and the free event will feature music, refreshments, tours of the lighthouse and — rumor has it — Santa. But the less conventional set will also want to check out the 98,688 LED lights of the Giant Wheel at Morey’s Piers, which will be lit up after dark throughout December with a holiday display. It’s been so popular in years past, people have lined up along Schellenger’s Avenue in the leadup to Christmas to get a glimpse of Santa’s face or a twinkling Christmas tree on the 156-foot ride. And word on the street — er, boardwalk — is that Anthony Canzano, audio-video tech for Morey’s Piers, has a new character up his sleeve for this year’s show (Spoiler: He’ll have two eyes made of coal…). We’ll see you there!