Wildwood Business Improvement District Assists in Funding Downtown Holiday Initiatives & Festivities

WILDWOOD – The Wildwood Business Improvement District (Wildwood BID or WBID) is helping Downtown Wildwood prepare for the holiday season this year by funding and sponsoring several holiday initiatives and festivities to attract shoppers to the downtown throughout December.
Illuminating the streetscape of Downtown Wildwood for the holiday season is a major initiative the WBID has taken on, in conjunction with the City of Wildwoods. All-new holiday lights decorating Pacific Avenue from 26th Street to Cresse Avenue are being installed – with the WBID funding the actual holiday lights, and the City of Wildwood paying for installation and labor costs.
In addition to funding the holiday lights from 26th Street to Cresse Avenue, the WBID, in conjunction with the Greater Wildwood Jaycees, is also sponsoring a Downtown Wildwood Holiday Decorating Contest. Nearly all of Downtown Wildwood’s businesses along Pacific Avenue will participate by decorating their storefronts with the bright and shining holiday lights in an effort to attract visitors to the downtown to enjoy the beautiful displays while doing holiday shopping in town.
Businesses taking part in the Downtown Wildwood Holiday Decorating Contest will be judged on Nov. 28 and 29 for a chance to win a plaque during the Greater Wildwood Jaycees Holiday Parade awards ceremony on Fri., Dec. 2 inside the Wildwoods Convention Center. Lights will be judged in the following categories: Most Creative, Best Theme, Most Original, Best Illuminated, Most Traditional, Best Window, Best Door and Best Overall.
The Wildwood BID is also sponsoring part of the entertainment for the Greater Wildwood Jaycees Christmas Parade on Fri., Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. by securing and funding performances from two well-known marching bands: the Original Hobo Band of Pitman, NJ and the Caesar Rodney Brass Band of Wilmington, DE.
The Greater Wildwood Jaycees Christmas Parade, led by VVA Veterans of America Chapter 955 and Wildwood American Legion Post 184, steps off from 15th Avenue in North Wildwood and heads south along Central and Pacific Avenues through the Holly Beach Station Mall to Heather Road in Wildwood Crest, proceeding east onto Ocean Avenue and making its way north, ending at the Wildwoods Convention Center.
Parade registration will begin at 6 p.m. with parade line-up at 6:30 p.m. at the North Wildwood Recreation Center, located at 10th and Central Avenues. There is no fee to submit an entry for the parade. Trophies will be awarded later in the evening during the Christmas Parade awards ceremony inside the Wildwoods Convention Center. Awards will be given in the following divisions: Community Service, Commercial, Marching Bands and Public Service. The rain date for the Christmas Parade is scheduled for Sun., Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. with parade line-up at 4 p.m.
Immediately following the Greater Wildwood Jaycees Christmas Parade, a traditional Christmas tree lighting ceremony will take place at the Wildwoods Convention Center, scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. – which will include a wreath-laying ceremony led by VVA Veterans of America Chapter 955 and Wildwood American Legion Post 184. After the tree lighting ceremony, guests can head inside the Convention Center for the Christmas Parade Awards Ceremony where free hot chocolate and cookies will be served.
Anyone interested in taking part in the Greater Wildwood Jaycees Christmas Parade can register by calling 609-729-5501.
For more information about holiday festivities taking place in Downtown Wildwood, visit www.wildwoodholiday.com.
For more information about the Wildwoods Business Improvement District please visit www.dowildwood.com or call 609-523-1602.