Make the Wildwoods Your Home for the Holidays

THE WILDWOODS — Escape the hustle and bustle of the season and head to the Wildwoods for the holidays. With shopping, hotel deals and holiday events, the Wildwoods are the perfect destination to make your season even brighter.
Enjoy the Dec. 12 annual holiday parade from the window seat of one of many restaurants along Pacific Avenue; or come any day to explore the beautifully lit, downtown businesses competing in the fifth annual Downtown Business Holiday Decorating Contest, presented by the Greater Wildwood Jaycees and the Wildwood Business Improvement District.
Many shops selling unique gift and food items – some of which can only be found in the Wildwoods, will be open through the holiday shopping season to help you find that one-of-a-kind gift. And no holiday is complete without fudge and salt water taffy from one of our many delicious fudge shops; purchase a gift package that can be shipped anywhere in the country where such shore treasures are hard to find.
A number of hotels and motels are offering their lowest rates of the year; why not head to the Wildwoods to enjoy the serenity of winter sunsets and wistful waves along the shore?
The Wildwoods are also hosting plenty of free holiday events that are perfect for the whole family:
Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony – Dec. 5:
Kick off the holiday season this Dec. at one of the Wildwoods’ historic landmarks. The tree lighting ceremony will be held in the lighthouse courtyard at 1st & Central Avenues in North Wildwood and will begin at 5:30 p.m. Enjoy holiday music, cookies, hot chocolate and a special visit from Santa Claus.
The Greater Wildwood Jaycees Christmas Parade – Dec. 12:
Watch a festive line-up of floats, fire trucks and other creatively decorated vehicles parade down the streets of the Wildwoods accompanied by Santa himself. Registration begins at 5 p.m. at the North Wildwood Recreation Center (10th & Central Avenues); lineup begins at 5:30 p.m.; and the parade steps off at 6 p.m. at 15th & Central Avenues then continues South on Central Avenue to Pacific Avenue through Wildwood to Heather Road in Wildwood Crest, then ends at the Wildwoods Convention Center.
Trophies will be awarded to the following categories: Commercial, Community Service, Marching Bands and Public Service. The parade award ceremony will be held in the lobby of the Wildwoods Convention Center at 7:15 p.m.
The rain date for the parade is Dec. 14 with registration at 4 p.m., lineup at 4:30 p.m., and the parade stepping off at 5 p.m. If weather is uncertain, listen to 98.7 The Coast. For the most up-to-date information on the parade – including a map, how to register your vehicle for the parade or to see a list of winners from last year’s parade, please visit www.WildwoodHoliday.com.
Wildwoods Convention Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony – Dec. 12:
The festivities at the Wildwoods Convention Center kick off at 6 p.m. with the opening of the Holiday Shopping Bazaar. The tree lighting ceremony will take place in front of the Convention Center at 7:15 p.m. with the Jaycees Christmas Parade Awards immediately following inside the Convention Center.
Wildwoods Family Holiday Celebration – Dec. 13:
The Wildwoods Family Holiday Celebration from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Wildwoods Convention Center will feature a full day of shopping, crafts, face painting, local school children’s choruses & band performances, music, gymnastics performances, a magician, free holiday movies and a special visit from Santa Claus.
Saturday’s exciting and fun-filled entertainment schedule for the Family Holiday Celebration is as follows:
9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Children’s Stocking Making Table & Face Painters
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Shopping Bazaar, Children’s Craft Making Table & Free Holiday Movies
9:30 a.m. – Cape Trinity Catholic Choir
10:00 a.m. – Art of Gymnastics & Cheer
10:30 a.m. –Wildwood Catholic High School
11:00 a.m. – Santa Claus Arrives
11:30 a.m. – Magician Ken Northridge
12:30 p.m. –Glenwood School Choir
12:50 p.m. –Wildwood Middle School Choir
1:10 p.m. – Wildwood High School Choir
1:30 p.m. – Avalon String Band
2:30 p.m. – Crest Memorial School Band & Choir
3:00 p.m. – Margaret Mace Choir
You can also grab a seat and enjoy the show as two separate viewing rooms play free holiday movie classics! The movie schedule is as follows:
Meeting Room 1:
9:30 a.m. – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
10:30 a.m. – Frosty the Snowman
11:30 a.m. – Santa Claus is Coming to Town
12:30 p.m. – Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol
1:30 p.m. – How the Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon version)
2:00 p.m. – A Charlie Brown Christmas
2:30 p.m. – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Meeting Room 3:
9:30 a.m. – How the Grinch Stole Christmas (starring Jim Carrey – PG)
11:30 a.m. – Polar Express (G)
1:20 p.m. – The Santa Clause (PG)
Don’t miss your chance to take part in these fun-filled, free holiday events! Book your stay now and start a family tradition by sharing the holiday season with your loved ones in the Wildwoods.
For additional information about the Wildwoods Family Holiday Celebration, please call 609-729-9000 or visit www.WildwoodHoliday.com.
For additional information about the Wildwoods, visit www.WildwoodsNJ.com or call 800-992-9732.