Christmas in Cape May’s Kick-off Weekend is Almost Here

There's nothing like the old-fashioned Christmas in Cape May and the festive holiday season is about to begin.

Cape May celebrates its Victorian Christmas beginning with Holiday Preview Weekend, Nov. 17-19, and lasting until the New Year.

Holidays in Cape May feature wreaths, trees, and trimmings of a Victorian Christmas with historic house and trolley tours, special events with Santa, and more.

Cape May's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

Santa Claus flips the switch on the huge evergreen Christmas tree on the grounds of the historic 1879 Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., Saturday, Nov. 18, from 5- 7:30 pm, complete with a 35-member brass band. Admission is free.

The  Physick Estate's Old-fashioned Christmas Exhibit

The 1879 Physick House Museum is authentically decorated for a Victorian Christmas during the holiday season. Saturday, Nov. 18, take the free, self-guided tour of the museum from 5 - 8 PM.

This exhibit features holiday traditions that bring to life a child’s Christmas fantasy, complete with the Dept. 56 Dickens Village, model trains, vintage Christmas family photos, toys, and more. Admission is free.

The Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tour

Climb aboard the trolley and hear the tales of hauntings unearthed in Cape May by renowned psychic medium and author Craig McManus. Begins and ends at the Ocean Street Trolley Stop on Friday, Nov. 17 at 7 & 8 pm during Holiday Preview Weekend.

The Cape May Christmas Candlelight House Tours

This year is the 50th anniversary of the Cape May Candlelight House Tours, the Cape May MAC’s most popular tour of the year, celebrating the best of Cape May at Christmas.

Travel the gaslit streets, hear musicians and carolers, and visit a large selection of homes, inns, B&Bs, churches, and hotels where you’ll step inside to see both Victorian and more modern interiors beautifully decorated for the holidays.

The tour is held on three Saturdays, Dec. 2, 9, and 16, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and tickets sell out fast.