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Month: October 2026

Cape May County Wineries: A Fall Day Trip from Wildwood

Cape May County has more wineries than most people expect, and fall is harvest season. From Wildwood, the closest tasting room is about ten minutes away, and most of the rest are a 15- to 30-minute drive. Here is a loop you can do in an afternoon, with addresses for the main stops.

The wineries, roughly by distance from Wildwood

Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery, Rio Grande

600 South Railroad Ave, Rio Grande. The closest to Wildwood: cross the bridge on Rio Grande Avenue and it is a few minutes further. A family farm turned vineyard, with a tasting room and outdoor seating among the vines.

Jessie Creek Winery, Cape May Court House

1 North Delsea Drive (Route 47), Cape May Court House. A short drive from Rio Grande, so it pairs well with Hawk Haven if you head north instead of south.

Cape May Winery & Vineyard, Town Bank

711 Town Bank Road, Cape May, in the Town Bank area on the bay side of the peninsula. One of the older vineyards in the county.

Willow Creek Winery, West Cape May

168 Stevens Street, West Cape May. A big working farm a few minutes from Cape May’s Victorian district, so it is easy to add to a Cape May afternoon.

Natali Vineyards and Turdo Vineyards

Two smaller producers round out the loop: Natali Vineyards in Goshen on the Delaware Bay side, and Turdo Vineyards in North Cape May. Check their sites for tasting days before you go.

A sample afternoon

  1. 1 p.m.: Leave Wildwood over the Rio Grande Avenue bridge. Hawk Haven first.
  2. 2:30 p.m.: Drive south toward Cape May, stop at Willow Creek or Cape May Winery. (Prefer to stay north? Swap in Jessie Creek.)
  3. 4:30 p.m.: Walk the Washington Street Mall in Cape May, or head to Cape May Point for the lighthouse and the sunset, which comes early in October. Our lighthouse day trip guide has the details.
  4. Evening: Back in Wildwood for dinner.

Pick a driver, or book a car. The whole loop is under an hour of driving, but tastings add up.

Tips for a fall winery trip

  • Reserve. Weekend tastings can fill up in the fall. Book a time slot on the winery’s site if it takes reservations.
  • Check hours. Many wineries shorten their hours as the season winds down; each winery’s website has current days and times.
  • Bring kids? Call the winery ahead to ask. The Cape May County Zoo is free and on the way if you head north to Jessie Creek.
  • Pack a cooler bag if you plan to bring bottles home.

Where to stay

Staying in Wildwood puts you in the middle of the loop, with free beaches in the morning and wine in the afternoon. All five Coastal Collection hotels are a short drive from the Rio Grande Avenue bridge; compare them on our Wildwood hotels page. Some of our hotels close for the season in the fall, and each booking calendar shows which have rooms on your dates. For a group trip, Paradise Inn has cottages and a private house. Check Paradise Inn dates.

Coming in mid-October? The 2026 Wildwoods Fall Festival is Saturday, October 17 at Fox Park; see our Fall Festival page.

Quick answers

How many wineries are in Cape May County?

Six are covered in this guide: Cape May Winery, Hawk Haven, Jessie Creek, Natali, Turdo and Willow Creek. The Cape May wine trail’s own site has the full, current list.

Do Cape May wineries need reservations?

Many take reservations for weekend tastings, especially in the fall. Check each winery’s website before you go.

October in Wildwood 2026: Festivals, Halloween Fun and Where to Stay

Summer crowds are gone, the beach is wide open, and October in Wildwood still has something on almost every weekend. Here is the 2026 calendar from the first weekend of October to the first weekend of November, in date order, with the Coastal Collection hotel closest to each event.

The October 2026 calendar at a glance

Date Event Where Admission
Oct 1 to 4 The Race of Gentlemen: pre-1934 hot rods and motorcycles racing on the sand The beach by Morey’s Piers, 3501 Boardwalk See organizer
Oct 2 to 3 Olde Tyme Italian Festival Fox Park, Ocean Ave See organizer
Sat, Oct 10 Wildwood Days Festival (first year) Byrne Plaza, 3400 Pacific Ave Free
Sat, Oct 17 Wildwoods Fall Festival, from 11 a.m. Fox Park, 4500 Ocean Ave Free
Sat, Oct 24 North Wildwood Trunk-or-Treat Halloween Block Party, 2:30 to 5 p.m. Olde New Jersey Ave, North Wildwood Free
Sat, Oct 24 Greater Wildwood Elks Halloween Haunted House 109 W 1st Ave, North Wildwood Free
Oct 30 to 31 Haunted Gym Byrne Community Center, 406 W Youngs Ave See organizer
Sat, Nov 7 5 Mile Beach Half Marathon, 10K and 5K Starts at Rambler Road Park, Wildwood Crest Race registration

Dates come from the event organizers and the Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce calendar. Check the organizer’s page the week of, since fall weather can move outdoor events.

The Race of Gentlemen, October 1 to 4

Pre-1934 cars and motorcycles, built the way they were then, drag race on the beach near Morey’s Piers. It is loud, it is dusty, and it is one of the most photographed weekends of the year. See our TROG page for the weekend schedule.

Where to stay: Beachside Resort at 3700 Atlantic Ave is roughly an eight-minute walk from Morey’s Mariner’s Pier at Schellenger Avenue. Check Beachside Resort dates.

Olde Tyme Italian Festival, October 2 and 3

Same weekend as TROG, at Fox Park on Ocean Avenue: Italian food, music and a crowd that comes back every year. Our Italian Festival page has more. Fox Park is the same venue as the Fall Festival two weeks later, so the hotels below work for both.

Wildwood Days, Saturday, October 10

A brand-new free festival in Byrne Plaza, the downtown square on Pacific Avenue.

Where to stay: Sunrise Inn at 107 E Lincoln Ave is a few minutes’ walk from Byrne Plaza. Check Sunrise Inn dates.

Paradise Inn at 235 E Wildwood Ave is about the same distance, and its cottages and private house suit a group. Check Paradise Inn dates.

Wildwoods Fall Festival, Saturday, October 17

Fox Park, across from the Wildwoods Convention Center, fills with craft and food vendors, live bands and a beer garden starting at 11 a.m. Admission is free. Our Fall Festival page has the details.

Where to stay: Sunset Beach Hotel at 4300 Ocean Ave is about two blocks from Fox Park. Check Sunset Beach Hotel dates.

Coastal Sands Inn at 4110 Atlantic Ave is a short walk too, under ten minutes. Check Coastal Sands Inn dates.

Halloween weekends with kids

Saturday, October 24 is the family day. North Wildwood’s Trunk-or-Treat runs 2:30 to 5 p.m. along Olde New Jersey Avenue, with music, magic and balloon twisting; decorated cars check in from 1:30 p.m. at 1st and New Jersey Avenues. The Elks Haunted House on West 1st Avenue is the same day. The following weekend, the Byrne Community Center turns its gym into a haunted house on October 30 and 31. North Wildwood is a short drive up the island from any of our hotels; Paradise Inn is the closest of the five.

Why come in October

Rooms are usually easier to find after Labor Day, the beaches are still free, and the Boardwalk is calmer. Our post on why fall is underrated in Wildwood has more reasons, and the 5 Mile Beach Half Marathon page covers race weekend on November 7.

Quick answers

When is the Wildwoods Fall Festival 2026?

Saturday, October 17, 2026, starting at 11 a.m., at Fox Park, 4500 Ocean Ave, Wildwood. Admission is free.

Is there trick-or-treating in the Wildwoods?

Yes. North Wildwood’s Trunk-or-Treat Halloween Block Party is Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 2:30 to 5 p.m. on Olde New Jersey Avenue.

Are Coastal Collection hotels open in October?

Each hotel’s booking calendar shows the dates it has rooms. If a date shows nothing available, that property may be closed for the season; try another of our hotels or call ahead.