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.