Wildwood’s Winter Wonderland at Holly Beach Park runs on four nights in 2026: Friday and Saturday, December 11 and 12, and Friday and Saturday, December 18 and 19. On those nights the light show plays every half hour from 5 to 9 p.m., with free hot chocolate, popcorn, a letters-to-Santa station and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus. It’s free. The lights then stay up through mid-January, with a nightly show from 6:30 to 7 p.m.
Winter Wonderland 2026 at a glance
| Event nights | December 11, 12, 18 and 19, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Show times | Every half hour, 5 to 9 p.m. on event nights |
| After the event nights | Light show nightly, 6:30 to 7 p.m., through mid-January |
| Where | Holly Beach Park, 123 E. Andrews Avenue, Wildwood |
| Cost | Free |
| Extras | Complimentary hot chocolate and popcorn, letters to Santa, Mr. and Mrs. Claus |
| Information | City of Wildwood Recreation, 609-522-5837, wildwoodnj.gov |
Details are from the Wildwoods event listing (wildwoodsnj.com) and the island-wide holiday listings (wildwoodholiday.com), checked November 2, 2026. Holiday events can change with the weather, so call the recreation office before you go.
How to do it
- Pick a show time. Shows start on the hour and the half hour, so you won’t wait more than 30 minutes. The early shows are easier with little kids.
- Dress warm. Shore evenings in December are cold and often windy.
- Bring a letter. There’s a letters-to-Santa station, so kids can write one at home or on the spot.
Make a weekend of it
Nearby holiday events the same two weeks:
- Saturday, December 12: the free Family Holiday Celebration at the Wildwoods Convention Center (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) ends with a tree lighting at 4 p.m., an easy lead-in to an evening light show. The Pinch the GrYnch Boardwalk Run starts at the Convention Center at 10 a.m. the same day.
- Sunday, December 13, and Saturday and Sunday, December 19 and 20: MudHen Brewing Company’s HenVille holiday shopping village, 127 W. Rio Grande Ave., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Monday, December 14: the free Holiday Lights Walk around Sunset Lake in Wildwood Crest, 5:30 p.m.
The whole season, from the December 4 parade to the tree lightings, is in our Christmas in the Wildwoods 2026 guide, and the winter things-to-do list has ideas for the daytime.
Where to stay for Winter Wonderland
Coastal Sands Inn, 4110 Atlantic Ave, is the Coastal Collection hotel open from mid-October through April, so it’s open on all four Winter Wonderland nights. Holly Beach Park is about a third of a mile away, close enough to walk to the light show and back. Check Coastal Sands dates for December 11 to 19: Book Coastal Sands
Planning summer 2027? Beachside Resort, Sunset Beach Hotel, Sunrise Inn and Paradise Inn reopen in April. Compare all five on the hotels in Wildwood page.
Quick answers
When is Winter Wonderland in Wildwood in 2026?
December 11, 12, 18 and 19, 2026, with light shows every half hour from 5 to 9 p.m. The lights stay up through mid-January with a nightly 6:30 to 7 p.m. show.
Is Wildwood’s Winter Wonderland free?
Yes. Admission is free, and hot chocolate and popcorn are complimentary on the event nights.
Where is Holly Beach Park?
123 E. Andrews Avenue in Wildwood, about a third of a mile from Coastal Sands Inn.
Is there a hotel open in Wildwood in December?
Yes. Coastal Sands Inn at 4110 Atlantic Ave is open from mid-October through April.
