Picture Santas on surfboards and golf carts decked out in holiday lights: every July, Christmas in July brings free holiday fun to North Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest. In 2026 the main events all fell on Saturday, July 25; 2027 dates have not been announced yet.

What Makes Christmas in July Special

• Each town runs its own events with its own organizers, so the celebration is spread across the island rather than in one place.
• In 2026 that meant Santa on the beach and Surfing Santas in North Wildwood, a golf cart parade on the Boardwalk in Wildwood, and a festival and boat parade on Sunset Lake in Wildwood Crest.
• Wildwood’s golf cart parade marked its fifth year in 2026, and every event listed below was free.

What to Expect at Christmas in July

Here’s what ran on Saturday, July 25, 2026, according to the official Wildwoods events calendar:

• Surfing Santas — North Wildwood, at the 15th Avenue beach by Beach Patrol headquarters: surfers, paddleboarders and boogie-boarders in Santa suits hit the water at 9 a.m., with costume prizes
• Christmas in July with Santa Claus — the North Wildwood Beach Patrol brought Santa to North Wildwood’s beach for photos, candy canes and live holiday music, posting his stops that morning on its Facebook page
• Christmas in July Golf Cart Parade — Wildwood’s decorated golf carts checked in at the Wildwoods Convention Center semi-circle and rolled along the Boardwalk at 10 a.m., with trophies for the top three
• Wildwood Crest Christmas in July Festival — from 6 p.m. at Sunset Lake (Atlanta and New Jersey Avenues): live music, magic and variety shows, face painting, free photos with Santa, and food vendors
• Christmas in July Boat Parade — at 8:45 p.m. about 40 Christmas-decorated boats paraded on Sunset Lake in Wildwood Crest, with prizes for the best decorated

Bring beach gear and a light layer for evenings, wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring sunscreen and a camera for the day’s events. For 2027 dates, check the events calendar at WildwoodsNJ.com, WildwoodCrest.org (609-523-0202) or the North Wildwood Beach Patrol’s Facebook page.

Where to Stay for Christmas in July Wildwood

The five Coastal Collection hotels are family-owned, motel-style properties within a few blocks of the beach and the Boardwalk. See walk times from each hotel to the Boardwalk, or compare all five Wildwood hotels and book direct on each hotel’s page. Coastal Sands Inn stays open through the off-season; Beachside Resort, Sunrise Inn, Paradise Inn and Sunset Beach Hotel reopen in April, so check dates when you book.

The Coastal Collection