The Wildwoods don’t go dark after Halloween. From Thanksgiving weekend to mid-December, the island lights trees, runs a Christmas parade and turns a few blocks into holiday shopping villages. Here is the 2026 schedule from the Wildwoods tourism calendar, in date order, with the Coastal Collection hotel closest to each spot.
The 2026 holiday calendar
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Nov 27, 5 to 9 p.m. | Family Holiday Beach Bonfire | 2nd Ave and Surf Ave, North Wildwood |
| Nov 27 to 29 | Christmas in North Wildwood: fire pits, hot chocolate, lights | North Wildwood |
| Sat, Nov 28, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Wildwoods Holiday Shopping Village | Byrne Plaza and downtown Wildwood |
| Nov 29; Dec 5 and 6, 13, 19 and 20, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Holidays at HenVille shopping village, with visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus | MudHen Brewing Company |
| Tue, Dec 1, 5 p.m. | Wildwood Crest Holiday Tree Lighting | Sunset Lake, Wildwood Crest |
| Fri, Dec 4, 6 p.m. | Greater Wildwood Jaycees Christmas Parade | North Wildwood and Wildwood |
| Fri, Dec 4, about 7:30 p.m. | Downtown Wildwood Christmas Tree Lighting | Byrne Plaza |
| Sat, Dec 5, 5 p.m. | North Wildwood Tree Lighting | Hereford Inlet Lighthouse courtyard |
| Sat, Dec 12, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Family Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting | Wildwoods Convention Center |
Dates and times are from the Wildwoods holiday events listing (wildwoodsnj.com). Outdoor events can move for weather, so check the organizer’s page the week of.
Thanksgiving weekend: bonfire and shopping village
Friday night’s beach bonfire in North Wildwood is the easy family outing after a big Thursday dinner. Saturday morning, the Holiday Shopping Village sets up in Byrne Plaza and downtown Wildwood, and on Sunday MudHen Brewing opens the first of its HenVille market days.
Where to stay: Coastal Sands Inn, 4110 Atlantic Ave, is the Coastal Collection hotel open from mid-October through April, a short drive from Byrne Plaza and from the North Wildwood bonfire. Book Coastal Sands
Parade night: Friday, December 4
The Jaycees Christmas Parade starts at 6 p.m. and runs through North Wildwood and Wildwood. Downtown Wildwood lights its tree in Byrne Plaza at about 7:30 p.m. the same night, so you can catch both the same night.
Three tree lightings in five days
Wildwood Crest lights its tree at Sunset Lake on Tuesday, December 1. Downtown Wildwood follows on Friday the 4th, and North Wildwood lights the tree at the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse on Saturday the 5th, with music, refreshments and Santa. If you can only make one, the lighthouse makes the most memorable backdrop.
A holiday day at the Convention Center
On Saturday, December 12, the Wildwoods Convention Center hosts a Family Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., indoors, so it works in any weather.
Where to stay: Coastal Sands Inn at 4110 Atlantic Ave is a short walk from the Convention Center. Book Coastal Sands
Are the hotels open in December?
Yes, one is. Coastal Sands Inn at 4110 Atlantic Ave is the Coastal Collection hotel open from mid-October through April, including Thanksgiving weekend and all of December. Book Coastal Sands
Planning summer 2027? Beachside Resort, Sunrise Inn, Paradise Inn and Sunset Beach Hotel reopen in April. This winter, Coastal Sands Inn is the Coastal Collection hotel that stays open.
Quick answers
When is the Wildwood Christmas parade in 2026?
The Greater Wildwood Jaycees Christmas Parade is Friday, December 4, 2026, at 6 p.m., through North Wildwood and Wildwood.
When are the tree lightings in the Wildwoods?
Wildwood Crest on Tuesday, December 1 at 5 p.m. at Sunset Lake; downtown Wildwood on Friday, December 4 at about 7:30 p.m. in Byrne Plaza; North Wildwood on Saturday, December 5 at 5 p.m. at the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse; and the Convention Center celebration on Saturday, December 12.
Is there anything to do in Wildwood on Thanksgiving weekend?
Yes: a beach bonfire in North Wildwood on Friday, November 27, the Holiday Shopping Village downtown on Saturday, November 28, and the first HenVille market at MudHen Brewing on Sunday, November 29.
