Thanksgiving weekend 2026 in the Wildwoods runs from a Thursday-morning Turkey Trot at the Wildwood Crest Pier (Nov 26) to a beach bonfire in North Wildwood (Nov 27), Christmas in North Wildwood (Nov 27-29) and a Small Business Saturday market at Byrne Plaza (Nov 28). Several of the events are free, it is all on one island, and Coastal Sands Inn, our hotel that stays open through April, sits in the middle of it. Here is the weekend, day by day, from the organizers’ listings on wildwoodsnj.com, checked November 8, 2026.
The weekend at a glance
| When | What | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 26, 8 a.m. | TJ Hunt Memorial 5K Turkey Trot | Wildwood Crest Pier | $30 adults, $10 under 18 |
| Fri, Nov 27, evening | Family Holiday Bonfire on the Beach | North Wildwood beach at 2nd and Surf Avenues | $10 adults, $2 kids 12 and under |
| Fri-Sun, Nov 27-29 | Christmas in North Wildwood | Olde New Jersey Avenue area, North Wildwood | Free |
| Fri, Nov 27-Sun, Dec 6 | Wildwoods December Restaurant Week | Participating restaurants across the Wildwoods | Prix fixe: $15 breakfast, $20 lunch, $45 dinner |
| Sat, Nov 28, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | Wildwoods Holiday Shopping Village (Small Business Saturday) | Byrne Plaza and downtown Wildwood | Free to browse |
| Sun, Nov 29, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Holidays at Hen-Ville Shopping Village | MudHen Brewing Company, 127 W. Rio Grande Ave. | Free to browse |
Thursday: the Turkey Trot
The TJ Hunt Memorial 5K Turkey Trot starts at 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, November 26, at the Wildwood Crest Pier. Registration is $30 for adults and $10 for runners under 18, and the TJ Hunt Memorial Foundation puts the proceeds toward scholarships and families who have faced traumatic events. All ages are welcome, so walkers and strollers come out too. Register through the foundation at tjhuntmemorialfoundation.com.
The Crest Pier is a short drive south of Coastal Sands Inn, straight down the island into Wildwood Crest, so you can be back for a shower before the turkey.
Friday: bonfire on the beach
The North Wildwood Volunteer Fire Company #1 hosts the Family Holiday Bonfire on the Beach on Friday, November 27, on the beach at 2nd and Surf Avenues in North Wildwood. Expect music, free photos with Santa and refreshments for sale. Admission is $10 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under.
Check the start time on the Wildwoods holiday events site before you head up. Dress for wind off the ocean: it is late November on an open beach.
Friday to Sunday: Christmas in North Wildwood
Christmas in North Wildwood runs November 27-29, put on by the North Wildwood Business Owners Association around Olde New Jersey Avenue. It is free: outdoor firepits, a strolling Santa, hot chocolate, lights and music, and a scavenger hunt with a chance to win a $500 Visa gift card. On Saturday a free “snowflake shuttle” runs between stops. Hours are not on the listing, so check nw-boa.com before you go.
Saturday: Small Business Saturday at Byrne Plaza
On Saturday, November 28, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Byrne Plaza and downtown Wildwood turn into the Wildwoods Holiday Shopping Village, run by the Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce: local artisans, jewelry, handcrafted gifts, baked goods and holiday music. Byrne Plaza is about a third of a mile from Coastal Sands Inn, an easy walk.
Sunday: Hen-Ville at MudHen
Holidays at Hen-Ville at MudHen Brewing Company, 127 W. Rio Grande Ave., opens its holiday shopping village on Sunday, November 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with 20-plus local vendors, hot cocoa, s’mores and free face painting. It comes back December 5-6, 13 and 19-20 if you are staying into December. Details: mudhenbrew.com.
Eating out that weekend
Despite the name, Wildwoods December Restaurant Week starts on Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving, and runs through December 6, so leftovers can wait. Our Restaurant Week page has the dates and how the prix-fixe menus work.
Staying into December?
The holiday season keeps going: the parade and tree lightings are in our Christmas in the Wildwoods 2026 guide, the light show is on our Winter Wonderland page, and the rest of November is in our November in the Wildwoods roundup. Common questions about our hotels are on the FAQ page.
Where to stay Thanksgiving weekend
Coastal Sands Inn, 4110 Atlantic Ave, Wildwood, is the Coastal Collection hotel open from mid-October through April. It has family rooms, suites and an apartment with a kitchenette for bigger holiday groups, plus free Wi-Fi and on-site parking. Byrne Plaza is about a third of a mile away and MudHen about half a mile. Book Coastal Sands.
Our other four hotels, Beachside Resort, Sunset Beach Hotel, Sunrise Inn and Paradise Inn, reopen in April.
Questions about Thanksgiving in Wildwood
Is there a Turkey Trot in Wildwood on Thanksgiving 2026?
Yes. The TJ Hunt Memorial 5K Turkey Trot starts at 8 a.m. on Thursday, November 26, 2026, at the Wildwood Crest Pier; registration is $30 for adults and $10 for runners under 18.
When is Christmas in North Wildwood 2026?
November 27-29, 2026, around Olde New Jersey Avenue in North Wildwood; it is free.
What is happening in Wildwood on Small Business Saturday?
The Wildwoods Holiday Shopping Village at Byrne Plaza and downtown Wildwood, Saturday, November 28, 2026, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Is there a hotel open in Wildwood over Thanksgiving?
Yes. Coastal Sands Inn, 4110 Atlantic Ave, is open from mid-October through April and can be booked direct on our website.
