Christmastime and the holidays bring special opportunities to gather and mingle with like-minds during the off-season – when many enjoy recounting stories of years past, and share dreams and hopes for a brighter future.
And there’s no better place to stir up fond memories of yesteryears and Christmas or holiday pasts than in the beach towns and country backroads you grew up visiting, or have always been wanting to explore.
In this guide, you’ll find special “History & Arts” holiday events and activities for exploring:
Information listed here, including hours, dates/ times, features, and services, may vary and are subject to change without notice. Please contact event organizer directly to confirm or inquire. We will update this page as we receive more information.
Avalon and Stone Harbor
Stone Harbor Museum will be hosting an Open House during Island Holiday Weekend in Stone Harbor. Visitors can tour the museum artifacts and learn the history behind the people, businesses, and events that shaped and impacted this beloved beach town. The Museum will be open on Friday and Saturday, November 29 and 30 from 9 am to 12 noon, after which it will be closed until spring 2025.
For history lovers of Avalon, the Avalon Historical Society will be hosting an Open House and Christmas Party on December 7. Discover the history of Avalon through local memorabilia and treasures, and enjoy light refreshments, music, and good company.
You can also stop by the Avalon History Center on December 19 for a special “Holiday Tea Time” to socialize and reconnect with friends. Attendees are encouraged to share a memory of a favorite holiday tradition or bring a favorite ornament.
Ocean Galleries of Stone Harbor is also introducing the artwork of internationally renowned artist Hunt Slonem this Thanksgiving Weekend 2025. While the artist’s personal aviary of over 100 live birds often influences his Neo-Expressionist paintings of tropical birds, he extends his signature style to works of butterflies, bunnies, and flowers. Ocean Galleries will be open from 10 am to 9 pm on Friday and Saturday, November 29 and 30.
Sea Isle City
The Sea Isle City Museum is having a Holiday Open House, inviting the public to experience the Museum in a fun way off-season!
Featuring an eclectic range of artifacts from a 100-year-old trolley bell to a jet pilot’s flight suit from the 1970’s, the Museum’s exhibits also include a unique Bridal Display, 200 Family Albums, and a plethora of research materials and local treasures.
Cape May
Cape May MAC offers a variety of unique tours, exhibits, and experiences this holiday season for any arts and history lovers. But there’s something extra special happening on Saturday, November 23, where visitors can take advantage of free admission to the Physick Estate House Museum, Carroll Gallery, and a free holiday concert!
The Carroll Gallery, located inside the Carriage House on the Physick Estate, showcases an extensive Dept. 56 Dickens Village collection, which quietly rests beneath the boughs of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. This nostalgic winter wonderland also features old family photos, trains, and more. The Gallery’s Old Fashioned Christmas Exhibit runs from November 22 to January 5, and is part of Cape May MAC’s Holiday Season Kick-Off with other scheduled events at the Physick Estate on November 23.
On the same day, there is also an Open House at the Physick Estate, offering free self-guided tours from 5 to 8 pm – where visitors can enjoy strolling about the House Museum and discovering the lives of those who once worked and lived on the Estate of Dr. Emlen Physick. The House is especially decorated in traditional Victorian trimmings this time of year, and something special to see.
For music lovers,… The John Walter Cape Community Band will be taking the stage on the Estate in a special performance of holiday favorites beginning at 5:30 pm.
Offshore
The Dennisville Historic Home Owner’s Association is having their 32nd Annual Historic Dennisville Christmas House Tour this year. The tour this year will feature 8 historic homes, including 2 that were never before open to the public.
Two featured historic homes on the tour include The Thomas (Jr.) and Zilpah Ludlam House, ca. 1790 and The Joseph and Sarah Falkinburg House, ca. 1805.
Yearning for that nostalgic thrill of travelling by train this holiday season? Cape May’s famed Seashore Lines continues a wonder-filled Christmas tradition with their Santa Express!
Offering a historic, comfortable ride for children of all ages through the small towns and hidden treasures of Cape May County and South Jersey, the Santa Express trains feature Santa himself, along with helpers, on-board entertainment, and snack service on their First Class cars including the Braddock Inn, Long Island Lounge Car, New York Central 38, and Vista Valley.
Want to add something to this list, or submit a correction? Contact us.
