I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with their loved ones. We certainly did in our household. Now we turn to Christmas festivities at the Jersey Shore. More specifically, I’m talking about the fun Atlantic City holiday events going on starting today.
Atlantic City Holiday Events 2023
December 1st – Grand Tree Lighting at The Yard at Bally’s from 5:30 pm to 7 pm. Organizers also plan on collecting for the Toys for Tots campaign. So, please bring a new, unwrapped gift for donation if you feel so inclined. They also will be serving hot cocoa, snacks, and holiday sweets. At 7:30 pm, the Orange Loop tree lighting takes place. There, guests enjoy hot cocoa and sweets as well as a live band, a children’s choir performing holiday music, and ornament making. But if you plan on being near O’Donnell Memorial Park between 6 pm and 8 pm tonight, there will be another tree lighting ceremony along with a DJ, face-painting, hot cocoa, and pictures with Santa. Rain date for the O’Donnell tree lighting will be December 2nd.
December 2nd – Kelsey Grammar leads the AC Wonderland Parade at noon. The parade starts out on Huron Ave. Then, it travels east along Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd before turning south on Baltic. After turning east on Michigan Ave, the parade travels north along Atlantic and ends at S Carolina Ave. Rain date scheduled for December 9th if needed.
December 9th – Visit the Absecon Lighthouse for the Luminary Light Festival from 5 pm to 7 pm. Tickets cost $25 per person and benefit the lighthouse’s upkeep. Decorate your own luminary. Listen to holiday music courtesy of DJ Kelli. Enjoy a nice cheese and wine tasting. Watch the tree light up at 5:30 pm. Also, Santa comes to the Steel Pier for photos.
All Month Long – Steel Pier Holiday Wheel opens for business every weekend from 1 pm to 9 pm on Saturdays and 1 pm to 6 pm on Sundays. The Festival of Trees decks the halls of the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. Admission is free. Finally, starting December 2nd, visit the Noyes Arts Garage to see some of the most amazing gingerbread houses you will ever lay eyes on.
These are but a few of the events scheduled throughout the Atlantic City area this holiday season. If you have a favorite event I haven’t listed here, please give a shout-out in the comments below so everyone can join those as well. Thank you.
Margate Toy Drive
Don’t forget! The Margate Toy Drive takes place next Friday, December 8th at the Margate Baseball Fields’ parking lot. Just bring a new, unwrapped toy between 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. Then, stay to see the light display, grab a bite to eat from the food trucks on-site, and listen to holiday music while completing your own holiday craft project. I have it on good authority that Santa will also be there to listen to your wish list and take a quick photo.
Sherri Lilienfeld, Apex Prime Realty, Your Source for Jersey Shore Real Estate