The southern shore events of 2026 range from the Ocean City Spring Block Party on May 2 (unconfirmed) to the Fall Block Party on October 10. Seven of the seventeen fell in July.
The region covers Cape May County and Cumberland County. Ocean City accounts for six of the seventeen events, the Wildwoods for seven and the city of Cape May for two. The other two are the Cumberland County Fair in Millville and the Cape May County 4-H Fair in Cape May Court House.
May and June: from a block party to an antique auto show
Ocean City Spring Block Party was listed for Saturday, May 2 (unconfirmed), along Asbury Avenue from 5th Street to 14th Street, with several hundred craft, food and business vendors lining the street and free admission.
Cape May Music Festival was a concert series presented by Cape May MAC at venues across Cape May, May 9 through June 21. The program ran from classical to jazz and brass. Cape May Exit Zero Jazz Festival was a separate, ticketed event listed for May 15 to 17 (unconfirmed), inside the music festival's dates.
Wildwoods International Kite Festival was listed for May 22 to 25 (unconfirmed), over Memorial Day weekend, and was free for spectators. It was billed as marking 40 years in 2026, with a kite sales tent, an illuminated night kite fly, large inflatable kites, team flying and family games. The World Indoor Kite Exhibition was listed inside the Wildwoods Convention Center.
Ocean City Flower Show was listed for June 5 to 7 (unconfirmed) at the Music Pier, with horticultural and floral design displays and competitions. Barefoot Country Music Fest was a ticketed country music festival on the beach in Wildwood, listed for June 18 to 21 (unconfirmed). Ocean City Antique Auto Show was listed for June 27 (unconfirmed): more than 300 vintage vehicles at the Tabernacle Grounds, followed by a boardwalk parade.
July: seven events, with three on July 10 and two on July 25
Cumberland County Fair in Millville ran July 7 to 11, with rides, a fireworks show on July 8 and a demolition derby on July 11. Admission was $5.
Two more events fell on July 10, both in the Wildwoods. Wildwood Crest Sand Sculpting Festival was listed for Friday, July 10 (unconfirmed) and was free. It appeared on the official Wildwoods events calendar. New Jersey State BBQ Championship & Anglesea Blues Festival opened the same day in North Wildwood and ran through July 12, with competition barbecue teams, food vendors and blues acts on and around Olde New Jersey Avenue.
Cape May County 4-H Fair ran July 16 to 18 in Cape May Court House, with animal and project exhibits, a chicken barbecue, live entertainment and a mechanical bull.
July 25 had two free events in different towns. Wildwood Crest Christmas in July Festival & Boat Parade was held on Saturday, July 25. The same day brought Santa Claus and Surfing Santas to North Wildwood and a golf cart parade to Wildwood. Ocean City Night in Venice, a decorated-boat parade along the back bays, was listed for July 25 (unconfirmed). The 2026 edition was billed as the 71st anniversary, with fireworks over the bay after the parade.
Wildwoods Baby Parade was a free boardwalk procession of decorated strollers, wagons and costumes on Wednesday, July 29.
August to October: a baby parade, an Irish festival and a block party
Ocean City Baby Parade was listed for Thursday, August 13 (unconfirmed). It was billed as returning for the 116th time in 2026, free to watch, with families decorating floats, carriages and costumes for judging along the boardwalk. With the Wildwoods edition on July 29, the two baby parades were listed fifteen days apart in two towns.
Irish Fall Festival in North Wildwood ran September 25 to 27. It marked its 34th year in 2026 with Celtic music, dance, food and a Sunday parade centered on Olde New Jersey Avenue and West Chestnut Avenue, plus activities at the Wildwoods Convention Center.
Ocean City Fall Block Party, last of the seventeen: Saturday, October 10, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on the same stretch of Asbury Avenue as the spring event, with craft, food and business vendors and free admission.
Ocean City: six events from May to October
Ocean City accounts for six events: the Spring Block Party (May 2), the Flower Show (June 5 to 7), the Antique Auto Show (June 27), Night in Venice (July 25), the Baby Parade (August 13) and the Fall Block Party (October 10). Every date except October 10 was unconfirmed. That makes at least one event a month from May through August, two in June, then a gap in September. Four of the six are free events: both block parties, Night in Venice and the Baby Parade.
The Wildwoods: seven events, three towns
Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood are separate municipalities on one island. Wildwood had the Kite Festival (May 22 to 25), Barefoot Country Music Fest (June 18 to 21) and the Baby Parade (July 29). Wildwood Crest had Sand Sculpting (July 10) and Christmas in July (July 25). North Wildwood had the State BBQ Championship with Anglesea Blues (July 10 to 12) and the Irish Fall Festival (September 25 to 27). Five of the seven fell in June or July, and the Kite Festival, Barefoot and Sand Sculpting dates were unconfirmed.
