Summer is basically here and if you haven’t planned out ~Jersey Shore season~ you might want to get started on it.
Only a few hours from NYC, the New Jersey’s Cape May County continues to be one of the Tri-State Area’s best summer regions — and this year it’s going extra hard.
With the United States gearing up for its monumental 250th anniversary this year, beach towns and villages throughout the Jersey Cape are preparing an epic series of events to coincide with the nation’s semiquincentennial.
The local county has curated a massive collection of 250 things to do to honor the milestone, celebrating everything from storied lighthouses to pristine wildlife refuges.
Here is what to expect, why you need to go, and how to plan a trip down the shore this summer.
A quintessential shore town escape
Spending the summer holiday in these charming coastal municipalities is quite literally the quintessential American experience.
Visitors instantly become honorary locals as entire communities come together for the celebration.
The beauty of this county is that contradictions harmonize perfectly.
Century-old Victorian homes sit just minutes away from wild, expansive salt marshes.
From the retro Doo Wop architecture and carnival-style excitement of the Wildwood boardwalk to the chic, polished boutiques of Avalon and Stone Harbor, every single community radiates a distinct vibe.
Expect vibrant town-wide gatherings, fresh seafood caught right off the working docks in Sea Isle City, and breathtaking sunset views over mirror-calm back bay canals.
Boardwalk icons and epic beachfront drone shows
The classic shore towns are going all out for 2026.
Ocean City offers incredible wholesome family fun, while Wildwood is turning up the heat with some of the most spectacular visual displays of the summer.
- Wildwood will kick off its huge July 4 events with a spectacular Fireworks Display right on the beach at Pine Avenue.
- The party continues the next night as the city hosts a jaw-dropping America 250 Drone Show illuminating the oceanfront at 10 pm on July 5.
- Over in Cape May, you can celebrate history in style at the America at 250 July 4th Celebration hosted at the stunning Southern Mansion.
- Catch local history brought to life through theater with a performance of Margaret’s Diary During A Revolution at the Cape May Public Library on July 2.
Historic streets and immersive Revolutionary War encampments
History buffs and festival lovers are in for a serious treat in the county’s historic districts.
Cape May is already a designated National Historic Landmark packed with perfectly preserved Victorian streetscapes, making it an incredible backdrop to step back in time for the semiquincentennial.
- Historic Cold Spring Village is hosting a massive Semiquincentennial 4th of July Celebration on July 4 and 5. This 30-acre living history museum will feature a stirring public reading of the Declaration of Independence and hands-on crafts for all ages.
- The Village is also bringing the 1700s to life with a full Revolutionary War Encampment on September 5 and 6, complete with cannon and musket demonstrations and traditional trades like blacksmithing.
- For a deep dive into local heritage, head to the Stone Harbor Museum on July 8 for an engaging talk focusing on the New Jersey signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Free patriotic concerts and coastal flavors
The celebrations across the rest of the county are just as spectacular!
Ocean City is matching the massive holiday energy with a free patriotic concert by the renowned Ocean City Pops Orchestra at Carey Stadium’s football field on both July 2 and July 4.
You can also catch the Congress Street Brass Band performing their free American Fanfare musical salute all summer long.
This incredible integrated jazz ensemble will be popping up at top-tier venues like the Ocean City Library, Cape May Park and Zoo, and Rotary Park.
For a full breakdown of the massive semiquincentennial celebrations across the region and all 250 experiences, see the full list of events happening here!