Events at a Glance
Festival of Trees
NOVEMBER 27, 29, 30
FESTIVAL OF TREES
Wednesday 5-11pm, Friday Noon-8pm, Saturday 11am-2pm, The Whitebrier 260 21st St.
Kick off the holiday weekend on Wednesday evening with a walk through the Festival of Trees. More than 30 trees and wreaths are decorated by local businesses and donated for silent auction bidding. Bonus this year, enjoy the tunes of Long Miles.
More information: visitavalonnj.com
NOVEMBER 29
TURKEY TROT 5K AND 1.5-MILE FUN WALK
10am, Avalon Community Hall
Burn those Thanksgiving calories with a casual and fun 5K or 1.5-Mile Fun Walk through Avalon. Awards will be given to the top three qualifiers in each age category, plus there will be awards for the best team costume! Proceeds benefit the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children.
More information: dillerblindhome.org
STORY TIME WITH MRS. CLAUS
10am, Avalon Free Public Library
Start Avalon’s Festive Friday with a special story time at the Avalon Library featuring Mrs. Claus. Enjoy holiday stories, crafts and music!
More information: avalonfreelibrary.org
AVALON’S FESTIVE FRIDAY
11am-6pm, Avalon Shopping District
Grab the kids and head to Avalon for a full day of family fun including face painting, balloon art, character meet-and-greets, live music from Corner Boys & Co., and interactive performances. Be sure to stick around for the arrival of Santa Claus via fire truck at 5pm!
More information: visitavalonnj.com
STONE HARBOR HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING & MERCHANTS’ HOSPITALITY NIGHT
6-9pm, 96th Street
Gather with Stone Harbor Mayor Judy Davies-Dunhour and members of the Borough Council for the lighting of the annual Holiday Tree (and a 100% chance of snow!). Following the lighting, attendees are encouraged to shop local with stores offering holiday music and refreshments while you shop!
More information: shnj.org and stoneharborbeach.com
NOVEMBER 29-30
STONE HARBOR ISLAND HOLIDAY
Locals often say that Stone Harbor transforms into a vintage Norman Rockwell-type painting with an island holiday that entertains the entire family. Enjoy children’s activities and concert performances throughout the weekend, plus a town-wide scavenger hunt on Friday and Saturday and the Downtown Holiday Dash on Saturday morning.
More information: shnj.org and stoneharborbeach.com
NOVEMBER 30
SNOWFEST SATURDAY
11am-4pm, Avalon Shopping District
Head back to Avalon for a second day of fun with carnival rides, live music from the Winter Wonderland Band and live stage performances featuring your favorite characters. Santa returns for free family photos at Veterans Plaza all day!
More information: avalonboro.net
STONE HARBOR’S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE
6:30pm, Begins at 111th Street along Third Avenue to 96th Street
Stop along the route and cheer on the local fire departments, volunteer organizations, The Wetlands Institute staff and Santa Claus himself during this annual holiday tradition.
More information: shnj.org
DECEMBER 7
AVALON HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY
4-7pm, Avalon History Center
History buffs unite and join the Avalon Historical Society for its annual holiday party at the Avalon History Center. Browse the latest exhibits displayed throughout the History Center, and enjoy food, refreshments, good company and holiday cheer!
More information: avalonhistorycenter.org
DECEMBER 14
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH THE AMERICAN LEGION
1pm, The American Legion, Stephen C. Ludlam Post 331, 11617 Second Ave.
Legionnaire James Fleischmann looked back at his time in the Air Force and remembered not having “two nickels to rub together” to afford to travel home to his family during the holidays. And because of that, he came up with the idea to fund an all-expense-paid trip home for a few lucky members of the Coast Guard every year. Thanks to generous donors and support from fellow Legionnaires, four Coast Guardsmen are scheduled to go home for Christmas this year. Home for the Holidays is an event open to the public, serving a light lunch, and offering an opportunity for donors and supporters of the Legion to meet the members going home and learn a little more about the Coast Guard stationed in Cape May.
More information: stephencludlampost331.org
JANUARY 4
THE UNSINKABLE TITANIC
1pm, Avalon History Center
The Titanic might be the best-known ship of all time. It hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage, sinking in less than three hours with a loss of nearly 1,500 men, women and children. How did this happen? Who were among the victims? What happened to the survivors? This lecture will address all of these inquiries and more at the History Center’s monthly program.
More information: avalonhistorycenter.org
FEBRUARY 2
FRIEND IN NEED ANNUAL SUPER BASH
4:30pm, Princeton Bar
Join local charity Friend In Need in its annual celebration at the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 2. Tickets to the event include beverages, food, raffles, auctions, and the game on big-screen televisions. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door and all proceeds benefit Friend In Need.
More information: friendinneednj.org
MARCH 12-14
SHOP-A-HOLICS THE PRINCETON AND THE WHITEBRIER
Attention all shop-a-holics! Get out of your winter slump and start shopping with the return of the annual Shop-A-Holics events in Avalon. More than 30 local stores and boutiques are bringing their best winter and spring inventory to both The Princeton and The Whitebrier and selling for drastic discounts. Gather your girlfriends, enjoy a cocktail and start shopping! Donations at the door will benefit Friend In Need.
More information: visitavalonnj.com
MARCH 20
STONE HARBOR SHIVER PRE-REGISTRATION PARTY
5pm, Yacht Club of Stone Harbor
To all those crazy polar plungers, grab your packets early and enjoy a night of cozy food, music, refreshments and auctions at the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor’s annual Pre-Shiver Party. Register your team, don your tees and have a cocktail to mentally prepare for the icy plunge!
More information: stoneharborbeach.com
MARCH 21
STONE HARBOR SHIVER POLAR PLUNGE
Events begin at 9:30am
Kegs ‘n’ Eggs starts this frigid day, so perhaps ingest a little protein at Fred’s Tavern. Register your team and costumes and then join in the annual Shiver parade down 96th Street from Fred’s to the Women’s Civic Club of Stone Harbor. Cheer on the many festive contest participants as they perform before the icy plunge into the Atlantic Ocean. Once you thaw, head back to Fred’s for lunch and refreshments and the announcement of the Best Team Performance!
More information: stoneharborbeach.com
