Featured Events

HARVEST BREW FEST

four women holding beer at the cape may mac harvest brew fest

September 14, 2024
10am – 5pm

Enjoy craft beers  and celebrate South Jersey during this all-day festival that celebrates all things local! Enjoy local food vendors, local artisans, local craft beers and local musical talent. This event is FREE to attend. Varying costs for food, beer, and crafts vendors.

Presented by Cape May MAC, this fun fall event helps supports Cape May MAC’s Museum Education programs.

HISTORIC DISTRICT TROLLEY TOUR

Cape May MAC Trolley filled with people on a tour of the town

Known as the “Queen of the Seaside Resorts” for its quaint Victorian cottages and pristine beaches, Cape May is the oldest seaside resort in the country, and in 1976, the entire city was declared a National Historic Landmark. Possessing one of the country’s largest collections of 19th century seaside wood framed buildings, the historic district features a variety of styles of Victorian architecture. It’s beautiful. It’s charming. Wonderful tour guides will explain Cape May’s history and architecture and how and why it has survived and thrives to this day. This narrated tour travels through portions of Cape May’s historic district. Guides discuss the architecture and history of the area. Offered year-round either separately or as combo tours. Begins and ends at the Ocean Street trolley stop.

EMLEN PHYSICK ESTATE TOUR

emlen physick estate on washington street in cape may new jersey

Take a guided tour of the first and second floors of the 1879 Physick House Museum, for an in-depth look at Victorian architecture and the period, reflecting one Victorian family’s lifestyle, and detailing the way the Physick family and their household lived, worked and spent their leisure time. Built in 1879, the 18-room mansion is an architectural wonder designed by famed American architect Frank Furness and is one of the best examples of Victorian Stick Style architecture in the country.

GHOSTS & MYSTERIES TOURS

a group of people looking down at a camera from above with shocked faces

Cape May is one of the most haunted towns you’ll ever visit. Is it any wonder? It’s such a marvelous place, even the spirits don’t want to leave Cape May! Dozens of Victorian gems have been investigated and documented to have “spirit” residents, all of whom are quite friendly, we assure you. Take a giant step back in Cape May’s past and see if a ghostly encounter is in the cards for you!

WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM

black and white horse drawn ice cream cart

A History of Summer’s Favorite Treat

At the beginning of the 1800s, ice cream was an elite and expensive dish in flavors like Parmigiano and asparagus. By the end of the 1800s, ice cream was adored by everyone in flavors like vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. Some of our favorite dishes, like the ice cream cone, the ice cream sundae and the banana split are Victorian inventions. This exhibit celebrates summer’s favorite treat. See an authentic 1898 ice cream maker and other artifacts, and a reproduction Victorian ice cream wagon. Discover the diverse innovators and pioneers of ice cream, and the development of the ice cream scoop and commercial ice cream freezer, including Augustus Jackson, Nancy Johnson, Bassett’s of Philadelphia, and more.

CULINARY EVENTS

young couple drinking wine

In partnership with Cape May’s world-famous restaurant community, Cape May MAC offers some unique dining experiences. Entertain yourself with a Murder Mystery Dinner or Brunch & Bingo event. It’s all here to make your visit memorable — and tasty!

Learn More

Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture), as a nonprofit cultural organization dedicated to the preservation, interpretation and cultural enrichment of the greater Cape May region for its residents and visitors, proudly joins the chorus of voices decrying racism, prejudice, discrimination and injustice, in all its forms, in every corner of our nation.  As the steward of three historic sites and the storyteller of more than 200 years of area history, Cape May MAC is well aware that, “Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.” We will continue to strive to serve a broad and diverse community, to illuminate all the threads with which the fabric of history is written, seek out all voices, and include and encourage full participation.