November 20, 2020 through January 1, 2021
What better place to get into the true spirit of Christmas than Victorian Cape May? This seaside town is transformed into a Dickens village for the holidays with garlands of fragrant greens and twinkling gaslights. Wrap yourself in the warmth of holiday spirit and sample a variety of fun tours and events.
Christmas Candlelight House Tours
We are thrilled to announce that the 47th Annual Christmas Candlelight House Tour will be virtual in 2020! Cape May MAC is creating a video featuring a dozen Cape May properties, all decorated for the holiday season, with interviews and more!
Details on how to pre-order the video coming soon.
Featured Events
HOLIDAY TREE-LIGHTING CEREMONY
Kick-off the Holiday season!
November 21, 2020
SOLD OUT
Santa and his elves have decked out the Physick Estate with thousands of lights and holiday trimmings. Enjoy a free performance of holiday classics by the Atlantic Brass Band as we join Santa in lighting the tree!
Registration required.
BRUNCH & BINGO AT THE BEACH
Saturday, Nov. 21
9:30 am
Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St.
C’mon, girls…this is all about you! Leave the kids and your significant other behind and join us for a morning of brunch, bingo and a fashion show just for you from the lovely ladies at Cape May’s Lace Silhouettes and the Cotton Company. You can win some great prizes and get free gift cards for these wonderful shops, too!
Tickets $25
Holiday Trolley & Walking Tours
HOLIDAY LIGHTS TROLLEY RIDES
Who can resist the twinkle of Cape May’s beautiful Victorian homes decorated for Christmas? This trolley ride through the historic streets of Cape May is a delight. Listen to Christmas music and enjoy hearing about the history of many of our Christmas traditions today. Victorian Cape May is outstanding at Christmas and this is a ride to share with friends and family to revel in Cape May’s Christmas spirit. Trolleys are open-air. Blankets are recommended! Cape May MAC blankets are available for purchase at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth and the Physick Estate. Tour begins and ends at the trolley stop, across from the Washington Street Mall Information Booth, on Ocean Street.
Adults: $15; Children (3-12): $10
Accessible with advance notice.
THE LAMPLIGHTER: A WALKING TOUR MYSTERY
A man. A lamp. A mystery. Take a historical walking tour and see the festively-decorated Victorian gems for which Cape May is famous. Enjoy the holiday lights of Cape May and help solve a mystery along the way. Tour begins and ends at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth on Ocean Street.
Adults: $35; Children (3-12): $28
SANTA’S TROLLEY RIDES
Bring the kids to the Physick Estate on weekends for a ride around Cape May with stories and songs led by Mrs. Claus. Santa will greet children with a sweet in the gazebo on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate. All rides start at the Emlen Physick Estate.
Adults $10; Children (ages 3-12) $8.
Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Trolleys are open-air, please dress accordingly.
GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST TROLLEY RIDE
A member of the East Lynne Theater Company regales you with a Victorian holiday ghost tale as you ride through Cape May’s festively decorated Historic District. Rides start and end at the trolley stop, across from the Washington Street Mall Information Booth, on Ocean Street.
Tickets $15 adults; $8 children (ages 3-12).
Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Trolleys are open-air, please dress accordingly.
Holiday House Tours
A DR. PHYSICK CHRISTMAS TOUR
Dr. Physick welcomes you to his home. Christmas is a wonderful time of year to come to Cape May and the Emlen Physick Estate is decorated to the nines! In this first person tour, Dr. Physick walks guests through his home, pointing out Victorian decorations and telling stories of his family and friends at Christmas.
Adults $15; Children (3-12) $8
A DICKENS OF A MURDER
At the Emlen Physick Estate
BAH! HUMBUG! Ebenezer Scrooge is known for his miserly, uncompassionate ways, but he’s a changed man; he’s been practically giving his money away! Scrooge’s nephew, Fred Sawyer, is throwing a Christmas party and everyone is delighted by Scrooge’s appearance! But when things go awry and murder is for served for supper, the guests may just become detectives…or even suspects. This Christmas party’s a hoppin’, but there’s a murderer a knockin’! This evening will be a Dickens of a Murder!
Adults: $35; Children (3-12): $28
PHYSICK FAMILY CHRISTMAS HOUSE TOUR
This 1879 Victorian house museum sparkles for the holidays with authentic Victorian decorations that invite you to step back into Christmas past! On the Physick Family Christmas House Tour, you will visit the Physick Estate, decorated in true Victorian style, for a unique living history experience with members of the Physick Family household of the 1890s. Also see the “Old-Fashioned Christmas” exhibit at the Carroll Gallery at the Carriage House, a breathtaking Dept. 56 Dickens Village beneath the boughs of a giant Christmas tree.
Adults: $15; Children (3-12): $8
EVENING YULETIDE HOUSE TOUR
Take this guided tour of the first floor rooms of the 1879 Physick House Museum, authentically decorated for a Victorian Christmas. See and hear how the Physick family might have entertained friends and family and celebrated in traditional Victorian fashion during the holidays. Afterwards, visit the Carriage House where a commemorative gift is yours to keep: a special Christmas ornament designed in 2020 featuring the 1879 Physick House. Visit “An Old-fashioned Christmas” exhibit in the Carroll Gallery and see this popular annual display featuring a huge Christmas tree, model trains, and an elaborate Dept 56 Dickens village collection.
Adults $20; Children (3-12) $18
Free Experiences
“AN OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS” EXHIBIT
Enter a holiday wonderland and feel like a child again as you see our extensive Dept. 56 Dickens Village collection beneath the boughs of our giant Christmas tree. All this plus old family photos, trains and more. There’s even a place to drop off your letters to Santa! Located at the Carroll Gallery in the Carriage House.
Emlen Physick Estate
1048 Washington St.
A MUSICAL HOLIDAY CELEBRATION: TRADITIONS FROM HOME AND ABROAD
Thursday, December 3, 2020
Featuring a Choice Selection of Melodies and Songs from France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, England and America.
Long-time friends and peers Conductors Jed Gaylin and Eliot Bailen, of the Bay Atlantic Symphony and the New York Chamber Ensemble respectively, will be presenting a holiday themed concert for classical music lovers to enjoy in the comfort of their own homes! After, join the Zoom Q&A session to ask questions about the performance as well as past music festival concerts. Participation is free and easy, although donations are always welcome!
WINTER WONDERWALK
The grounds of Cape May’s only Victorian House Museum, the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., have been transformed for the holiday season. Winter Wonderwalk is an exciting new addition to the decorated estate. Walk the grounds and vote for your favorite fun & whimsical display of winters past.