Cape May Fall Things to Do, Cape May Halloween Happenings 2012

Cape May Fall Things to Do..Halloween Happenings in Town-Top 10 Things to Do

Whether you want to seek out a real ghost, or just get scared by some man-made spooks, Cape May in New Jersey is a great place to go. Many of the buildings there date back several centuries, giving them plenty of time to accumulate a spirit or two. Best of all, at least two of the haunted spots are hotels, so you can stay overnight and try to capture some ghostly activity in the dark.

Elaine's Haunted Mansion Restaurant

If you're interested in a manufactured spooky experience, Elaine's Haunted Mansion Restaurant (elainesdinnertheater.com) affords a whimsical dining experience replete with a ghostly host. The dining room  is designed so that picture frames move and other mysterious things take place during your dinner. A dinner theater option is also offered, which includes a full course dinner and a play. If you want to get outside, take advantage of the venue's one-hour haunted walking tour.

Southern Mansion

The Southern Mansion (southernmansion.com), an operating bed-and-breakfast as of 2012, was once the private residence of an industrialist named George Allen and some of his family members. The building is reportedly haunted, with ghostly apparitions including the spirit of Allen's Ester Mercur. Ester's perfume and laughter are also reported in the mansion, as well as unexplained cold spots.

Queen's Hotel

Another location in Cape May with reports of real haunting is the Queen's Hotel (no website; 601 Columbia Avenue, Cape May, NJ 08204; 609-884-1613). Built in 1876, this three story hotel built in the Queen Victoria style has seen manifestations such as furniture moving seemingly on its own and the apparition of a prostitute. Other reports on the property include the smell of perfume through the halls and sudden drops in temperature.

Winterwood

The Winterwood (winterwoodgift.com) Christmas gift shop located in Cape May is in a building that once served as a bank and city hall. According to Craig McManus, a self-proclaimed expert on Cape May ghosts  and writer for the online Cape May magazine, this shop is home to the spirit of a man in uniform who counts coins. Shop employees have also reported seeing an apparition and feeling the presence of a ghostly energy in the store. 

by Lara Webster, Demand Media


Cape May NJ Halloween Events

Looking for something spooky to do in Cape May for Halloween 2012.  Check out all of these fun Halloween Events in Cape May , you can take a ride with a Ghost Rider in Cape May or Trick or Treat at the Haunted Physick Estate. Dont' forget to check out the Cape May Ghost Tours and the Ghosts of the Cape May Lighthouse.

Click Here for a Cape May Halloween Happening Brochure for 2012

FRIDAY, OCT. 12 through WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31, 2012

Boo! And we're not kidding...! Cape May is one of the most haunted places in America and if you get a thrill from things that go bump in the night, this is the place for you. From the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate to a bevy of B&B inns, hotels and guest houses, all with resident spirits, you'll find plenty to get your heart pumping. So you'd expect Halloween to be really spooky here, right? That's when we show other our "other side," so be sure to visit and see us at our scariest!

2012 HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS Top 10 Halloween Things to Do in Cape May, or how about ' "13" Lucky things to do for Halloween in Cape May:

1. Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tours
2. Ghosts of the Lighthouse Trolley Tours
3. Harvest Festival Crafts & Antiques Show
4. Madame Parmentier’s Psychic Tea
5. Midnight at the Physick Estate
6. Murder Mystery Dinners & Luncheons
7. Phantoms of Cape May House Tour
8. Phantoms of the Physick Estate
9. A Ride with the Ghost Writer
10. Tales of Terror Trolley Ride
11. Trick or Treat at the Physick Estate
12. Scarecrow Alley at the Physick Estate
13. A Walk with the Ghost Writer 

For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278

Please Click Here for a full Press Release featuring Cape May's 2012 Halloween Happenings

Courtesy of the Mid Atlantic Center for Arts Cape May

About Cape May and Cape May Resort.com

Cape May is a city at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County, New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. With a rich history, award-winning beaches & boating, designation as a top birding location, and many Victorian structures, Cape May is a seaside resort drawing visitors from around the world. Cape May was recognized as one of America's top 10 beaches by the Travel Channel and its beach was ranked fifth in New Jersey in the 2008 Top 10 Beaches.

http://capemayvictorian.com CapeMayVictorian.com is a custom photo sharing site in which you can explore local Cape May images, download your favorite vacation spot or order a custom framed picture or a one of kind gift of your vacation memory.

http://capemayresort.com Cape May Resort.com is a local Cape May Web Site featuring Things to Do in Cape May, along with Cape May Digital Coupons for savings. If you’re looking for information and reviews for your next trip to Cape may, you’ve come to the right place. At Cape May Resort.com we’ll give you the most current information from Yelp and real time local You Tube Videos to preview your next vacation or week-end trip.  We offer the best in recent reviews from Real People with Real Reviews from Yelp.

http://capemayresort.blogspot.com/  Looking for Something to Do in Cape May New Jersey ? Spend a day at the beach, or go Dolphin and Whale Watching. Visit a local winery or check out the lighthouse and sunken ship at Cape May State Park. Cape May offers beach lovers Victorian architecture, fine dining, bird watching, boating and fishing in addition to world class resort and vacation accommodations.  If you’re looking for information and reviews for your next trip to Cape may, you’ve come to the right place.Cape May Resort.com has been part of the South Jersey Cape May area since 1988. Let us put our local experience to work for you.

Accommodation Availability in Cape May

We have updated our main site with over 40 local Cape May Bed and Breakfast Inns. You can check out the new page by visiting the link here. If you are looking for a place to stay in Cape May, you can check current accommodation availability here 

Queen Victoria Bed and Breakfast in Cape May

Blogging on board my boat in Cape May

This past week end we checked out the Cape May Octoberfest Festival taking place on Jackson Street in Cape May. Although we had a mixed weather day this past Saturday, Sunday was a perfect day with little wind and a bright warm sunny day. As the summer seasons winds down here we have a full schedule of new things to do including the upcoming West Cape May Lima Bean Festival, Victorian Weekend and a new event in Cape May Dragon Boat festival which will take place on October 13th in Cape May Harbor. If you would like to check out a full schedule of Cape May and West Cape upcoming events please click here. If you are looking for some good ideas on things to do in the Cape May area check out this page.

Home made muffins aboard our boat while blogging in Cape May.

In addition to enjoying the beautiful weather of Cape May we did some on board cooking on the boat. We recently acquired a smaller convection oven to cook on board, which will allow us to bake and make full meals while resting at dockside. We enjoyed fresh home made muffins in the morning and were able to prepare a fully prepared dinner while watching the sunset slowly lower in the sky over the marina. 

The Sun starts to fall on a cool fall day in Cape May.

The spots are starting to come in the back creeks as the water cools and the boys on the dock spend the day fishing and catching lots of bait fish with little effort. Crabbing season will be at it's peak season soon and we plan on enjoying some local fresh crab at table side.

Fishing on the Dock in Cape May NJ

Celebrate Cape May’s Victorian Heritage During Victorian Weekend

Celebrate Cape May’s Victorian Heritage During Victorian Weekend

CAPE MAY - Take a gentle step back into Cape May’s “gilded age” during Cape May’s 40th annual Victorian Weekend, sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC), and celebrate with a long holiday weekend of vintage dance lessons, house tours, living history programs, food and wine events, a crafts and antiques show, murder mystery dinners, trolley tours and more, from Fri., Oct. 5 through Tue., Oct. 9.

Waltz your way ‘round the dance floor during the Vintage Dance Weekend on Sat., Oct. 6 and Sun., Oct. 7. Vintage Dance instructor Martha Griffith will have you kicking-up your heels as they did in Cape May’s Victorian heyday when she teaches you the popular ballroom dances of the midand late-19th century. Take a Vintage Dance Workshop at the Franklin Street School, 712 Lafayette St. Sat., Oct. 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Test out your new steps at a costumed Vintage Ball with live music of the period by Spare Parts on Sat., Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. Then, on Sun., Oct. 9 at 2 p.m., try an elegant Tea Dance, also with live music by Spare Parts. Refreshments are included at the Ball and Tea Dance and Victorian costume is welcome and highly encouraged (but not required). An all-inclusive package is available or you can purchase events individually. Dance Weekend Package $95; Ball $35; Tea Dance $25; three Workshops $45.

Go beyond the doors of a selection of charming private cottages in the Cape May area that are not normally open to the public during the Private Homes Tour on Sat., Oct. 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The tour is limited to 300 tickets. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children (ages 3-12).

New Event! Check out this perfect tour for antiques and crafts shoppers, Lunch & Antiquing by Trolley. Hop on board a MAC trolley at the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., Sun., Oct. 7 at 11:45 a.m. and stop at the Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St., for lunch and antiquing. Then, it’s back on board for an afternoon of crafts and antiques shopping with stops at West End Garage, TreeHouseAntiques and Cape May Antique Center. Event lasts from 11:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. $35 includes lunch and transportation.

What was under all that Victorian lace and frills? On Mon., Oct. 8, at 10 a.m., come to the Show Us Your Undies Brunch & Fashion Show and you’ll discover what in the world they were wearing under all those Victorian garments. This new event features a delicious brunch at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom on the grounds of the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., and a fashion show by Grand Oak Plantation that will show you what shaped the fashionable Victorian lady. You’ll even see what the proper gentleman had to cope with to dress for the day. $25 includes fashion show and brunch.

“The Doctor is in” on Sun., Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Meet Dr. Emlen Physick as he greets and banters with visitors on his Estate’s grounds at 1048 Washington St. Enjoy a tour of his house with its new theme in 2012: “What Those Victorians Wore.” The Emlen Physick Estate, Cape May’s only Victorian House Museum, is open daily. Tours of the Estate are $10 for adults and $5 for children (ages 3-12).

On Sun., Oct. 7, you’re invited to the Victorian Weekend Crafts & Antiques Show on the lawn of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. Crafters and antiques dealers from throughout the region will display and sell their unique and hand-made wares from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free and free parking is available.

To drink or not to drink, that is the question at the Tea Luncheon & Temperance Debate on Tue., Oct. 9 at 12:30 p.m. at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom located on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. Saloonkeeper Patrick Collins and Jennie Wales, staunch advocate of the temperance movement, debate this topic in a spirit of fun. Join Dr. Physick as he attempts to maintain decorum during this spirited debate. Admission is $25 and includes an Elegant Tea Luncheon. The event is limited to 50 guests. Advance reservations are highly recommended. Perhaps almost as famous as Cape May’s Victorian heritage is its dining and winery scene. Victorian Weekend offers plenty of opportunities to indulge your senses while expanding your knowledge of pairings.

Back again is the popular Chocolate Championship Tour & Tasting on Sat., Oct. 6 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Indulge in this annual favorite and you will sample some of the tastiest chocolate desserts from Cape May’s historic Inns and B&Bs. You be the judge as you visit each competitor’s property, sample their signature chocolate dessert and vote for your favorite. Those who turn in completed evaluation cards will get recipes by email. Limited to 200 tickets. Admission is $25 and $15 for children (ages 3-12).

For a diabolically delightful dining experience, visit the 1895 vintage Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St., for Murder Mystery Dinners. Murder is on the menu when the Impromptu Players invade the dining room and present “Foul Weather Fiend,” a new mystery for 2012. The atmosphere reeks of foul bouquet, intrigue and deceit. Interact with the cast of likely suspects and try to solve the mystery as you enjoy a four-course dinner. Murder Mystery Dinners are offered at 7 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 6 - Mon., Oct. 8 and admission is $45. This is a limited event and reservations are necessary.

Celebrate Oktoberfest during the Mad Batter Beer Dinner “Local Microbrews” with a fourcourse Oktoberfest dinner paired with local microbrews on Fri., Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m., at the famous Mad Batter restaurant, 19 Jackson St. $65 per person. Seating is limited to 60.

You’ll learn how well chocolate and beer are paired at a Beer & Chocolate Tasting with America’s beer authority, Gary Monterosso. Gary hosts a sampling of beers and chocolates that go perfectly together at the Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St., on Sat., Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. Admission is $30.

On Sat., Oct. 6 at 3 p.m., spend the afternoon touring the award-winning Cape May Winery in North Cape May. The Winery Cellar Tour & Tasting features a tour of the vineyard to see how the grapes are grown and then a visit to the winery, where you’ll be introduced to the winemaker’s art and enjoy a barrel tasting accompanied by cheese and fruit. Admission is $20 and includes a complimentary tasting glass.

Fudge Fantasy with the The Original Fudge Kitchen will fill your sweetest desire for this chocolaty treat. On Sun., Oct. 7 at 2 p.m., The Original Fudge Kitchen will be displaying its hand whipped creamy fudge in an array of flavors at the Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St. Sample the famous fudge flavors, watch and learn how they make the fudge and much more. Admission is $15 per person.

If you have a taste for history, take the Champagne Brunch Walk on Sun., Oct.7 at 10 a.m.

First, build up your appetite with a walking tour of Cape May’s Historic District, and then enjoy a Southern-style breakfast buffet with mimosas at the historic Chalfonte Hotel, 301 Howard St. Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for children (ages 3-12). The Historic District Walking Tour is also available for purchase separately if space is available.

Spend the afternoon touring the wineries of Cape May County at your own pace during the Self-Guided Wine Trail. Visit Natali Vineyards and Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery and taste wines at each. Admission is $8 and includes a map with the wineries listed, tastings at both wineries and a complimentary tasting glass. The Self-Guided Wine Trail is offered daily from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Offered Sat., Oct. 6 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. is the Self-guided Wine & Brewery Tour. You’ll discover some great spirits as you visit two area wineries, Natali Vineyards and Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery, plus the new Cape May Brewing Company. Take a tour at each stop and sample some of their products. Admission is $13 and includes a map with directions. Attend world-class theater productions in Cape May with Cape May Stage and the East Lynne Theater Company.

Cape May Stage presents “Time Stands Still” at 8 p.m. on Fri., Oct. 5, Sat., Oct. 6 and Sun., Oct. 7. Sarah and James, a photojournalist and a foreign correspondent, try to find happiness in a world that seems to have gone crazy. This moving new play prompts poignant questions about responsibility – to ourselves, to our loved ones, to our community, and to our world. The Robert Shackleton Playhouse is located at the corner of Bank & Lafayette streets. Admission is $35 Adults, $30 Seniors (62+) and $15 Students.

East Lynne Theater Company presents “It Pays to Advertise” at 8 p.m. on Fri., Oct. 5 and Sat., Oct. 6, and at 7:30 p.m. on Sun., Oct. 7. A long-running hit when it opened on Broadway in September of 1914, this screwball comedy by Roi Cooper Megrue and Walter C. Hackett was twice made into a movie: a silent in 1919, and in 1931 with Carole Lombard. The premise – and promise – that anything can be sold in America is at its core, but it also examines the very nature and romance of advertising and its influence. First Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes St. Tickets are $30 general; $25 senior; $15 students; ages 12 and under free.

Cape May’s Victorian Weekend is sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC), a multifaceted, not-for-profit organization committed to promoting the preservation, interpretation, and cultural enrichment of the Cape May region for its residents and visitors. MAC membership is open to all. For information about MAC’s year-round schedule of tours, festivals, and special events, call            609-884-5404       or             800-275-4278      , or visit MAC’s Web site at www.capemaymac.org. For information about restaurants, accommodations and shopping, call the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May at             609-884-5508      .

"Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey” weekend on October 20th & 21st, 2012.

The New Jersey Lighthouses and select museums are eager to announce they will again be hosting a “Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey” weekend on October 20th & 21st, 2012.Visitors will enjoy the opportunity to tour the state and visit each lighthouse over the weekend, and help raise needed funds for continued lighthouse preservation.

 

These majestic beacons have played an important role in New Jersey's history, guarding mariners and protecting our coasts for over a century. Lighthouses serve as a reminder of American ingenuity while honoring the values of safety and heroism. Visit the lighthouses and museums on the Challenge for an opportunity to step back in time and learn more about our state and country's history.

 

Hours of operation for each lighthouse can be found on lighthouse and museum websites listed below, and at www.lighthousechallengenj.org,www.njlhs.org and www.visitnj.org.  Night climbs will be offered as well at Absecon, Cape May, Sandy Hook, Tinicum, Tuckerton.

 

The lighthouses encourage the public to take advantage of this special weekend to financially support and preserve the maritime history of our state as we face the same economic challenges as other sectors of commerce. 

 

Following is a list of all of the participating lighthouses and museums: 

 

Absecon

Barnegat

Barnegat Light Historical Museum

Cape May

Cape May County Museum

East Point

Finns Point

Hereford Inlet

Navesink/Twin Lights

US Life Saving Station

Sandy Hook

Sea Girt 

Tatham Life Saving Station

Tinicum

Tuckerton Seaport

Halloween In Historic Cape May Press Release

Halloween in Historic Cape May

By Press Release

CAPE MAY - The City of Cape May is ready to embrace the spirit of the Halloween season with its series of annual events.

The fun begins with Trick or Treating at noon on Oct. 21 at the Washington Street Mall. Many of the 90 plus mall merchants will offer treats until 2 p.m. The charming architecture and safe environment provide trick-or-treaters with a wonderful experience.

Children of all ages are invited to register for the annual Halloween parade at the intersection of Perry Street and Washington Street Mall at 1 p.m. Registration is necessary for parade lineup and prize eligibility. Registration will close promptly at 2 p.m. and assemble for step off at 3 p.m.

The participants will march along Carpenters Lane onto Ocean Street and then down Washington Street. The parade will conclude at Emlen Physick Estate where Mid-Atlantic Center for Performing Arts will provide refreshments and snacks during the awards presentation. The popular event promises to be as enjoyable as in years past featuring an array of costumed participants and more than ten bands.

In addition to the age categories, trophies for this year’s parade will be awarded for the following: Best family, funniest, most scary, best homemade costume, silliest, best witch, best celebrity character, and most original.

Official “Trick or Treat” for the City of Cape May will be observed on Oct. 31 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Trick-or-treaters should only visit those homes with illuminated exterior front light indicating that trick-or-treaters are welcome. Below are tips to help make the festivities fun and safe for trick-or-treaters and party guests.

• Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.
• Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
• Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
• Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.
• Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always WALK and don't run from house to house.
• Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
• Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.
• Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.
• Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
• Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.
• Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.
• Enter homes only if you're with a trusted adult.
• Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.

Special Notification of Parking and Street Closure

At 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 21, the 300 block of Carpenter Lane, South Lafayette Street between Jackson Street and Perry Street, and Perry Street from West Perry Street to Beach Drive will be closed to vehicular traffic in preparation for the Halloween Parade.

Metered street parking is available nearby in the Washington Street Mall area as well as the Municipal Parking Lot at Jackson Street.

The Halloween events are sponsored by the City of Cape May, the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May, the Washington Street Business Management Association, the Cape May Kiwanis Club and the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities. For more information please call Civic Affairs             609-884-9565       or go towww.capemayrecreation.org.

West Cape May Lima Bean Festival Coming Up October 6th

West Cape May Lima Bean Festival October 6th 2012

Lima Bean Festival, Saturday, October 6th in West Cape May. Get your bean on with lima bean t-shirts from Flying Fish, lima bean chili, lima bean taco soup, lima bean jewelry, lima bean stained glass, lima bean birdhouses, lima bean pottery and this year a special treat- lima bean ice cream from Bliss of Cape May. Almost 100 vendors will also sell barbeque, turkey legs, crab cakes, smoothies, flowers, produce, collectibles, antiques and art… and of course fresh lima beans!

October 6, 2012

The West Cape May Annual Lima Bean Festival is the one event you must attend. Limas, limas, limas, soup, tacos, salad, jewelry, tshirts and more!!!! Great food, quality vendors, antiques, entertainment and fun. Come out and celebrate West Cape May's farming heritage. You will never think of legumes the same way again. Located in Wilbraham Park from 9:00AM to 5:00PM. 

Rain date October 7. Call Diane Flanegan at             609-884-9325       for information.