Holiday season 2026
The Holidays in Ocean City, NJ
Pajama shopping, Christmas trees on the beach, Santa arriving by fire truck, free carriage rides down Asbury Avenue and a New Year's Eve the whole family can stay up for. Here's every holiday event in Ocean City this season, all in one place, so you can spend less time Googling and more time eating fudge.
By Graham & Alicia Ginn, Ocean City Realtors (and parents of three professional Santa-line waiters). Updated November 2026.
The big ones
Can't-miss holiday events
Winterfest by the Sea
Sat., Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Holiday shopping inside the Sports & Civic Center at 6th Street and the Boardwalk. A head start on your list before the downtown rush.
Earlier Than the Bird
Sat., Nov. 21, 8 a.m. to noon. The downtown shopping kickoff where everyone shops Asbury Avenue (6th to 14th Streets) in their pajamas. Yes, really. Early-bird specials, giveaways and free coffee.
Beach Christmas Tree Tour
Late November through New Year's. Neighbors plant decorated, themed Christmas trees in the sand at street ends all over the island. Drive the tour, bring a painted shell. See the trees.
Our Miracle on Asbury Avenue
Fri., Nov. 27, 2 to 5 p.m. Christmas in the Downtown, Ocean City's small-town take on Black Friday: shopping, carolers and street performers, then Santa arrives at 5 p.m. to light the tree at City Hall.
Christmas Parade
Fri., Dec. 4, 6 p.m. Floats, bands and the big guy himself on Asbury Avenue from 6th to 11th Street. Want to march? Register at ocnj.us/christmas-parade.
Train Show
Sat. and Sun., Dec. 5 and 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Model trains take over the Music Pier. A free, guaranteed hit with anyone under 10 (and a lot of dads).
Holiday House Decorating Contest
Homes all over the island compete on lights, themes and special effects, and the city posts a list of entries so you can drive the tour. Enter or find the list at ocnj.us/HolidayHouse.
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Only in OC
The Beach Christmas Tree Tour
It started in 2019 with one tree. Sue McElwee and her family planted a decorated Christmas tree in the sand at North Street, surrounded by clam shells with names written on them. The next year another went up at the south end, and now neighbors plant themed trees at street ends up and down the island every holiday season. No tickets, no lines: just a family drive from one end of Ocean City to the other.
When: The trees usually go up the Saturday before Thanksgiving (that's Nov. 21 this year, the same morning as Earlier Than the Bird) and stay up until a little after New Year's Day. When the season ends, the trees go to the animals at Funny Farm Rescue.
Bring a shell. Part of the tradition is leaving a painted or written shell on or under a tree, in memory of someone or just to add to the display.
Last year's trees
Here's where families planted trees in 2025. Most come back to the same street every year, but spots can move for beach replenishment, so treat this as your starting map.
| Street | The tree |
|---|
| North Street | The original, the tree that started it all (last year it sat near the Sand House restaurant because of beach work) |
| 10th Street | The Tomato Cage Tree, a creative build rather than a real tree |
| 11th Street | The Military Tree, saluting service members, right down the street from the Flanders |
| 34th Street | The Memorial Tree, with a mailbox for letters to Santa |
| 36th Street | The Residents' Memorial Tree |
| 40th Street | The Driftwood Tree, built from driftwood |
| 50th Street | The OCNJ Queens Tree, benefiting Angels in Motion |
| 59th Street | The Giving Tree at the end of the island: bring nonperishable food for the bins at the street entrance |
We'll update this list once this year's trees are up. Spot a new one? and we'll add it.
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Every holiday weekend
Santa, photos and carriage rides
From Thanksgiving weekend through the weekend before Christmas (Nov. 28-29, Dec. 5-6, Dec. 12-13 and Dec. 19-20), these are on every Saturday and Sunday. All free.
Santa in the Downtown
9 to 11 a.m. at Mark Soifer Park, 9th Street and Asbury Avenue. Bring the list.
Photos with Santa
Noon to 3 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier on the Boardwalk at Moorlyn Terrace.
Horse & carriage rides
Noon to 3 p.m. Board in front of City Hall at 9th and Asbury. Rides also run Nov. 21 (at 6th and Asbury) and Nov. 27.
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Full calendar
Ocean City holiday calendar, 2026
| Date | Event |
|---|
| Sat., Nov. 14 | Winterfest by the Sea, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sports & Civic Center |
| Sat., Nov. 21 | Earlier Than the Bird, 8 a.m. to noon, downtown; carriage rides noon to 3 p.m. at 6th and Asbury; beach Christmas trees usually go up today |
| Thu., Nov. 26 | Fast & Furriest 5K Turkey Trot on the Boardwalk, Thanksgiving morning, benefiting the Humane Society of Ocean City (hsocnj.org) |
| Fri., Nov. 27 | Christmas in the Downtown: Our Miracle on Asbury Avenue, 2 to 5 p.m.; Santa arrives at 5 p.m. |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | Holidays with the Ocean City Pops, 2 and 6 p.m., Music Pier |
| Nov. 28 to Dec. 20 | Santa, photos with Santa and carriage rides every Saturday and Sunday (see above) |
| Fri., Dec. 4 | Christmas Parade, 6 p.m., Asbury Avenue from 6th to 11th Street |
| Dec. 5 and 6 | Train Show, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Music Pier |
| Sun., Dec. 6 | Atlantic City Ballet: The Nutcracker, 4 p.m., Hughes Performing Arts Center (Ocean City High School) |
| Sun., Dec. 13 | Atlantic City Ballet: It's A Shore Holiday, 4 p.m., Music Pier |
| Dec. 18 and 19 | Frozen Jr. by the Ocean City Theatre Company, 7:30 p.m. both nights plus 2 p.m. on Dec. 19 |
| Thu., Dec. 31 | First Night New Year's Eve celebration, ending with midnight fireworks |
| Fri., Jan. 1 | First Day: shopping downtown, the First Day 5K at 1 p.m. and the ocean plunge at 2 p.m. |
Event dates come from the City of Ocean City's 2026 Calendar of Events. Events can change with weather, so double-check the Chamber of Commerce calendar before you head out.
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Shows & tickets
Holiday shows worth getting dressed up for
The Nutcracker
Atlantic City Ballet, Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. at the Hughes Performing Arts Center. Same box office as the Pops.
It's A Shore Holiday
Atlantic City Ballet's beachy holiday show, Dec. 13 at 4 p.m. at the Music Pier. Same box office.
Frozen Jr.
Ocean City Theatre Company, Dec. 18 and 19. Tickets at oceancitytheatrecompany.com. Prepare to hear "Let It Go" in the car for a week.
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New Year's
First Night and First Day
First Night on Dec. 31 is Ocean City's family-friendly New Year's Eve: entertainment all over town leading up to fireworks at midnight. Admission buttons cover everything and tend to sell out, so grab them early at firstnightocnj.com.
On Jan. 1, shake it off with the First Day Shopping Extravaganza downtown (Asbury Avenue, 6th to 14th Street), the First Day 5K on the Boardwalk at 1 p.m. (sign up at ocnj.us/race-events or on race day at the Music Pier, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) and First Day at the Beach, the 2 p.m. plunge into the very cold Atlantic by the Music Pier. Spectating is also a valid choice.
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From the locals
Tips for doing the holidays in OC
Park free
Street and lot parking in Ocean City is free from October 31 to May 1, so downtown and the beach trees are easy all season. The night of the parade, get there early.
Shop small
Asbury Avenue between 6th and 14th Streets is the heart of the season: boutiques, toy stores, cafes and the classic Christmas decorations strung across the street.
Make a weekend of it
Santa in the morning, Music Pier photos at lunch, carriage rides after, then drive the beach trees at sunset. That's a whole Saturday sorted.
New to town or just visiting? Our Ultimate Guide to Ocean City covers the rest of the year, from beach tags to the best caramel corn.
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Your local guides
Dreaming of a Christmas at the shore every year?
We're Graham and Alicia Ginn, and we spend every holiday season right here on the island with our kids. If this page has you picturing your own place for next December, we'd love to help you find it, or tell you what your current shore home is worth.
Want a home here for next holiday season?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll send you new listings the day they hit.
