DOWNBEACH - Living at the shore offers numerous opportunities to celebrate the holiday season. All three Downbeach towns hold community events to celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas, and to ring in the New Year.
Here is a list of events being held this year in Ventnor, Margate and Longport.
Ventnor
Friday, Dec. 6. 5:30 p.m.
Holiday Tree Lighting with Santa
Ventnor City Hall, 6201 Atlantic Ave. (Sacramento Avenue)
Saturday, Dec. 7, 5 p.m.
Twilight Holiday Parade
Ventnor Avenue between New Haven and Nashville avenues
Parade will also be livestreamed on Facebook and VentnorCity.org.
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7-8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ventnor Cultural Arts Center Art and Craft Show
Shop local artists offering paintings, pottery, mosaics, jewelry and more.
Monday, Dec. 16, 6 p.m.
Living Nativity, St. James Church, 6415 Atlantic Ave.
Includes live animals, carols and children representing the Holy Family.
Friday, Dec. 20, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Ventnor City Fire Department escorts Santa around town.
Thursday, Dec. 26, 5 p.m.
Hanukkah Menorah Lighting at City Hall, 6201 Atlantic Ave.
Margate
Sunday, Dec. 8, 5-7 p.m.
Holiday Tree and Menorah Lighting
The Margate Mothers Association will host a Holiday Tree and Menoriah Lighting at the Margate City Public Library, 8100 Atlantic Ave.
The event features the Decoration Donation, a fun activity for children to learn the power of giving. Make a donation to one of the trees dedicated to a local charity and make an ornament for the tree. Trees benefit Kisses for Kyle, Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City and water.org.
Hot chocolate, hot cider and snacks will be available for purchase.
Sunday, Dec. 8, 5-9 p.m.
Friends of Margate Community Church Holiday Dinner
Enjoy fellowship, hors d'oeuvres, dinner and dancing. BYOB. Limited seating at $40. Contact Margate Community Church, 609-822-7147 for reservations.
Wednesday, Dec. 11, 11 a.m.
Holiday Celebration and Silly Sweater Contest
Bloom Pavilion, Huntington Avenue
Enjoy the Eugene A. Tighe School Choir, hot lunch and a Silly Sweater contest. Lunch is $7 payable upon registration and and includes entree, dessert and beverage. There will be a $50 gift certificate to Ventura's Greenhouse as the prize for the best sweater. Bring an unwrapped toy for a boy or girl over age 7 for the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Pleasantville. Play Bingo after lunch.
Friday, Dec. 13, 5-8 p.m.
Winter Wonderland Toy Drive Festival
Sigmund Rimm Recreation Complex, Huntington Avenue
Train rides, food, vendors, live music and dancing, photos with Santa and more. Bring a new unwrapped toy for distribution by the Atlantic County Toys for Kids program.
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 4-5 p.m.
Village by the Shore Holiday Social
Marjorie & Lewis Katz JCC Auditorium, 501 N. Jerome Ave.
Holiday get-together with members of the Village by the Shore group. Dinner and dancing with Package Goods band, door prizes. Free for Holocaust survivors, Village members, $5 RSVP Tina Serota at 609-287-8872.
Monday, Dec. 23, 4-6 p.m.
Margate Community Church Live Nativity
Join the parish for its annual Live Nativity in front of the stately brick church on Ventnor Avenue in the Parkway section.
Hear the Christmas story, see and pet live animals, sing Christmas carols.
Longport
Friday, Dec. 13, 5 p.m.
Holiday Tree and Menorah Lighting
Longport Public Library, 2305 Atlantic Ave.
Music, carolers and cookies will be served in the gazebo in the park behind Borough Hall.
For more information, contact the library at 609-487-7403.
Monday, Dec. 16, starting at 6 p.m.
Longport Volunteer Fire Department escorts Santa around the borough. Families with children under age 10 interested in having Santa visit their location, should call the Longport Public Library, 609-487-7403 in advance.
