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.
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
Saturday, Nov. 30, noon
Margate Shop Small Extravaganza
Parade along Ventnor Avenue business district, American Sign Language Santa, Miss New Jersey Elizabeth Mendel, games, prizes, giveaways, letters for Santa and other activities at Leslie’s Dance Studio performance at Bocca Coal Fired Bistro. Special sales and coupons for shopping at area stores.
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.
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.
