Wildwoods Hosts Festive Holiday Events for the Entire Family Dec. 2-3

PRESS RELEASE

Kick-off the 2011 holiday season in the Wildwoods with festive events for the entire family on Fri., Dec. 2 and Sat., Dec. 3.

The festivities start on Fri., Dec. 2, when the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse hosts a special Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in the Lighthouse Courtyard. Santa Claus will make a special appearance and refreshments will be available.

The Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. and is free to attend. The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is located at 1st and Central Avenues in North Wildwood. For more information, call 609-522-4520.

Holiday house tours will take place from 7 - 9 p.m. on Fri., Dec. 2 at three locations in the Wildwoods – The Candlelight Bed and Breakfast, located at 24th and Central Avenues in North Wildwood; Summer Nites Bed and Breakfast, located at 2110 Atlantic Avenue in North Wildwood; and the J. Thompson Baker House, located at 3008 Atlantic Avenue in Wildwood.

The holiday house tours are free to attend. For more information, call 609-522-3639.

The Wildwoods Family Holiday Celebration starts with the Greater Wildwood Jaycees Christmas Parade on Fri., Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. Bring a blanket or chairs and some hot cocoa, and enjoy a festive holiday procession along the streets of the Wildwoods.

The parade steps off from 15th Avenue in North Wildwood and heads south along Central and Pacific Avenues through the Holly Beach Station Mall to Heather Road in Wildwood Crest, then proceeds east onto Ocean Avenue, as the parade makes its way north, ending at the Wildwoods Convention Center.

Parade registration will begin at 6 p.m. with parade line-up at 6:30 p.m. at the North Wildwood Recreation Center, located at 10th and Central Avenues.

There is no fee to submit an entry for the parade. Trophies will be awarded later in the evening during the Christmas Parade awards ceremony inside the Wildwoods Convention Center. Awards will be given in the following divisions: Community Service, Commercial, Marching Bands and Public Service.

The rain date for the Christmas Parade is scheduled for Sun., Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. with parade line-up at 4 p.m. If the weather is uncertain, tune in to 98.7 The Coast or visit www.WildwoodHoliday.com for more information.

Immediately following the Greater Wildwood Jaycees Christmas Parade, the fun continues at the Wildwoods Convention Center with a traditional Christmas tree lighting ceremony, scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. After the tree lighting ceremony, head inside the Convention Center for the Christmas Parade awards ceremony where free hot chocolate and cookies will be served.

Prior to the Convention Center Tree Lighting Ceremony and Christmas Parade awards ceremony, the venue will host a Shopping Bazaar beginning at 6:30 p.m., featuring holiday-themed crafters offering unique, one-of-a-kind gift items.

On Sat., Dec. 3, the free Wildwoods Family Holiday Celebration continues at the Wildwoods Convention Center from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. with a full day of shopping, crafts, face painting, local school children’s choruses & band performances, music, gymnastics & cheer performances, a magician, free holiday movies with free popcorn, and a special visit from Santa Claus.

The exciting and fun-filled entertainment schedule for the Wildwoods Family Holiday Celebration is as follows:

ALL DAY (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) – Children’s Holiday Craft Making Table & Face Painters
ALL DAY (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) – Shopping Bazaar, Holiday Movies & Fun Entertainers
10:00 a.m. – Performance by Crest Memorial School Chorus and Band
10:30 a.m. – Performance by Gibson School of Irish Dance
11:00 a.m. – Art of Gymnastics & Cheer
11:30 a.m. – Performance by Wildwood Catholic High School
12:00 p.m. – Santa Claus arrives!
12:30 p.m. – Magician Ken Northridge
1:30 p.m. – Performance by Glenwood Choir
1:50 p.m. – Performance by Wildwood Middle School Choir
2:10 p.m. – Performance by Wildwood High School Choir
2:30 p.m. – Performance by Avalon String Band
3:30 p.m. – Performance by Cape Trinity Catholic Choir
4:00 p.m. – Performance by Margaret Mace Choir
4:30 p.m. – Jersey Cape Dance & Gymnastics Academy

Grab a seat and enjoy some of the most festive holiday films in two separate viewing rooms playing FREE holiday movie classics! The movie schedule is as follows:

Meeting Room 1:

10:30 a.m. – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
11:30 a.m. – Frosty the Snowman
12:30 p.m. – Santa Claus is Coming to Town
1:30 p.m. – Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol
2:30 p.m. – How the Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon version)
3:00 p.m. – A Charlie Brown Christmas
3:30 p.m. – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Meeting Room 2:

10:30 a.m. – How the Grinch Stole Christmas (starring Jim Carrey – PG)
12:30 p.m. – Polar Express (G)
2:20 p.m. – The Santa Clause (PG)

Don’t miss your chance to take part in a fun-filled, free holiday weekend celebration! Bring the entire family and create holiday memories that will last a lifetime.

For additional information about the Wildwoods Family Holiday Celebration, please call 609-729-9000 or visit www.WildwoodHoliday.com.