Fall Break in Cape May

The beach may not be your first consideration for a fall getaway, but Cape May’s seasonal offerings may make you change your tune. The New Jersey beach town is filled with enough historic Victorian architecture, seasonal festivities and small-town vibes to roll you right into fall.

Fall Festival

Congress Hall’s inaugural Fall Festival brings carnival games, arts and crafts, rides for the kids, beer for the adults, and food and fun for all, Oct. 19, 12–6 p.m. Hosted on the Hall’s grand lawn, guests come ready for some hometown favorites, like funnel cake, apple cider donuts and candy apples to seasonal delights like Brats and brews.

Speaking of brews, the adults can find plenty of seasonal teats in the beer tent, including adult slushies, beer cheese pretzels and comfy digs by the firepit.

Photo: Cape Resorts

Younger visitors will also have their fill of fall fun with all-ages carnival games and prizes. Hop on the Congress Hall Spook Express for a train ride and pictures with the little ones, or head over to the pumpkin painting area for a seasonal gourd to take home. The kids can get their faces painted and sit around the hay wagon for family photos.

Just as the sun sets, guess can stick around for some s’mores on Congress Hall’s lawn while watching a holiday favorite: Hocus Pocus.

Photo: Cape Resorts

Adults-Only Halloween

Adults, while we have your attention, there will also be a Halloween Masquerade Ball at Congress Hall, Oct. 25, 8–11 p.m. Guests dress to impress (and hopefully win the costume competition at the end of the night) and dance the night away in Congress Hall Ballroom. With your $25 ticket, guest receive a welcome drink and something sweet from the buffet. Bring a mask, your dancing shoes and dress to the nines for this old-world Halloween party.

Adventure Twist on Fall Break

Can’t make the one-off weekend event by the beach? No problem, Congress Hall has more in store for the season. For New Jersey locals, the kids will have a short fall break coming up and there’s a package for families looking for something fun for kids to do.

Check out the Fall Break package, offering accommodations for the whole family, daily Beach Plum Farm Wilderness Activities and an Explorers Club drawstring backpack for the kids and add-ons for the adults.

Congress Hall. Photo: Cape Resorts