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Friday, October 23, 2026

News · Cape May City, Middle Township, North Wildwood, Ocean City, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest

The Weekend Ahead: Exit Zero Jazz in Cape May, Harvest Fest in Court House and Boo at the Zoo

The fall Exit Zero Jazz Festival, The American Soldier at Cape May Stage, Middle Township's Harvest Fest, a free Boo at the Zoo, North Wildwood's Trunk-or-Treat and the start of early voting: the Cape May County weekend, Oct. 23 to 25.

October 23, 2026

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Good morning, Cape May County. The fall Exit Zero Jazz Festival has Cape May all weekend, with shows at Convention Hall, Carney's and the Nauti Spirits outdoor stage, and Cape May Stage has three performances of the solo show The American Soldier. Saturday is the busy day for families: Middle Township's Harvest Fest on Mechanic Street, the free Boo at the Zoo in Cape May Court House and North Wildwood's Trunk-or-Treat. Early voting for the Nov. 3 election also opens Saturday.

Friday

  • The American Soldier — 7:00 PM, Cape May Stage, Cape May. Douglas Taurel's 75-minute solo show draws on letters from service members and their families, from the nation's founding to today. Three shows only, part of Cape May Stage's America at 250 programming. Ages 13 and up.
  • Exit Zero Jazz Festival evening shows — Convention Hall headliners at 7:00 and 9:00 PM, plus club sets at Carney's and Harry's at the Montreal Beach Resort. Festival passes cover Friday through Sunday.

Saturday

  • Middle Township Harvest Fest — 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Mechanic Street, Cape May Court House. Children's games, hayrides, craft and food vendors and live music.
  • Boo at the Zoo — 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Cape May County Park & Zoo, 707 Route 9 North, Cape May Court House. Free, with donations welcome. Costume contest, crafts, games, candy, an inflatable obstacle course and a pirate ship. Costume registration opens at 10:00 and the contest starts at 11:00.
  • North Wildwood Trunk-or-Treat — 2:30 to 5:00 PM, Olde New Jersey Avenue, North Wildwood. Free. Decorated cars hand out treats, with prizes for the best-decorated vehicles. Visitor parking is in the city lots at 2nd and Spruce avenues off Olde New Jersey Avenue.
  • Exit Zero Second Line — 11:00 AM, Washington Street Mall, Cape May. The festival's David Clemans Second Line parades through the mall.
  • Saturday in Ocean City. Coffee with Cops runs 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the Community Center atrium, 1735 Simpson Avenue. The Ocean City Police Department also hosts National Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Kids 5 to 11 can make a Halloween craft at the library's drop-in craft event, noon to 2:00 PM, no registration needed.
  • Mosaic lamp workshop — 2:30 to 5:00 PM, 956 Asbury Avenue (second floor), Ocean City. Make a Turkish mosaic lamp; materials included. Tickets required.

Sunday

All weekend

  • Exit Zero Jazz Festival — Friday through Sunday, Cape May. The fall lineup includes saxophonist Kenny Garrett and singer Michael Mayo, with music at Cape May Convention Hall, Carney's, Harry's at the Montreal Beach Resort and Nauti Spirits Distillery. Passes and the full schedule are on the festival site.
  • Halloween Happenings in Cape May — Cape May MAC's ghost trolley tours, murder mystery dinners and Scarecrow Alley at the Physick Estate, where visitors vote for their favorite scarecrow. Runs through Oct. 31.
  • Middle Township Halloween Decoration Contest — Decorated homes across the township, nightly 5:00 to 9:00 PM through Oct. 27.

Around the county

  • Early voting starts Saturday. In-person early voting for the Nov. 3 general election runs Oct. 24 to Nov. 1: Monday through Saturday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Sunday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. No appointment needed. Hours and county sites
  • Trick-or-treat hours. Wildwood and North Wildwood have both set trick-or-treating for Saturday, Oct. 31, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Government meetings
  • Watch for a phone scam. Wildwood Crest police are warning that calls claiming to come from the department may not be real. Local news
  • Coming up next week. The Ocean City Free Public Library holds its Halloween Fest on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 6:00 PM, and Middle Township's Halloween Parade steps off Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7:00 PM.

Know of something we missed? Submit an event, and see the full Cape May County events calendar.