Cape May Fall Festival

Plan to arrive during the day on Thursday, October 19^th and depart the area around 5 pm on Sunday, October 22^nd – or stay until Monday! Registration for three days is about $250 with most programs included. Special trips like boats, buses and trollies are an additional $35 – $45 each.

If you travel by air, you will need to rent a vehicle as attendees are responsible for transportation during this festival. If you take any form of public transportation to the Cape May area, the closest car rental is Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Rio Grande, NJ, about five miles north of Cape May. They are very friendly and accommodating.

You should plan to depart the area after your final program on Sunday, the last of which concludes at 5:00 pm.  Or stay a few extra days and enjoy all Cape May has to offer!

We will open for check-in in the Wicker Room at the Grand Hotel at around noon on Thursday the 19^th. It is important that you pick up your nametag, which is your “ticket” to participate throughout the weekend. We can also answer any questions you may have about the festival and the surrounding area. The festivities will begin with a Kick-off Party at the Rusty Nail from 5 pm to 8 pm, where we’ll be raffling off a Kowa scope. Your registration includes a plentiful buffet and a cash bar will be available.

Starting early morning Friday the 20^th, there will be birding field trips, boat rides and more, led by our amazing local naturalists.

Friday evening from 4 pm to 7 pm, we will hold a VIP reception at Cape May Convention Hall, which will be open to registrants only. We’ll provide some snacks and you’ll want to bring some cash to enjoy the libations of local favorite, Mudhen Brewery, and to buy a chance to win a pair of Leica Trinovid binoculars. Of course, there will also be all kind of temptations offered by a variety of nature-themed vendors.

The Saturday evening keynote presentation will take place at the local high school’s spacious and modern auditorium. We’ll provide refreshments and you’ll enjoy the presentation by Peter Harrison, author and world-famous sea bird expert, who has travelled the world and has been to Antarctica over 250 times!

End your festival experience with the 3-hour (2 pm to 5 pm) Trip to the Rips boat ride that explores just off the coast of Cape May and makes a loop back through the Cape May Canal. Or do the driving loop at the stunning Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge about 45 minutes north of Cape May.

In addition to all the activities you may choose from, Cape May Convention Hall will be open all weekend and rebranded as “The Nature Place.” The Nature Place showcases vendors, our silent auction, and will host a live animal show by Nature Nick’s Animal Adventures.

And don’t forget, New Jersey Audubon and Cape May Bird Observatory members receive a 10% discount

on their entire registration as well as a one-week advance opening, so it’s worth considering as many of our field trips reach capacity. Either way, the sooner you register, the better!