Free Three-Mile Bike Ride to Celebrate Locals’ Summer in Cape May

Issue #787

August 24, 2026

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In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather 

🚴 Free Three-Mile Bike Ride to Celebrate Locals’ Summer in Cape May

🚜 Wild Encounter: Rea’s Farm Offers Up-Close Introduction to Falconry

⛪Historic Allen AME Church to Celebrate More Than a Century of Cape May History 

Don’t forget we have until August 24th to vote The Best of Cape May and until September 4th for Cape May to be featured in a Hallmark Christmas Movie

👇 Here’s what’s going on in the Cape May Local Area👇  

 August 24

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 Free Three-Mile Bike Ride to Celebrate Locals’ Summer in Cape May

Summer may be winding down, but Cape May residents and visitors will have another opportunity to enjoy the season outdoors during the city’s Locals’ Summer Bike Ride on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

The free community event will take cyclists on a relaxed, approximately three-mile ride through Cape May. The slow-paced outing is intended to bring neighbors, families and friends together while celebrating Locals’ Summer at the Jersey Shore.

Registration begins at 5 p.m. at the Cape May Community Center, 110 Ocean Street. Riders will depart as a group at 5:30 p.m.

Organizers are promoting the event as a family-friendly evening of recreation and community. Because the route travels along city streets, experienced riders are suggested. Helmets are required for everyone participating.

September traditionally gives residents and visitors an opportunity to enjoy Cape May after the busiest weeks of the summer tourism season. City officials are encouraging the community bike ride as another way for people to get outdoors, spend time with friends and neighbors, and experience the city from two wheels.

There is no cost to participate. Riders should bring their own bicycles and helmets and arrive in time for registration before the 5:30 p.m. departure.

In the event of inclement weather, the ride will be postponed until Thursday, September 17.

Event Details

  • Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026

  • Registration: 5 p.m.

  • Ride: 5:30 p.m.

  • Location: Cape May Community Center, 110 Ocean Street, Cape May

  • Distance: Approximately 3 miles

  • Cost: Free

  • Helmets: Required

  • Rain Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026

Wild Encounter: Rea’s Farm Offers Up-Close Introduction to Falconry

Visitors to Rea’s Farm in West Cape May can get an up-close look at hawks while learning about the centuries-old practice of falconry during a weekly outdoor experience.

The NJ Falconry Experience is offered Tuesdays at 10 a.m. at Rea’s Farm Market, 400 Stevens St. The approximately two-hour program combines education, demonstrations and a walk through the farm as participants learn how falconers work with and train birds of prey.

The experience is led by Paul and Peg Totten, lifelong Cape May County residents who have spent years studying the wildlife of South Jersey. Their areas of interest include falconry, bird identification, migration patterns, nesting habits and raptors.

The program begins with an introduction to the history and traditions of falconry. With the hawks present, participants learn about bird identification, handling and training techniques, along with the relationship that develops between a falconer and a bird.

The program then moves outdoors for a free-flight demonstration. After the hawk is prepared and released, participants take a short walk while watching the bird move through nearby trees and return to the falconer’s gloved hand.

Along the way, participants learn how hawks are trained to return, as well as the techniques falconers use to work with the birds in an outdoor environment.

The close encounter also provides an opportunity to examine the physical characteristics that make hawks formidable predators. Participants can observe their feathers, wings, tails, beaks, feet and talons while learning about raptor anatomy and adaptations.

Advance registration is required and can be arranged at Rea’s Farm Market or by calling Paul at 609-226-7376 and leaving a message.

Because the program includes walking outdoors on grassy and uneven surfaces, participants should wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

Private group experiences are also available.

Historic Allen AME Church to Celebrate More Than a Century of Cape May History 

The history of one of Cape May's most significant landmarks will take center stage this fall as the Allen AME Legacy Committee, sponsored by East Lynne Theater Company, presents "Allen AME: Our Stories, Our Space, Our Legacy" on Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Clemans Theater for the Arts at the Historic Allen AME Church.

The free community program, running from 1 to 5 p.m. at 717 Franklin Street, will bring together former congregation members, historians, artists, educators, and community leaders to celebrate the enduring legacy of Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church and preserve the stories that have shaped generations of Cape May families.

Founded in the late 19th century, Allen AME Church traces its roots to a small congregation that first gathered in a member's home before constructing its permanent sanctuary in 1888. Named in honor of Richard Allen, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the congregation played an important role in Cape May's African American community for more than a century. Among its founders was abolitionist and businessman Rev. Stephen Smith, whose historic Cape May home still stands on Lafayette Street.

Over the years, the church evolved alongside the community, adding gas lighting, a pipe organ, handcrafted pews, and stained-glass memorial windows honoring many of the congregation's founding families. Descendants of several of those families continue to live in the Cape May area today.

Beyond serving as a place of worship, Allen AME became a center for civic engagement, education, and neighborhood gatherings. The church welcomed community organizations, hosted public programs, and provided meeting space for local groups, including Citizens for Progress. It also served as home to the Center for Community Arts for several years and supported charitable outreach through numerous ministries.

In 2018, tragedy struck when a truck collided with a utility pole that crashed into the church, sparking a fire that destroyed the bell tower, foyer, and two historic stained-glass windows. While firefighters saved the sanctuary from total destruction, the damage marked a turning point for the aging congregation. Church members continued meeting until the COVID-19 pandemic brought regular gatherings to an end.

The upcoming event aims not only to honor the church's remarkable history but also to ensure its stories remain part of Cape May's future. Through personal memories, historical presentations, and community conversations, organizers hope to preserve the legacy of Allen AME Church as an enduring symbol of faith, resilience, and service.

Which famous American architect was a frequent visitor to Cape May, New Jersey?

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 Answer to the August 23rd Trivia Question 

Which U.S. president was a frequent guest at Cape May, New Jersey?

A) George Washington
B) Ulysses S. Grant
C) Abraham Lincoln
D) Theodore Roosevelt

Answer: B) Ulysses S. Grant

Cape May, often cited as the country’s first seaside resort, has a rich history of hosting notable figures, including U.S. Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Benjamin Harrison. The town's Victorian architecture and historic charm have made it a popular destination for many prominent visitors throughout the years.

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