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Cape May County Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with Parades, Music, and Festivities

Issue #624

March 13, 2026

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In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather

 🍀 Cape May County Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with Parades, Music, and Festivities

🏃Sea Isle City Autism Fundraiser Raises Record $234K, Draws 5,000 Participants

 🔥𓇋Burning Scrap Metal Barge Towed Off Cape May Coast Before Fire Is Doused

Cape May Local Scoop’s Events Are Sponsored By: Shop Local

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

 March 13

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Cape May County Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with Parades, Music, and Festivities

Cape May County is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a wide range of events that combine Irish culture, food, music, and community gatherings. Festivities begin the weekend of March 13 and continue through the official holiday on March 17, with activities taking place across several towns including West Cape May, North Wildwood, Sea Isle City, and Ocean City. Willow Creek Winery in West Cape May will host a three-day celebration featuring Irish-inspired dishes, live music, and performances by Irish step dancers. The entertainment includes traditional bagpipe music from the Irish Pipe Brigade and dancing inspired by classic Irish stage productions. On March 14, St. Ann’s Church in Wildwood will hold a special St. Patrick’s Day Mass, followed by the North Wildwood St. Patrick’s Day Parade at noon. The parade will feature marching bands, bagpipers, dancers, decorated vehicles, and local organizations celebrating Irish heritage. Sea Isle City will also host its 34th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade later that afternoon, making it the longest-running parade in Cape May County. The event will honor longtime parade organizer Carol Thompson and include festivities before and after the parade. Local breweries and venues are also participating in the celebrations. Slack Tide Brewery will host a St. Patrick’s party with live music, food trucks, and drink specials, including its seasonal Irish red ale. In Wildwood, Anglesea Aleworks and MudHen Brewing Company will offer themed beers and live entertainment throughout the weekend. On March 17, St. Patrick’s Day itself, Irish music will continue across the county. The Ocean City Free Public Library will host a concert celebrating traditional and contemporary Irish music, while the Irish Pipe Brigade will perform at several local pubs as part of a St. Patrick’s Day bar tour. Together, the parades, concerts, food events, and performances highlight Cape May County’s celebration of Irish culture and community during the St. Patrick’s Day season.

Sea Isle City Autism Fundraiser Raises Record $234K, Draws 5,000 Participants

The 18th annual Mike’s Seafood Run-Walk for Autism in Sea Isle City achieved record-breaking success this year, raising $234,000 and drawing a crowd of more than 5,000 participants and spectators during the Presidents Day weekend event on Feb. 14. The fundraiser took place along the city’s oceanfront Promenade and concluded with a large celebration in heated tents at Excursion Park. Founded by Mike and Jeannie Monichetti, the event began in 2009 with modest expectations but has since grown into one of the most prominent autism awareness fundraisers in New Jersey. Over the past 18 years, the run-walk has generated more than $1 million in donations that support autism organizations, special services schools, and families raising children with special needs. This year’s event featured more than 2,000 runners and walkers participating in the races and family fun walk, along with approximately 3,000 spectators who gathered to cheer them on. Adding to the excitement was the participation of former Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro center Jason Kelce and his wife, Kylie, who joined the one-mile family walk. The couple owns a vacation home in Sea Isle City, and Kelce has taken part in the fundraiser for three consecutive years. The event holds personal significance for the Monichetti family, who have two children with autism. Their experiences raising Kara and Michael Jr. inspired them to create the fundraiser to raise awareness and provide support for other families facing similar challenges. Beyond its charitable impact, the run-walk has become a key part of Sea Isle City’s Presidents Day weekend celebration, attracting thousands of visitors to the shore during the winter season. Local officials say the large turnout helped boost tourism and business activity in town, with crowds comparable to those seen before the COVID-19 pandemic. With strong community involvement and growing participation each year, the Mike’s Seafood Run-Walk for Autism continues to play an important role in raising awareness, funding support programs, and bringing people together for a meaningful cause.

Burning Scrap Metal Barge Towed Off Cape May Coast Before Fire Is Doused

 A fire that broke out Tuesday morning aboard a scrap metal barge in the Delaware Bay was extinguished the following day after an extended emergency response involving the U.S. Coast Guard and several regional agencies. The barge was being towed by the tugboat Douglas J to a scrap metal facility in Camden when the crew reported the fire at approximately 8:20 a.m. Tuesday. Residents and visitors along the Cape May coastline reported seeing large plumes of smoke rising from the bay, with the fire visible from areas such as Sunset Beach. Responders from Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay, along with Coast Guard stations in Philadelphia, Cape May and Atlantic City, were deployed to the scene. Fireboats from several local fire departments, including Wilmington, Delaware City and Philadelphia, also assisted in battling the blaze. Authorities established a safety zone and issued alerts to nearby vessels while emergency crews worked to control the fire. To prevent the burning vessel from interfering with shipping traffic, crews towed the barge away from the main navigation channel, moving it through the Delaware Bay and even circling it in open water while firefighting efforts continued. At one point, the barge was located about eight miles west of the Lower Township bayshore. Officials also monitored potential environmental impacts. Air quality monitoring stations were set up in the region as a precaution while the Coast Guard remained the lead agency overseeing the response. Authorities noted that fires involving scrap metal can sometimes reignite, so crews continued monitoring the barge even after the flames were put out. No injuries were reported during the incident, and operations of the Cape May–Lewes Ferry were not disrupted. After the fire was extinguished Wednesday, the barge resumed its journey and continued toward its original destination at a scrap metal facility in Camden, while officials began investigating the cause of the fire.

Which event in Cape May's history led to the rapid development of the city as a major resort destination in the 19th century?

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 Answer to the March 12th Trivia Question

What was the intended guest capacity of the Mount Vernon Hotel in Cape May, which was considered the largest hotel in the world at the time of its construction in the 1850s?

A) 1,500
B) 2,100
C) 3,000
D) 3,500

Answer: D) 3,500

The Mount Vernon Hotel, constructed in 1852 on the west end of Cape May's oceanfront, was designed to accommodate 3,500 guests, making it the largest hotel in the world at that time. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by fire in 1856 before its completion. ​.​

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