Cape May Set to Swing as Exit Zero Jazz Festival Returns this Weekend

Issue #682

May 11, 2026

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In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather

🎷Cape May Set to Swing as Exit Zero Jazz Festival Returns this Weekend

🌸 Cape May Garden Tour and Flower Show Return May 16

🛳The SS Atlantus Remains One of Cape May’s Most Unusual Shore Attractions

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

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

 May 11

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Cape May Set to Swing as Exit Zero Jazz Festival Returns this Weekend

Cape May will once again transform into a vibrant hub of live music as the Spring 2026 Exit Zero Jazz Festival returns May 15–17, bringing internationally recognized performers, energetic street parades, and nonstop entertainment to the Jersey Shore. Held throughout the historic seaside town, the festival centers around the Cape May Convention Hall on Beach Avenue while expanding into local bars, restaurants, and outdoor stages across the city. The event has become known for blending jazz with blues, funk, brass bands, and global rhythms, creating an atmosphere that turns the entire town into a live music experience. Festivalgoers can expect everything from intimate club performances to lively street processions inspired by New Orleans second-line traditions and Brazilian drum ensembles. Organizers say the spirit of the festival is rooted in musical discovery, giving audiences the chance to experience both celebrated touring acts and emerging talent from around the world. This spring’s lineup includes performances by Davina & The Vagabonds, saxophonist Sarah Hanahan, and the U.S. Navy Band Commodores, among many others appearing throughout the weekend. Originally launched in 2012, the Exit Zero Jazz Festival has grown into one of Cape May’s signature annual events, taking place each spring and autumn during the town’s shoulder tourism seasons. A second 2026 festival is already scheduled for October 23–25. Festival passes and single-day tickets are currently available through Eventbrite and the official festival website. Organizers also noted that five dollars from every festival pass sold will support the nonprofit Cape May Jazz Festival Foundation. For additional information, schedules, and ticket purchases, attendees can visit the official Exit Zero Jazz Festival website or call 609-849-9202.

Cape May Garden Tour and Flower Show Return May 16

 The 2026 Gardens of Cape May Tour and Flower Show will take place Saturday, May 16, bringing together two of Cape May’s premier gardening events in one self-guided experience. Hosted by Cape May MAC and the Garden Club of Cape May, the event invites visitors to explore private gardens, historic landscapes, and floral exhibits throughout the city. You wont want to miss it. Running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the garden tour features a wide variety of landscapes, including native plant gardens, pollinator habitats, colonial herb gardens, Victorian-inspired designs, wildlife sanctuaries, ponds, rain gardens, and vegetable plots. Featured locations include the Emlen Physick Estate, the Colonial House Garden, and several private residences showcasing unique approaches to sustainable and coastal gardening. The accompanying Cape May Garden Club Flower Show will be held at Willow Creek Winery from 11 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. This year’s “Flowers & Fairytales” theme includes floral arrangements and horticultural displays inspired by classic fairy tales and fantasy stories. Organizers say the event is intended to inspire gardeners of all skill levels while highlighting the beauty and creativity found in Cape May’s residential and historic gardens. The combination of scenic properties, educational exhibits, and floral artistry makes the event one of the region’s signature spring attractions.

The SS Atlantus Remains One of Cape May’s Most Unusual Shore Attractions

 The SS Atlantus, a concrete ship built during World War I, remains stranded just offshore at Sunset Beach in Cape May Point, New Jersey, nearly 100 years after running aground during a storm in 1926. Originally created as part of an experimental fleet designed to conserve steel during wartime, the ship briefly served as a cargo vessel before being retired due to the impracticality of concrete ship construction. Purchased in 1926 for use as part of a proposed Cape May-to-Delaware ferry pier, the Atlantus broke free during a storm and became permanently lodged in shallow waters near Sunset Beach. Salvage efforts failed, and the ship has slowly deteriorated ever since, with only parts of the stern remaining visible above the surface today. The wreck has since become a major attraction in Cape May, drawing visitors interested in maritime history, photography, wildlife, and the fabulous sunsets over Delaware Bay. The submerged structure now acts as an artificial reef supporting marine life, while seabirds and dolphins are frequently seen around the site. Visitors to Sunset Beach can also search for Cape May Diamonds, enjoy nearby seafood restaurants and gift shops, and explore walking trails in the surrounding nature areas. The SS Atlantus continues to stand as one of New Jersey’s most unique coastal landmarks and a lasting reminder of a little-known chapter in wartime engineering history.

What is a popular annual event held in Cape May that celebrates a vegetable?

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 Answer to the May 10th Trivia Question

Lucy the elephant in Margate had a sister in Cape May. What was her name?

A) Rodger the Elephant B) Ellie C)  Light of Asia D) Dumbo

Answer: C) Light of Asia

Lucy was built in 1881, Light of Asia was constructed in Cape May in 1884, was used briefly as a Real Estate office but was torn down 15 years later.

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