Classic American Tales Brings Mark Twain’s Wit to Cape May

Issue #784

August 21, 2026

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In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather 

🎭 Classic American Tales Brings Mark Twain’s Wit to Cape May

🦞 Downtown Wildwood Gears Up for 18th Annual Food & Music Festival

🏛️ Van Drew Faces Contrasting Reactions During Cape May County Chamber Appearance

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 21

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 Classic American Tales Brings Mark Twain’s Wit to Cape May

Classic American Tales will bring the humor and observations of Mark Twain to audiences with a literary performance featuring selections from his 1868 travel book, The Innocents Abroad, on August 28th at the Dormer House

Performer Gayle Stahlhuth will read selections from Twain’s work, including “Taking It Out on the Tour Guides.” The book grew out of Twain’s travels through Europe, where he was hired by a California newspaper to chronicle his experiences for readers back home.

Those dispatches eventually became The Innocents Abroad, a humorous and often pointed account of travel, tourism and cultural encounters. The book helped establish Twain’s reputation for combining comedy with sharp observations about people and society.

The presentation continues the mission of Classic American Tales, a Cape May-based organization dedicated to bringing American literature and stories to audiences through live performance.

Classic American Tales began in the summer of 2023 as a continuation of Tales of the Victorians, a program created by East Lynne Theater Company in Cape May in 1989. Since its launch, Classic American Tales has expanded beyond literary readings to offer acting and playwriting workshops, lectures, staged readings and theatrical productions. Its programming has also grown to include appearances at other Cape May venues and performances on the road.

Through presentations of historic and contemporary works, the organization continues its mission of telling America’s stories one tale at a time.

Downtown Wildwood Gears Up for 18th Annual Food & Music Festival

Downtown Wildwood will turn into an end-of-summer street party when the 18th Annual Wildwoods Food & Music Festival returns Saturday, Sept. 12, with live bands, food vendors, shopping and family entertainment.

The free festival will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. along Pacific Avenue between Oak and Schellenger avenues, with activities centered around Byrne Plaza.

Organized by the Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce, the annual event brings residents and visitors together for a full day of music, food and entertainment in the heart of downtown.

Three bands are scheduled to provide the soundtrack for this year's festival.

Raising Cain will bring a high-energy performance to the stage, followed by Animal House and its party-rock lineup. Jovi’s Journey, a Bon Jovi tribute act, will close out the musical entertainment with a selection of songs made famous by the New Jersey rock band.

Food will also be a major attraction throughout the day, with vendors lining the festival area and offering a variety of meals, traditional festival favorites, sweets and other treats.

Adults will be able to purchase beer at an onsite beer garden operated by the Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

In addition to food and music, visitors can browse craft vendors and local shopping opportunities along Pacific Avenue. Family activities and entertainment will be offered throughout the festival, making the event suitable for visitors of all ages.

Van Drew Faces Contrasting Reactions During Cape May County Chamber Appearance

U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew received a standing ovation during an Aug. 20 Cape May County Chamber of Commerce event while protesters gathered outside to criticize his record, relationship with President Donald Trump and constituent outreach. Van Drew highlighted more than $2.6 billion in federal funding for South Jersey projects. Democratic congressional challenger and Cape May Mayor Zack Mullock attended the event and called for more town halls. Police confirmed one protester was arrested, though details were not immediately available.

 Answer to the August 20th Trivia Question 

Cape May, New Jersey, is known for a unique type of gemstone found on its beaches. These "Cape May diamonds" are actually quartz pebbles that have been polished to resemble diamonds. What is the primary origin of these quartz pebbles?

A) Eroded glass from local factories
B) Washed down from the upper Delaware River
C) Formed from volcanic activity
D) Brought by early European settlers

Answer: B) Washed down from the upper Delaware River

Cape May diamonds are quartz pebbles, not diamonds, that have traveled down the Delaware River from the Catskill and Allegheny mountains. 

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