Cape May Point’s da Vinci Gala Returns Sept. 12 With a Packed Lineup

Issue #795

September 01, 2026

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In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather 

🛩️Cape May Point’s da Vinci Gala Returns Sept. 12 With a Packed Lineup

🧜🏻‍♀️Keep an Eye on the Water: Cape May Ranks No. 8 for Mermaids 

🐦Cape May Bird Observatory Invites Families to Explore Fall Migration 

Get your vote in for Cape May to be featured in a Hallmark Christmas Movie!

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

 September 1

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 Cape May Point’s da Vinci Gala Returns Sept. 12 With a Packed Lineup

Art, music, history and conservation will come together in Cape May Point when the Cape May Point Arts and Science Center holds its Third Annual da Vinci Gala on Saturday, Sept. 12. The center’s signature fundraising event is scheduled from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at 101 Lehigh Ave. and will feature live music, art and live auctions, hors d’oeuvres, drinks and the return of the gala’s annual butterfly release.

This year’s celebration will also recognize two people whose work has helped preserve and share Cape May County history. Dr. Joe and Annie Salvatore will receive the gala’s Community Award. The Salvatores are the founders of Historic Cold Spring Village and the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum, two prominent Cape May County attractions dedicated to preserving and interpreting local history.

Music for the evening will be provided by local musicians Geno White on guitar, Jim Hannah on drums and Andy Lalasis on bass. The three musicians will perform together for the first time.

Local artists will also be in the spotlight. Seagrove Art Cooperative will host an exclusive art auction featuring original works, while a separate live auction led by Yogi Kurtz will offer a selection of experiences.

One of the gala’s signature traditions will return with the annual butterfly release.

Estela Romero Vázquez, who appeared in the center’s documentary Monarchs: Generation Treasures, is expected to travel from Mexico to Cape May Point to oversee the release. The tradition complements the center’s interest in monarch butterflies, pollinators and the natural environment.

Another unusual attraction will bring a piece of American history to the center’s pollinator garden. A 5-foot bronze sculpture of abolitionist Harriet Tubman will be displayed during the gala, giving guests an opportunity to see and photograph the artwork amid the garden. Sculptor Wesley Wofford and Odyssey Wofford of Wofford Sculpture Studios are expected to travel from North Carolina for the event.

The Cape May Point Arts and Science Center uses programming that brings together the arts, sciences, history and the natural environment. Proceeds from the da Vinci Gala support the center and its work.

The Third Annual da Vinci Gala will be held Saturday, Sept. 12, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cape May Point Arts and Science Center, 101 Lehigh Ave., Cape May Point.

Keep an Eye on the Water: Cape May Ranks No. 8 for Mermaids

Cape May has earned plenty of accolades for its beaches, historic charm and seaside atmosphere. Now the Jersey Shore destination can add a more unusual distinction to the list: one of the best places in America to be a mermaid.

A lighthearted study from Yay! Coloring Pages ranked Cape May No. 8 among U.S. coastal cities considered especially suitable for mythical mermaids.

The ranking examined several characteristics that could theoretically make a destination attractive to an ocean-dwelling creature, including average water temperatures, beach quality, boating access, ocean recreation, marine biodiversity and public interest in mermaids.

Cape May's summer conditions helped propel the city into the top 10. According to the study, the average August water temperature is 75.9 degrees, while relatively limited rainfall provides plenty of opportunities for enjoying the beach and sunshine.

The study also considered the amount of human activity on and beneath the water. Cape May's comparatively low numbers of fishermen, scuba instructors and boat-rental operations were viewed as an advantage, providing an imaginary mermaid with a little more privacy.

Cape May was the highest-ranking northern destination among the cities near the top of the list, giving New Jersey another playful reason to celebrate one of its best-known Shore communities.

Another New Jersey beach town did not fare nearly as well. Point Pleasant Beach finished second to last in the ranking.

Of course, the study isn't evidence that mermaids actually inhabit the waters off New Jersey. But between Cape May's warm late-summer ocean temperatures, beaches and rich coastal environment, visitors now have one more reason to keep an eye on the waves.

Cape May Bird Observatory Invites Families to Explore Fall Migration

New Jersey Audubon will give residents and visitors an introduction to the science of bird migration this fall with a series of free Migration 101 Mini-Workshops in Cape May.

Led by interpretive naturalists from the Cape May Bird Observatory, the 30-minute programs will explore how birds of different species and sizes complete their annual migrations. Participants will also learn why Cape May has become one of the country's notable locations for observing migrating birds.

Cape May's geography places the region along an important migration route, drawing birdwatchers to the area during the fall as birds travel toward their wintering grounds.

The workshops are designed for beginners, families and casual birdwatchers, making them accessible to participants who have little or no previous birding experience.

Programs are scheduled from 11 to 11:30 a.m. on select dates during the 2026 fall migration season. Upcoming dates include Sept. 10, Sept. 17, Oct. 1, Oct. 2, Oct. 8 and Oct. 9.

Activities are generally held at the East Shelter at Cape May Point State Park, the picnic pavilion next to the Hawkwatch Platform. Some program listings also identify the Cape May Bird Observatory's Northwood Center as a location, so attendees should check the listing for their selected date before arriving.

The Migration 101 Mini-Workshop is free, and advance registration is not required.

Cape May is recognized as one of the oldest seaside resorts in the United States. Which of the following events helped establish Cape May as a popular vacation destination in the 19th century?

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 Answer to the August 31st Trivia Question 

Which of the following is true about Cape May, New Jersey?

A) It was once home to the largest hotel in the world, which burned down before its completion.
B) Cape May is famous for producing diamonds that are sold locally.
C) The entire city is designated as a National Historic Landmark due to its Victorian architecture.
D) All of the above.

Answer: D) All of the above.

Cape May is known for its rich history, including the unfortunate burning of the Mount Vernon Hotel, which was designed to be the largest hotel in the world at the time. Additionally, the city is famous for "Cape May diamonds," which are quartz pebbles found on its beaches. The entire city is also designated as a National Historic Landmark, largely due to its well-preserved Victorian architecture​

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