Monarch Festival Returns to Cape May for Annual Butterfly Migration

Issue #817

September 23, 2026

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In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather 

 🦋Monarch Festival Returns to Cape May for Annual Butterfly Migration

 🚜Wildwood Gears Up for Monster Trucks and Classic Cars Sept. 25–27

🏠 Wildwoods Back in the Spotlight as HGTV Crew Films Around Island

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

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

 September 23

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Monarch Festival Returns to Cape May for Annual Butterfly Migration

Cape May will celebrate one of nature’s most remarkable seasonal journeys when the Monarch Festival returns to the Nature Center of Cape May on Sunday, Sept. 27.

The 2026 festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Nature Center, 1600 Delaware Avenue. The free community event coincides with the annual migration of monarch butterflies through the Cape May area and will feature activities designed to introduce visitors to the butterflies and efforts to protect them.

Throughout the day, visitors can watch monarch tagging demonstrations conducted as part of the Monarch Monitoring Project. Educational programs will explore monarchs and their migration, while family-friendly games, crafts and other activities will offer younger visitors opportunities to participate.

The festival will also feature music, food, local artists and authors, along with vendors offering monarch-themed items and souvenirs.

Special programming begins at 10 a.m. with Butterfly Yoga presented by Itswell Yoga. At 3 p.m., visitors of all ages are invited to participate in the festival’s Butterfly Parade.

In addition to celebrating the monarch migration, the event will provide information about steps residents and visitors can take to help conserve monarch butterflies and support their habitat.

Admission is free and the festival is open to the public. Attendees may register through Eventbrite to receive event updates, but tickets do not need to be presented for admission.

The Monarch Festival will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Nature Center of Cape May, 1600 Delaware Avenue in Cape May.

Wildwood Gears Up for Monster Trucks and Classic Cars Sept. 25–27

From monster trucks racing across the sand to classic cars lining the Boardwalk, Wildwood will become a showcase for automotive horsepower during a pair of major events scheduled for Sept. 25–27.

The Renegade Monster Truck Tour will bring Monsters on the Beach back to Wildwood for three days of racing and stunts on a specially constructed beach course near Spicer Avenue.

The weekend begins with a 7 p.m. show Friday, Sept. 25, followed by a 4 p.m. performance Saturday, Sept. 26, and a 12:30 p.m. show Sunday, Sept. 27.

The beach course is expected to feature large jumps, crush cars and a backflip ramp as monster trucks compete on the sand. Scheduled trucks include Dirt Crew, Block Head, Toxic, Stinger Unleashed, Terminal Velocity, Uproar and Illuminator.

At the same time, automotive attractions will extend from the beach to the Boardwalk as the Wildwood Kustom Hot Rod & Muscle Car Show returns for the weekend.

Presented by JSM Productions LLC, the show will feature classic cars, custom vehicles, hot rods and muscle cars displayed along the Wildwood Boardwalk and inside the Wildwoods Convention Center.

Outdoor vehicles will be displayed along the Boardwalk from 26th to Burk avenues and around the Convention Center half-circle from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The Boardwalk portion of the show is free for spectators.

Inside the Convention Center, approximately 100 selected show vehicles are expected to be featured along with specialty displays and vendors.

Indoor show hours are scheduled for 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. Awards are scheduled to be presented Sunday morning.

Ticket prices for the indoor car show have not yet been announced. Additional information about the Kustom Hot Rod & Muscle Car Show is available by calling 609-778-7887.

Together, the two events will give automotive enthusiasts a full weekend of attractions, with monster trucks competing on the beach and classic and custom vehicles taking over portions of the Boardwalk and Convention Center.

Wildwoods Back in the Spotlight as HGTV Crew Films Around Island

HGTV cameras recently returned to the Wildwoods as a production crew filmed at several recognizable locations throughout the Jersey Shore resort community. Crews were spotted working along the Wildwood Boardwalk near Schellenger Avenue, where they captured footage of Morey’s Piers, Boardwalk businesses and the surrounding attractions. Filming reportedly extended to other parts of the island, including Diamond Beach and locations involving local beach patrols.

Local information has identified the production as an upcoming episode of HGTV’s Beachfront Bargain Hunt, although some social media reports have referred to the project as Life’s A Beach. The Wildwoods have appeared on Beachfront Bargain Hunt several times in the past, giving the area another opportunity for national television exposure.

An official premiere date has not yet been announced. Information shared locally suggests the episode could air in approximately six months, potentially around March 2027. When it does premiere, viewers could see several familiar Wildwoods landmarks, beaches and attractions featured on screen.

 Answer to the September 22nd Trivia Question 

Cape May, New Jersey, has a rich history and is known for its distinctive landmarks. Which of the following statements about Cape May is true?

A) The Cape May Lighthouse was built in 1901. B) Cape May was a significant site for glass manufacturing in the early 1900s. C) The Emlen Physick Estate was demolished in 1995. D) Cape May's boardwalk was destroyed by a hurricane in 1985.

Answer: B) Cape May was a significant site for glass manufacturing in the early 1900s.

Cape May County had a flourishing glass manufacturing industry in the early 1900s, producing various glass items, including specialty bottles. This industry was a crucial part of the local economy​.

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