Ventnor Business Association • Holiday Season 2026
The boardwalk crowds are gone, the air has a bite to it, and Ventnor is about to do what it does best every December: light up, line the avenue and show up for each other. Here’s everything happening this holiday season — and how to make the most of it locally.
The Season at a Glance
Sat, Nov 28
Small Business Saturday
All day • Shops across town
Fri, Dec 4
Tree Lighting
5:30 PM • City Hall
Sat, Dec 5
Holiday Parade
5–9 PM • Ventnor Ave, New Haven to Nashville
Dec 5–6
Holiday Art & Craft Fair
10 AM–4 PM • Ventnor Library
Fri, Dec 11
Downbeach Toy Drive
6 PM • Margate Ball Fields
Fri, Dec 18
Santa on the Fire Truck
5:30–7:30 PM • Routes through town
Kick It Off Local: Small Business Saturday
Before the lights go up, the season starts where Ventnor’s heart is — its small businesses. On Saturday, November 28, skip the mall traffic and the two-day shipping and spend the day right here. The boutiques, florists, bakeries, cafés and service pros of the Ventnor Business Association are the same people who sponsor the Little League team, donate to the toy drive and keep the lights on in the off-season.
Grab a coffee, pick up a gift you can’t find online, book a holiday haircut, order the charcuterie board for the family party. Every dollar spent here stays here.
🎁 Shop the Directory
Browse every VBA member by category — Food, Shop, Fun, Stay and Services — right here on VisitVentnor.com. Gift cards from local shops make the easiest stocking stuffers in town.
The Big Weekend: Tree Lighting & Holiday Parade
Friday, December 4 — Tree Lighting. The season officially starts at 5:30 PM in front of City Hall. Bundle up, bring the kids and get there early for a good spot when the switch flips.
Saturday, December 5 — Holiday Parade. From 5 to 9 PM, Ventnor Avenue turns into the main stage between New Haven and Nashville Avenues. Floats, music and a whole lot of lights roll right past the storefronts — which makes it the perfect night for dinner out before, and hot chocolate after, at a member spot along the route.
December 5–6 — Holiday Art & Craft Fair. Both days, 10 AM to 4 PM at the Ventnor Library. Handmade gifts, local makers and the kind of one-of-a-kind finds that make a gift feel personal.
Giving Back & Santa Sightings
On Friday, December 11, the Downbeach Toy Drive gathers at the Margate Ball Fields at 6 PM. Drop off a new, unwrapped toy and help make the holidays brighter for local families.
Then on Friday, December 18, listen for the sirens — Santa rides through town on a Ventnor fire truck from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Kids on the porch, phones out, waving like crazy. It never gets old.
Also on the calendar, with dates to be announced: the Live Nativity at St. James Church (Atlantic & Newport), the Menorah Lighting at Chabad Ventnor Shul on Atlantic Avenue, and the Lighting of the City Menorah at City Hall.
✨ Why We Love It
Summer belongs to everyone. December belongs to Ventnor. It’s the season when the town gets small again in the best way — when you run into neighbors at the parade, the shop owner knows your name, and the whole city turns out under one tree.
💡 Did You Know?
Small Business Saturday started in 2010 as a counterweight to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and it’s been a nationwide shop-local tradition ever since. For shore towns like Ventnor, off-season spending is what carries local businesses to next summer.
Event dates and times are from the Ventnor City 2026 Special Events calendar and are subject to change. Confirm with the Special Events office at 609-823-7919 or SpecialEvents@VentnorCity.org.
Holiday events presented by Ventnor City Special Events, coordinated by Donna Peterson. Shop-local support from the Ventnor Business Association, led by President Jackie Fox. #OnlyInVentnor
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