Last weekend, Avalon’s Festive Friday and Snowfest Saturday, plus Stone Harbor’s Island Holiday, helped kick off the holiday season in style. Saturday night’s huge Christmas Parade was filled with floats, music, loads of fire trucks, and almost as many boats—and even a steam train!
WHAT A WEEKEND! After a quiet Thanksgiving on Thursday, the island came to life with music, events, tree lightings, family activities, and the arrival of Santa. Downtowns in both Avalon and Stone Harbor bustled with shoppers, restaurant patrons, and parade watchers!
HEREFORD INLET SAND AVAILABLE FOR BEACH FILLS: Federal legislation signed into law this past week allows for the use of sand accumulated in Hereford Inlet for federally financed beach fill projects in Avalon and Stone Harbor. Hereford Inlet sand was previously off limits due for several years due to a decision from the Interior Department; that meant that sand for beach fill projects had to be pumped from Townsend’s Inlet to Stone Harbor’s south end via pipes, dramatically increasing the cost of those projects. Local, state, and federal officials finally reached common ground, leading to the new legislation.
PENDING HOME SALES increased 2% in October 2024, according to the National Association of Realtors. The association also reported that contract signings, an indicator of future home sales, increased 5.4% during the same month. Locally, 32 new purchase contracts were written during the month of October 2024, up significantly from 11 in October 2023.
TOYS FOR TOTS: Long & Foster will once again be supporting the annual Toys for Tots campaign. If you’d like to brighten the holiday of a child, stop by our office and drop off a new, unwrapped toy anytime during business hours.
IF YOU MISSED purchasing a holiday beach tag this past weekend, you can order them online. To order, visit https://jersey-cape-tags.myshopify.com/collections/currentbeachtagsbadges
GIVE YOUR FAMILY THE ULTIMATE GIFT: A place at the shore! There’s no better way to build family memories that last a lifetime! Call or email me to get started. I’ll even throw in a big, red bow!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- Winter Wonderland Ice Skating at Icona Avalon. Fridays, 5pm to 8pm; Saturdays, 12pm to 8pm; Sundays, 12pm to 8pm; through December 21st. Tickets are $10 and include skate rental. Food & drinks available for purchase from Avalon Brew Pub.
- Authors at the Avalon History Center: K. A. Nelson. Killing Shore: The True Story of Hitler’s U-Boats Off the New Jersey Coast. 39th Street Tennis Building, Saturday, December 7th, 11am.
- Avalon Historical Society Holiday Open House. 215 39th Street, Saturday, December 7th, 4pm-7pm.
- Wildwood Restaurant Week, through December 8th. For details and participating restaurants, click here: https://www.gwcoc.org/2024-restaurant-week-november-29-december-8-2024/
- Photos with Santa at Icona Avalon. Complimentary, Saturdays, December 7th & 14th, 1pm to 3pm.
- Holiday Film & TV Spectacular with Pianist Jay Daniels. Avalon Free Public Library, Saturday, December 14th, 2pm.
- Linda Gentile & The Jersey Shore Pops present “Celtic Christmas”. Middle Township Performing Arts Center, Sunday, December 15th, 3pm. Tickets are $40; visit https://www.jerseyshorepops.org/
- Historic Dennisville Christmas House Tour. 8 historic homes on tour. Saturday, December 21st, 3pm to 7pm. Tickets are $15 if purchased online in advance. For info and tickets visit: www.dhhoa.org
- Cape May Seashore Lines: The Santa Express. 75-minute ride with Santa aboard vintage railroad equipment, from nearby Tuckahoe and Richland Stations. Dozens of trains run through December 23rd. For info and tickets visit https://www.seashorelines.org/the-santa-express
- Christmas in Cape May. A variety of events, tours, and activities, all adding to the charm of Cape May at Christmas time! For details and tickets, visit: https://capemaymac.org/plan/all-tours-calendar/
New Listings:
700 Ocean Drive, B5, Avalon, $1,299,925, ACTIVE MLS#: 243468
254 89th Street, 1, Stone Harbor, $2,199,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 243456
190 76th Street, Avalon, $5,200,000, ACTIVE MLS#: 243459
Under Contract:
2059 First Avenue, Avalon, $4,495,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 243117
271 70th Street, Avalon, $6,499,000, UNDER CONTRACT MLS#: 241836
Properties Sold:
551 22nd Street, 2, Avalon, $1,100,000, SOLD MLS#: 242748
1088 Avalon Avenue, Avalon, $3,100,000, SOLD MLS#: 242992
