NewJerseyDevils.com is the official web site of the New Jersey Devils, a member team of the National Hockey League (“NHL”). NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup and NHL Conference logos are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks as well as all other proprietary materials depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective NHL teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. Copyright © 1999-2025 New Jersey Devils and the National Hockey League. All Rights Reserved.

From Camden and Cherry Hill to Trenton and the Jersey Shore, what about life in New Jersey do you want WHYY News to cover? Let us know.

Summer may be over, but the Jersey Shore does not shut down when the umbrellas fold.

In Cape May, winter has become one of the most popular times to visit, especially during the holidays, when the seaside town transforms into a Victorian village. What was once the quiet off-season is now a stretch of celebratory weeks filled with music, trolley rides and holiday lights that glow for miles.

Cape May leans into its heritage this time of year. Gas lamps flicker along the streets. Evergreens wrap the porches of its grand Victorian homes. The Washington Street Mall shines with ribbons, seasonal displays and unique gifts. The shift from summer’s bustle to winter’s calm does not signal a slowdown. Instead, it reveals a different rhythm, one that invites people to explore.

“Christmas in Cape May is the best,” said Stephen Gatier, owner of the Magic Brain Cafe. “My June and my December sales are usually about the same, which should tell you how busy December is. The West Cape May Christmas Parade … is consistently our busiest day of the year.”

Travel+Leisure magazine lists Cape May as one of its 25 best Christmas towns in the U.S.

According to the Cape May County Department of Tourism, the region is becoming a “nine-month vacation destination, with the City of Cape May at the forefront of year-round tourism. Foot traffic in Cape May surges during the holiday season.”

The Greater Cape May Chamber of Commerce said more than 10,000 people visited their information booth last year between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. The Washington Street Mall attracted an estimated 45,000 visitors during the same time period.

Cape May’s winter tourism underscores a larger story about the Jersey Shore. Towns once defined by a short summer season are building new traditions that bring visitors back year-round. Cape May County officials said that in December 2024, lodging revenue in the county increased by $104 million compared to December 2023, highlighting the surge in holiday tourism.

The winter season supports restaurants, shops, inns and nonprofits like Cape May MAC, which uses tour proceeds to preserve the Victorian structures that define the town’s identity.

Here are the top experiences that define Cape May’s holiday season.

The New Jersey Devils still have their focus on the goaltending in the NHL. Jacob Markstrom hasn’t played well this season, and fans are even calling for a new face of the franchise. Jake Allen has been great, but he’s still firmly their backup. Nico Daws had one start, and it was stellar. 

However, we don’t want to lose sight of the future. There has already been bad news with a very important prospect. Jakub Malek was terrible in the AHL this season, putting up an .861 save percentage in five starts. Don’t get us wrong, the Utica Comets are terrible this season, but Malek hasn’t helped. 

The Devils decided to send Malek down to the Adirondack Thunder to help his development and stop hurting the Comets in the standings. He’s been much better there, allowing just four goals on 53 shots. 

Malek is important for the Devils in net, but the most important prospect for the Devils is Mikhail Yegorov. The Boston University product was incredible last season, driving the Terriers to a Beanpot win and to the National Championship Game. 

This season, things didn’t go great to start. The Terriers lost a ton of players this offseason, including fellow Devils’ prospect Shane Lachance. The defense hasn’t been great, but Yegorov hasn’t done his part, either. 

Going into the weekend, Yegorov had a save percentage below .890. He wasn’t stepping up for the Terriers like he was last season. It has become a problem. 

Devils prospect Mikhail Yegorov finally gets a signature win for Boston University

This weekend, the Terriers took on the University of Cornell. They are 6-2 and are ranked 16th in the country, at least prior to their matchup with BU. 

Cornell sent everything Boston’s way, taking 29 shots on Yegorov. He stopped all but one, securing a 2-1 victory for the Terriers.

It’s just one game, but it was the first time we’ve seen Yegorov really show why we think he will be a great NHL goalie. 

Even better, the win came at Madison Square Garden. We like that Yegorov is getting used to winning at the home of the Devils’ biggest rival. We like it even more that he’s winning big games again. This performance has his save percentage back over .890. Hopefully soon, it’ll be over .900, and then .910. We need Yegorov to keep going up if we plan on getting him into professional hockey as early as next season.