Making a List, Checking it Twice

by Rachel Shubin. Photographs by Bernie Haas / Winter 2018

Behind the Scenes of the West Cape May Christmas Parade

To know December in Cape May is to look forward to the West Cape May Christmas Parade. A staple in Cape May’s holiday traditions, the parade is now in its 53rd year and takes place every year on the first Saturday in December.

Once Thanksgiving has passed, the town starts to welcome sparkling Christmas lights and decorations. If you’ve found yourself in Cape May during the holiday season, you know it’s a special time for visitors and locals alike.

To plan and organize a community parade is a huge undertaking, and an event this immense takes a lot of work and preparation. Most people might not have Christmas on their mind in the summertime, but for the organizers of the parade, that’s when it begins to feel a lot like Christmas. Parade planning starts as early as June and becomes a daily activity in August, according to West Cape May finance assistant Lauren Vitelli.

The parade’s original planner was the late “parade lady,” Charlotte Daly. In her later years, Daly started teaching the ropes to the mayor and other willing borough employees. “The first year I did the parade with Charlotte, it took her and the staff over ten hours to put together the lineup,” Former West Cape May Mayor Pam Kaithern said. “It was unbelievable.”

The logistics also include the Sunday rain date and figuring out alternative schedules based on inclement weather. “In July, we meet with [police] Lieutenant Dekon Fashaw to go over all the things we need to do and we start making phone calls,” Vitelli said.

Fundraising is a key aspect of the parade prep, given that the event relies solely on donations. In the months leading up to the holiday season, mailers asking for contributions go out to West Cape May residents. As early as Halloween,. “Letters go out to local stores, asking them to make candy donations at the end of Halloween,” Kaithern said. “There were times when my office was stacked with boxes and boxes of candy. The candy gets distributed to the firemen and commissioners, who ride along the parade route and give it out.”

In October and November, local businesses begin staging parade fundraising events. The events are so popular that tickets and reservations may be required. “It involves a lot of moving parts and is completely donation driven,” Vitelli said. “No money comes out of the municipal budget. We have local businesses who are gracious enough to host fundraisers for us.”

In October, The Chalfonte hosts a smorgasbord, offering all their typical fare—including Dot’s famous fried chicken. Exit Zero Filling Station hosts their “curry” scary dinner, with spooking music and costumes, catering to the Halloween crowd while raising funds for the Christmas parade.

In November, Fins hosts a spaghetti dinner. This culinary event has always been a part of the parade fundraising. It has taken place over the years at a variety of restaurants, including Fins’ former incarnation, The Pilot House. Later in the month, Barry and Susan Tischler host a “Grand Ole Opry” at West Cape May Borough Hall, featuring a dozen or more local musicians.

“It’s amazing how the parade comes together,” Kaithern said. “Cape May is such a small town, having this quirky little parade. And yet, it’s massive and really a big undertaking.”

It’s not just locals who love the parade, it’s the people who love Cape May at all times of the year and especially during the holiday season. Many visitors from out of town come just for the parade. “People book accommodations a year in advance. It’s a catalyst for the economy,” Kaithern said.

Parade participants include area residents, the Coast Guard marching band, multiple Mummer String Bands and high school bands from as far away as Camden County, mixed in with fire department equipment driven in from near and far. Kaithern said the local bands like Cape May Regional High School never ask for a dime. “We pay for the bus transportation of the {distant] high school bands,” Vitelli said. “People don’t realize that the Mummers bands are very expensive.”

All those who want to participate send in parade applications, with a cutoff for applications about a week in advance. Every year the cast of characters includes parade judges, grand marshals, and princesses, who are selected at random. After participating in the parade, the parade’s princesses receive a piece of sea glass jewelry made my Cape May artist Janet Payne.

The Christmas parade draws over 7,000 people to the island, so planning for traffic calls for staggering the parade participants’ arrivals. On the day of the parade, Cape May Police Department and Public Works temporarily close portions of the West Cape May Bridge and Seashore Road. Residents along Broadway, Stimpson Lane, and surrounding areas on the parade route start putting out chairs in advance to save prime viewing spots. Many locals along the route host parties and potluck dinners at their homes, inviting in friends from near and far.

Parade day starts early for many of the volunteers, who begin arriving at borough hall at 9am. Lauren Vitelli divides the parade into six divisions as the applications come in. On parade day, grand marshal Terry Brown keeps everything in check. All participants get their marching orders. “The local police department starts shutting down the street,” Vitelli said. “They keep everything running smoothly and safely.”

The fire department is also a pivotal for the parade’s success. “We couldn’t do it without the West Cape May Fire Department,” Vitelli said. “They’re instrumental in the day-of activities. They open the fire hall and feed the Coast Guard participants. They host after-parade activities, provide hot chocolate for workers, and make sure Santa gets into town.”

Santa Claus is, of course, one of the most anticipated elements of the parade. Kaithern said the letters Charlotte would send out in advance of the parade made it very clear that only one Santa was permitted, so as not to confuse the children. “People who grew up in Cape May like Fire Chief Chuck McPherson have become involved,” Kaithern said. “Our local West Cape May Fire company starts the parade and ushers in Santa, who rides with Lower Cape May Regional band. They are his escort every year.”

The parade steps off at 5pm and slowly moves down Broadway, turns left onto Perry Street, winds its way along Carpenters Lane and down Ocean before dispersing. The whole route takes about three hours.

It takes a village to put together a three-hour parade and have it run as smoothly and efficiently as this one does. “People have stepped in over the years, especially after Charlotte passed away,” Vitelli said. “Pam didn’t skip a beat as we tried to incorporate Charlotte’s vision for the event. The community parade meant so much to her.”

The amount of time and effort that goes into the parade is truly moving, ensuring that one woman’s vision has become a beloved tradition.