Atlantic City was voted one of 2022’s “25 Best Christmas Towns in the USA“ by Travel + Leisure magazine, and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority is debuting the Atlantic City Tinseltown Holiday Experience to highlight its Christmas spirit.
The resort was 23 out of 25 top destinations, the magazine said, along with towns like like Aspen (#1) and Vail (#3) in Colorado; more southern places like Orlando, Florida (#5) and Beaufort, South Carolina (#8); and nearby Cape May (#21).
“Atlantic City is providing an experiential holiday celebration like never before for our visitors,” Karen Martin, CRDA acting director of communications and marketing, said in a news release.
It all kicks off Thursday with a tree lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. at Bally’s Atlantic City, in The Yard just off the Boardwalk, with complimentary hot chocolate and appetizers at 4:30 p.m. Trees throughout the resort will be lit simultaneously.
A Community Holiday Festival with visits to Santa and more free drinks and snacks will follow from 6 to 8 p.m. at O’Donnell Park in the city’s Chelsea neighborhood.
A map of the citywide holiday decorations will be available to visitors so they can tour the sights, and a listing of holiday happenings can be found at AtlanticCityNJ.com, the resort’s official tourism website.
Festival of Trees
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall will host the sixth annual Deck The Hall — Festival of Trees from Dec. 1 to 31, a charitable event in conjunction with the CRDA and radio station Lite 96.9 WFPG.
Local businesses, organizations, arena partners and individuals sponsor custom-decorated holiday trees that are on display in the Boardwalk Hall lobby facing the Boardwalk. The tree exhibit is free and open to the public during all hours when the Boardwalk Hall lobby is open.
Also at Boardwalk Hall, there will be free historic pipe organ recitals offered daily at noon from Dec. 5 to 23, with two-hour tours of the world’s largest pipe organ for $10 on Wednesdays in December.
Holiday shows
The Atlantic City Ballet will perform “The Nutcracker” at Caesars Atlantic City on Dec. 17 and “It’s a Shore Holiday” at the Showboat hotel Dec. 21, 22, 27 and 28.
Resorts Casino Hotel will host shows for charity. Swing into Christmas on Dec. 9 with a musical comedy revue show that will benefit Toys for Tots, and on Dec. 11, An Evening with Deana Martin will benefit Lucy the Elephant.
Hoop dreams
The city Recreation Department will host a Three-Point Shootout at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Complex, where the public can watch some of the top three-point shooters in Atlantic City compete to see who can hit the most shots from beyond the arc.
Contestants will be representatives from throughout the city plus special guests, including rapper Gillie the Kid and other surprise participants.
The free event will also honor some Atlantic City basketball greats, according to a city news release.
The school complex is at 1700 Marmora Ave.