Remembering "The Hydrangea Festival"
It was once thought of as Wildwood’s flower. The hydrangea, also known to many as the snowball, was celebrated with high esteem. Every summer in early July, officials from Atlantic to Cape May County rode the Hydrangea Trail to view the big fluffy blooms of the hydrangeas. The trail extended from Brigantine to Cape May, including the Shore Road communities. Contestants took part in the annual trail during which time winning gardens were selected. Entries were awarded prizes for categories such as Best Hydrangea Bush, Best Hydrangea Garden, Best Small Home Display, Best Large Home Display, Best Ami Pasquir Red (crimson to wine blooms.)

Girls also represented each community at the Hydrangea Ball where they vied with a total of 20 other queens for the coveted Hydrangea Queen title. The Wildwood Historical Society is credited with being the only source (out of 4 that we esearched) to have any knowledge and information on this festival of yesteryear. A newspaper clipping from 1968 reported the prizes. In Wildwood Crest the winners were: Mrs. Eleanor Marple. 124 E. Sweetbriar Rd., Mrs. Bertha DeVault, 5907 Park Blvd., Mrs. J. N. Neil, 300 E. Miami Ave., Mrs. Betty Paxton, 104 E. Forget-me-not Rd., William Kern, 215 E. Rambler Rd.

Circa 1964 - Hydrangea Festival was represented by towns including Atlantic City, Pleasantville, Margate, Ventnor, Somers Point, Ocean City, Sea Isle, Avalon, Stone Harbor, The Wildwoods, and Cape May. Standing arm and arm with The Hydrangea Queen, Lillian Hickey from Wildwood Crest, is Mayor Joseph Von Savage. Next to Miss Wildwood is Wildwood Yacht Club CommodoreWilliam Lunsford. Miss North Wildwood Fran Olney and Miss Wildwood Crest Linda Locke are a couple of local names included in this photo. At the Annual Hydrangea Ball, to be named “Hydrangea Queen” was a highly coveted title in those days.

–PRESS CLIPPING FROM THE LEADER, JUNE, 1961 FROM THE WILDWOOD HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTION

POST CARD FROM THE WILDWOOD HISTORICAL SOCIETY