Cape May Convention Hall and venues throughout Cape May
Cape May Convention Hall is a civic events building on Beach Avenue, directly on the beach, and it serves as Festival Central for the Exit Zero Jazz Festival. The festival spreads well beyond the hall into bars, restaurants, Ferry Park and outdoor stages across Cape May and North Cape May, and the exact list of venues changes from edition to edition. Outside alcohol is not allowed at any festival venue; there are cash bars, bars and restaurants and a VIP lounge instead.
Before you go
- Capacity
- Convention Hall 800 for performing arts, over 900 for lectures, 600 for banquets
- Indoor or outdoor
- Both: Convention Hall indoors on the beach, with outdoor stages and Ferry Park during the festival
- Official site
- capemaycity.com
- Next festival here
- Exit Zero Jazz Festival, Oct 23 to 25, 2026
Worth knowing before you go
- The venue list changes each edition; Convention Hall is the hub but stages spread across Cape May and North Cape May.
- Outside alcohol is prohibited at every festival venue; cash bars, bars and restaurants and a VIP lounge serve drinks.
- Convention Hall is directly on the beach, with a wraparound deck and a beach and ocean atrium.
- Some rooms are small: Carney's Other Room seats 129 at tables and the bar.
Festivals here
Venue basics: Indoor hall plus outdoor stages and Ferry Park · No outside alcohol at any festival venue · Venues spread across Cape May and North Cape May.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- You want a jazz weekend that moves between a beachfront hall, bars and restaurants.
- You want a historic seaside town with more than 600 Victorian-era buildings around the music.
Think twice if
- You want one big single-site festival: the biggest room holds 800 for performances and the rest is spread across town.
- You want to bring your own drinks: outside alcohol is prohibited at every venue.
Getting there and parking
Cape May Convention Hall is on Beach Avenue, directly on the beach. The jazz festival uses the hall as Festival Central and adds venues around Cape May and North Cape May, so expect to move between locations over the weekend. The venue list is set edition by edition, so look up the line-up for the edition you are booking.
Accessibility
We don't yet have confirmed information about accessibility at Cape May Convention Hall. The venue's own pages are the place to check: capemaycity.com.
Camping
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at Cape May Convention Hall. The venue's own pages are the place to check: capemaycity.com.
Food, water and what you can bring
Festival-specific · Exit Zero Jazz FestivalOutside alcohol is prohibited at every venue; drinks come from cash bars, the participating bars and restaurants and VIP lounge service.
Quick answers
Where is Cape May Convention Hall?
On Beach Avenue in Cape May, directly on the beach.
How many people does Cape May Convention Hall hold?
It depends on the layout: over 900 for lectures, 800 for performing arts, 600 for banquets and receptions and 450 for seminars. The main hall is 8,800 square feet.
Can I bring my own alcohol to the Exit Zero Jazz Festival?
No. Outside alcohol is prohibited at all festival venues. Cash bars, bars and restaurants and a VIP lounge serve drinks instead.
Is the Exit Zero Jazz Festival indoors or outdoors?
Mostly indoors, with outdoor stages and Ferry Park as well. Convention Hall also has a wraparound deck and a beach and ocean atrium.
Does everything happen at Convention Hall?
No. Convention Hall is Festival Central, but the festival also uses bars, restaurants, Ferry Park and outdoor stages across Cape May and North Cape May, and the mix changes each edition.
When is the Exit Zero Jazz Festival held?
There are spring and autumn editions.
A little history
Cape May is a National Historic Landmark city with more than 600 Victorian-era buildings, and Convention Hall is its civic events facility on the beach. The Exit Zero Jazz Festival runs spring and autumn editions here, with Convention Hall as Festival Central and the programme reaching into bars, restaurants, Ferry Park and outdoor stages.