If you haven’t heard yet, West Cape May was once known as the Lima Bean Capital of the World. Locals commemorate this title every year with the Lima Bean Festival, complete with the crowning of the Lima Bean King and Queen. Now before you start rushing to the hair salon and sharpening up on your lima bean knowledge, it should be pointed out this little treasure of an event occurs every October, not every June. But fear not! Cape May has plenty of great events coming up this month; you may not be named king or queen, but Cape May is still ready to give you treatment fit for royalty!

The Annual Strawberry Festival in West Cape May starts the month off sweetly on June 2^nd at Wilbraham Park. Free parking and free admission lets any visitor take the day in any direction they want to, whether it be enjoying fresh strawberry shortcake while listening to live music, or shopping among the over 50 vendors selling antiques, artwork, and homemade crafts. The Park, located at the corner of Broadway and Perry, will be hosting this event from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.. For the weather-conscience traveler, don’t worry, you will still have the chance to taste that fabulous shortcake: the rain date is June 3^rd.

Antiques, artwork, and strawberry shortcake does not appeal to everyone, and neither does the largest shark tournament in New Jersey, but Cape May manages to accommodate them both within a week of each other. The 27^th Annual South Jersey Shark Tournament will take place June 7-10^th at the South Jersey Marina, located in the Cape May Harbor, just past the Lobster House Restaurant. The $450 entry fee gives competitors the chance to win $3,000 for the heaviest shark caught of any species, with the even bigger prize of $50,000 looming not so far off in the horizon for any lucky fisherman who catches a record-breaking Mako or Blue. If the competition isn’t for you, there is still the chance to be part of the action at the Dockside Dining after each day of competition, occurring at 7:30 p.m. at the Canyon Club on June 8^th and 9^th.

The lure of the sea is what brings us to Cape May, but luring the sharks back to our boats is not what most have in mind. The Celtic Festival is not the main attraction of Cape May, but is a more realistic entertainment option for the boat-less on the June 8-10^th weekend. Hosted by Historic Cold Spring Village just off of Route 9 South, the Celtic Festival will be occurring from 10:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. on June 9^th and 10^th, a perfect event to cool off after a week of beaching, French fries, and burgers, and a chance to enjoy some traditional food, pipe bands, and a pub tent. Friday and Saturday events are sometimes overlooked since they are the two big travel days, so if you miss out on the Celtic Festival but still want to shoot for another Cold Spring event, the next weekend (June 16^th and 17^th) will be the official season opening of Confederate Weekend, complete with mapmaking, weapons, and a recreated Civil War Field camp.

After covering everything from sharks to strawberries, Cape May is ready to provide its sophisticated side with some unique dinner and day trip events. On June 23^rd, The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts will be hosting a cruise around the Delaware Bay aboard the Cape May Whale Watcher for some spectacular lighthouse views and divine dining. Known as the Delaware Bay Lighthouse Adventures, the cruise will display 9 lighthouses and provide sightseers with coffee and danish for breakfast, along with a luncheon buffet and cash bar. Tickets are limited, but if it’s too late this month another Lighthouse Adventure will be departing on July 21^st. These 7 hour cruises depart at 10 a.m. from the Miss Chris Marina, located at 2^nd Avenue and Wilson Drive, a total of 4 times each summer and early fall; though the event may be too long for the young or easily sea queasy, any photographer or Cape May regular should jump at the chance to see some of the most underappreciated sights of the Bay.

Seven hours on a boat, though beautiful and unique, may still not be palatable to the classy culinary connoisseur; for the land-locked adventurer, the Italian Wine & Music Dinner may be more your style. Hosted by the Mad Batter in conjunction with the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts, diners will have the chance to enjoy some of the best Italian service Cape May has to offer: a five-course dinner, complete with classic opera music selected with care by Maestro Jed Gaylin, principal conductor of the Cape May Music Festival. Hosted by the Mad Batter Restaurant located at 19^th Jackson Street, the event will begin at 7:30 p.m. on June 15^th. Admission is limited; reservations can be made by calling (609) 884-5404 or (800) 275- 4278, or can be placed online at capemaymac.org.

Cape May is known for its antiquated feel and Victorian architecture, but this does not mean it neglects the fit and the sporty! The Nature Center of Cape May, located at 1610 Delaware Avenue has a variety of active adventures for any explorer, ranging from kayak nature tours to the much appreciated Harbor Safaris, a chance to celebrate National Trails Day on June 2^nd. The day starts at 10:30 a.m. with an exploration of favorite Cape May Trails, and afterwards you get the chance to join the members and volunteers of the Nature Center in cleaning up the Cape May beaches and trails, so the National Trails Day can make it to its 16^th year of celebration. Besides this special event, the Nature Center is always hosting kayak nature tours and plenty of water activities appropriate for children; the entire calendar of events can be found at njaudubon.org.

The busy month of June will draw to a close with the opening of Cape May’s Third Annual Designer Show House. Showcasing the Memucan Hughes House on beautiful Hughes Street, proceeds from the exhibit will be put towards the historic preservation and cultural enrichment of the Cape May community. The Designer Show House provides a great opportunity for designers to display their work to over 300,000 visitors. MAC has found a great way to foster community pride and maintain the classic historical design Cape May is famous for with this event; professional designers and volunteers alike are encouraged to submit their suggestions to the Show House on capemayshowhouse.com. The $20 admissions fee will provide visitors with eclectic designs for bedrooms, bathrooms, parlors, kitchens, and studies, along with a full color, glossy book containing all the highlights from the show. This event, continuing from June 30^th to October 16^th, proves that timeless beauty and adventure in Cape May does not just end with summer.