As the calendar turns to May, the countdown to Memorial Day weekend — the unofficial start of summer — is underway, now just three weeks away. One of the biggest signs the season is near: Morey’s Piers in Wildwood is officially back open for business. Crews were running final test cycles on rides at Morey’s Pier Friday, just hours before welcoming visitors for the first time this year. The popular boardwalk attraction is kicking off its 2026 season exactly 21 days before Memorial Day weekend. “It tells me that summer’s coming. Summer’s right around the corner, and it’s coming in hot,” said Stephanie Grullon of Harlem, New York. “It’s exciting,” said Kyle Morey, director of marketing for Morey’s Piers. “Every spring, you get through the winter, you get through the cold months, and you start to feel the energy pick up in town.” America 250 Apr 30 Track Philly's exciting summer events with NBC10's community calendar Jersey Shore Apr 30 Jersey Shore towns push fixes for badly eroded beaches ahead of summer Another sign of the seasonal shift: traffic lights across the Wildwoods have returned to their normal red, yellow and green cycles after flashing during the quieter offseason. “It was horrible winter, I’m ready for the summer,” said Elizabeth Sizemore of Boothwyn, Pa. For those still planning a beach getaway, there may be some good news. Duane Watlington with Vacation Rentals Jersey Shore says it’s not too late to book a stay in places like Long Beach Island, Ocean City and the Wildwoods. “We have an early Memorial Day and a late Labor Day. So there’s actually one extra week during the full summer season this year,” Watlington said. “That gives more inventory for everybody to be able to take a look at.” Watlington also said some property owners have reduced rental rates after struggling to book last summer, with discounts reaching up to 10%. “They’re getting anxious, they want to get it booked,” Watlington said. “Others are reducing their minimum stay requirements, too. So instead of requiring a week, they’re just requiring maybe three or four nights.” At Morey’s Piers, preparations are continuing for what operators expect will be a busy summer season — one that now feels within reach. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less