Fall signals “Festival Time and More” for the Delaware coast. And, there are plenty more entertainment opportunities to tap this Fall.
Of course, one of the largest, if not THE largest is the Sea Witch Festival happening over a three-day weekend span October 24-26. Last year, the festival drew 225,000 people according to the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce. About half of that audience attended on Saturday for the parade which features bands (including a Mummers Group), floats and costumed walkers. The “doggy parade” on the boardwalk is the big draw on Sunday, but Sea Witch offers much more.
Other events worth noting that weekend are The Lewes Historical Society’s fundraiser Boos and Brews on October 24, and Bethany Beach’s Wags, Witches and Warlocks and Milton’s Wicked Weekend – both set for October 25.
There are numerous festivals, art shows, and musical events to be enjoyed prior to the big pre-Halloween weekend. One of the more colorful events is Ocean City’s Sunfest Kite Festival September 18-21. It takes place on the beach at 3rd Street. Also, that Saturday, three very different events take place. Schellville (Rehoboth Beach) hosts the Delaware Seafood Festival that features seafood oriented food trucks and restaurants, food demonstrations and musical acts. The art community in Lewes hosts the annual Lewes Artists Studio Tour. A map highlighting participating artists’ studios is available online. Most of the studios are in artists’ homes that are scattered in and around Historic Lewes. Milford’s Riverwalk Freedom Festival is celebrating its 25 anniversary this year. Family-friendly activities, and venders line the Mispillion River the day of the festival.
The last weekend in September is always a treat for history book lovers who flock to the History Book Festival. The nation’s only book festival dedicated to history through stories returns to Sussex County the weekend of September 26-28. Most of the 22 author presentations are free and the festival gives Lewes a chance to shine as the “first town, in the first state”.
Those who cherish or simply appreciate coastal, marine, and environmental science will thoroughly enjoy the University of Delaware’s Coastal Day on Saturday, October 5 at UD’s Lewes campus. The festival takes place from 10-5 and typically attracts about 5,000 individuals who can learn from numerous experts and organizations. Lewes’s Boast the Coast Maritime Festival takes place the day before on October 4.
And what would the month of October in the Rehoboth Beach/Dewey/Lewes corridor be without music? Two major festivals take place back-to-back mid-month, and they overlap. The True Blue Jazz Festival is scheduled for October 15 – 19 and the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival is set for October 16 – 19. Both festivals feature a stellar line up of jazz musicians. True Blue is the brainchild of The Funsters Eddie Sherman and Nassau Valley Vineyard’s Peggy Rainy.
Animal lovers are not left out in October. Bark on the Boards takes place October 18 in downtown Rehoboth Beach. It is chock full of animal friendly programs and activities. CAMP Rehoboth’s Block Party is October 19. It features numerous community-based organizations like Clear Space.
This is just a partial list of goings-on in or near Delaware’s Beach in the coming weeks. And, for those who have lost loved ones to either Alzheimer’s or breast cancer, you might want to consider supporting two very important fundraisers that, unfortunately, both take place on October 4 – the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and Dewey Goes Pink.
By Mary Jo Tarallo, Resident Journalist
Mary Jo Tarallo spent much of her career in public relations with various non-profits and spent 40 years involved with the ski industry as a journalist, public relations director for a national trade association and as executive director of the Learn to Ski and Snowboard initiative. Prior to her ski industry involvement she worked for the Maryland International Center in Baltimore and United Way of Central Maryland. She won a Gold Award for TV programming for a United Way simulcast that starred Oprah Winfrey. She has been cited for her work by numerous organizations. Mary Jo grew up in Baltimore, attended the University of Maryland and Towson University, lived in Washington, DC for 21 years and has been a full time resident of Rehoboth Beach and Milton since May 2019.
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