The summer arts and music season already has kicked off in the Delaware coastal towns with the Dewey Arts and Crafts Festival and the Rehoboth Art League’s Rehoboth Fine Art and Fine Crafts Show but plenty more opportunities to indulge in the arts are on the horizon including the 60th anniversary of the popular free weekend concerts at the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand.
The bandstand itself has a compelling history. It was first conceptualized by the late William Hayes in 1963. “He was a wonderful man who could ‘play all instruments,’ according to his wife – Ruth Hayes. William’s passion for music and community prompted him to persuade the City of Rehoboth Beach to establish a music venue in the town which at first was a grassy area where the current bandstand is located.
Free concerts take place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings starting at 8 pm. The season kick off is a Billy Joel tribute band called “We May be Right”. The schedule includes local bands like The Funsters (July 4th Celebration), Love Seed Mama Jump and the Rehoboth Concert Band, military ensembles like U.S. Navy Band Commodores and other tribute bands for Fleetwood Mac, Frankie Valli, and the Four Seasons and even Elvis,
The Freeman Arts Center in Selbyville, DE is not free, but they also have a full schedule of dynamic performing artists, and they start their season with an authentic Queen Tribute band called Almost Queen. The mix includes tribute bands but also many original artists so if you want to see Pat Benatar, Taj Mahal, Three Dog Night, John Fogarty and even the Beach Boys (only Mike Love from the original group) the “Real Frankie Valli” look at the Freeman schedule.
The Developing Artists Collaboration kicks off its Creative Market season on Wednesday, May 21 with a performance by Hot Sauce but the first official gathering including music and artists is Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day Weekend). Creative Market is located on Hebron Road in West Rehoboth. It is open every Monday and Frida from Memorial Day to Labor Day from 5 pm – 9 pm. Local artists, musicians and chefs come together to create a fun-filled evening.
Creative Market also hosts Sunday Sound Bites from 11 am – 3 pm. It’s a variation on the theme but without the artists.
Of course, the “Big Kahuna” of the art scene in Rehoboth takes place the first two weekends in August with the 52nd Annual Fine Art and Fine Craft Show. The League’s campus is transformed into a giant art display with local and state-wide artists
Prior to their premier event, the RAL hosts the annual Cottage Tour, July 7 and 8. Eight homes (hardly “cottages) will be featured on the tour, all in Rehoboth this year. A shuttle bus will be available to transport cottage goers.
Bethany Beach hosts its own version of arts and craft shows and music events beginning with the Poseidon Festival from May 23 – 25. Its popular Seaside Crafts Show is June 7. The Bethany Concert Series runs from the beginning of June through October at the Bethany Bandstand.
Clear Space Theater and the Milton Theater have a chock-full summer schedule with shows virtually every night plus matinee performances. Show tickets are going fast for both venues.
So here’s to a happening-season with more to do than we can handle, and lots of options (many more than are listed here) to choose between. So dive in to music, art and so much fun this summer.
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.
