Chapter 3: Fun Events in Coastal Delaware
Coastal Delaware hosts numerous festivals and events throughout the year. From concerts and kite festivals to community bike rides and birdwatching events, you're sure to find entertainment that matches your interests.
The calendar of events for 2022 is continually updated with the most recent activities. This chapter features some of the most popular events you can attend on your Delaware vacation.
Yearly Festivals in Delaware
The Delaware Coast is home to over 40 festivals every year. If you're wondering what to do in Coastal Delaware, check online to see what's happening during your stay. Mark your calendar for these festivals in Delaware in 2022:
Lewes Tulip Celebration: In the spring, the Lewes community is covered with over 30,000 tulips and springs flowers to celebrate their Dutch heritage. From April 1-17, 2022, you can follow the map to find over 20 locations where tulips have been planted. The flowers create so many great photo opportunities. Local businesses participate by creating beautiful tulip displays, selling flowers, giving floral arrangement demonstrations and offering walking tours.
Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass and Coastal Arts Festival: The Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass and Coastal Arts Festival celebrates local artists by providing a venue for them to showcase and sell their work. The artists use various media, including sea glass, painting, photography, wood and ceramics to create their pieces. The event also features live music, food vendors, activities for children and other exhibitions. The event is on the first weekend in June at Lewes Historical Society Campus, and admission costs $5.
Great Delaware Kite Festival: The Great Delaware Kite Festival is an annual spring-time celebration at Cape Henlopen State Park. The event is on Friday, April 15, 2022, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. It features an egg hunt for children and a kite competition for all ages. It costs $5 per car with a Delaware license tag and $10 per car with an out-of-state tag.
Polar Bear Plunge: Take a frigid dip in the ocean at Rehoboth Beach to help raise donations for Special Olympics Delaware. The Polar Bear Plunge is held annually on the first Sunday in February. Registration costs $10 and you must raise a minimum of $75 to take the plunge.
Sea Witch Festival: Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach have been partnering together to host the Annual Sea Witch® Festival for over three decades. This event celebrates Halloween with a costume parade, dog parade, trick or treating, hayrides and many other family-friendly activities. There are also food vendors and live entertainment. The event is free to attend on Halloween weekend at the Rehoboth Beach & Dewey Beach Resort Area.
Dewey Beach Arts Festival: On Saturday, May 7, 2022, the Dewey Beach Business Partnership is hosting its 10th annual Dewey Beach Arts Festival. The event features over 60 local artist vendors with live music and food trucks. Enjoy a day in the sunshine appreciating locally-made artwork and finding unique pieces to decorate your home or give as a gift for Mother's Day.
Poseidon Festival: The Poseidon Festival happens at Bethany Beach over Memorial Day weekend. It features live sand sculpting, island music, a marine science camp, a luau, pirates and mermaids to celebrate the sea. Bring the whole family for a weekend of fun in the sun.
Bethany Beach Boardwalk Arts Festival: The 44th Annual Bethany Beach Boardwalk Arts Festival is on Saturday, September 10, 2022, in downtown Bethany Beach from 10 a.m-5 p.m. They'll have many artist vendors selling paintings, jewelry, woodwork and other mediums. The event also features a series of silent auctions selling artwork to raise money for the arts programs at five local schools.
Coastal Delaware Musical Events
Concerts and musical performances are common weekend events in Delaware. Listening to music is the perfect way to relax and let loose on vacation. There are live singers and bands along the coast at various venues:
Local bars: Many local bars and restaurants host live music throughout the summer. Bluecoast Seafood Grill and Raw Bar hosts musical performers several times a month in Rehoboth Beach.
Hudson Fields: This outdoor recreational venue hosts concerts and music festivals within 30 minutes or less of Delaware's most popular beach towns.
Freeman Arts Pavilion: Only a few minutes from Fenwick Island and Bethany Beach, this outdoor performance venue presents over 60 performances every year.
The Clubhouse at Baywood: This gorgeous restaurant and event space features live musical performances throughout the year.
The Bottle & Cork: Since 1936, the Bottle & Cork has hosted some of the most amazing musicians in Dewey Beach. It's one of the most iconic concert venues on the East Coast where you can purchase tickets for live concerts almost every weekend.
Boardwalk bandstands: You'll often hear music playing from the boardwalk bandstands at Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach.
Festivals: The Delaware Coast hosts various festivals throughout the year, many of which feature live music and bands.
Events for Runners and Cyclists
Coastal Delaware hosts all kinds of races throughout the year. One of the most famous is the Annual Coastal Delaware Running Festival in Rehoboth Beach. This event features several foot races, including a 5k, 9k, half marathon and marathon that start and finish on the iconic Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk. The marathon is a Boston qualifier race if you're interested in competing in the Boston Marathon.
There are also countless biking events in the area as well. The Annual to Bay Bike Tour welcomes cyclists of all skill levels for a variety of bike rides along Coastal Highway, including:
Coastal Cruise: 10 miles, 30 miles or 50 miles
Metric Century ride: 100 kilometers or roughly 62 miles
Century ride: 100 miles
Farmers Markets in Coastal Delaware
With the ocean on one side and farmlands on the other, Coastal Delaware has constant access to fresh local ingredients. Delaware farmer's markets allow visitors to experience the organic produce and locally made items for themselves.
Here are some famous farmers markets around Coastal Highway:
1. Rehoboth Beach Farmers Market
Rehoboth Beach Farmers Market is a one-stop shop for fresh produce, seafood, coffee, spices, bread and other treats made from local vendors. They also offer clothing, candles and other household goods. It's only a five-minute drive or a 20-minute walk from Rehoboth Beach. The market is open every Tuesday from May through October.
2. Bethany Beach Farmers Market
The Bethany Beach Farmers Market offers seasonal fruits, vegetables, bread, mushrooms, spices, fresh-cut flowers and other locally-produced goods. It's open from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. every Sunday from early June until early September on the corner of Garfield Parkway and Pennsylvania Avenue in Bethany Beach.
3. The Farmers' Market at Sea Colony
The Farmers' Market at Sea Colony carries all of the local staples. Lavender-infused soap, beeswax hand cream, farm-fresh produce and homemade baked goods are just a sampling of what their vendors have to offer. You can stock up on these locally made goodies every Wednesday from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Sea Colony Shopping Center in Bethany Beach.
4. Fenwick Island Farmers Market
On Friday mornings from mid-June until the end of August, you can shop the Fenwick Island Farmers Market for a wide selection of locally grown fruits and vegetables. They're open from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. in the parking lot of Warren's Station.
There's Always Something to Do in Coastal Delaware
Whether you enjoy lively concerts, exhilarating bike rides, casual trips to the farmers market or foodie events at local restaurants, you can find it all along Delaware's Coastal Highway.
Check out the SoDel events calendar to see what events are happening at our local restaurants and breweries during your trip.