Above: Sun and surf to draw visitors to Delaware’s beaches. Photos courtesy VisitSouthernDelaware.com.
By Amy Watson Bish
Summer at the beaches is packed with unforgettable events, from lively concerts and arts festivals to quirky, local traditions. Whether you’re into music, food, or fun in the sun, there’s something for everyone along the coast this season.
Coastal Delaware Restaurant Week Supports the Red, White, & Blue on the Culinary Coast™
June 1-6| Coastal Delaware
Coastal Delaware Restaurant Week is the premier dining event in Delaware. Dozens of the area’s finest restaurants showcase their talents and give diners an opportunity to sample the best cuisine Coastal Delaware has to offer, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the military and first responders. Diners will enjoy menu discounts or pre-fixe menus at restaurants in Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Lewes, and Coastal Delaware.
— Visit Beach-Fun.com/Restaurant-Week
Party Like It’s 793 Festival
June 6-8 | Brimming Horn Meadery, Milton
Delaware’s only Viking and heavy metal themed event celebrates the start of the Viking Age in the West with a party at the Brimming Horn Meadery. This festive weekend includes Viking reenactors, live music, food and craft vendors, and every Viking’s favorite drink…mead!
— Visit RigrCrafts.com/PartyLikeIts793
Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival
June 7 & 8 | Lewes Historical Society, Lewes
More than 70 regional and local sea glass and coastal-themed artists showcase everything from jewelry and home décor to sculptures and paintings. Bring your favorite pieces of sea glass and learn its history, shop from a collection of sea glass, or enjoy a glass-blowing demonstration. The weekend also includes live music, food, children’s activities, and educational presentations.
— Visit HistoricLewes.org
KidsFest
Sunday, June 8 | Schellville, Rehoboth Beach
Celebrate National Children’s Day at Schellville’s with a fun-filled day of roller skating, bounce houses, train rides, crafts, magic shows, and more. It’s all about joy, play, and making memories together.
— Visit SchellBrothers.com/Promotions/Schellville-Events
Rocking the Docks Music Series presents Low Cut Connie
Thursday, June 12 | Lewes Ferry Grounds, Lewes
The Philadelphia-based band has built its grassroots coalition of oddballs, underdogs, and fun-loving weirdos with songs that celebrate life on the fringes of polite society. The band’s infamously wild, passionate live shows provide a total release — of stress, of inhibition, of shame — working up a primordial rock ‘n’ roll sweat for fans to get blissfully soaked in.
— Visit RockingTheDocksLewes.com
Summer Living Expo
June 14 & 15 | Cape Henlopen High School, Lewes
Delaware Resorts Expos’ inaugural Summer Living Expo will feature 100+ exhibitors showcasing a variety of products and services for year-round indoor and outdoor living in the beach region. Admission is free to all visitors.
— Visit DeExpos.com
The Legwarmers
Friday, June 20 |Bottle & Cork, Dewey Beach
Like, omigod! With more moves than a Rubik’s Cube, the Legwarmers take the stage like it’s prom night in a John Hughes movie, a very special episode of “Square Pegs” and the Monsters of Rock Tour all at once.
— Visit BottleAndCork.com
34th Annual Lewes Garden Tour
Saturday, June 21 | Lewes
Take a self-guided tour of several select private gardens throughout Lewes, plus enjoy a Garden Market in Zwaanendael Park with garden-related items for sale during the hours of the tour. Sponsored by the Lewes Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau.
— Visit LewesChamber.com
3rd Annual Lavender & Lambs Festival
June 21 & 22 | Brittingham Farms, Millsboro
Due to its popularity, this festival has expanded to two days of fun for more to enjoy. Spend a relaxing day strolling Brittingham Farm’s lavender field, meeting the farms’ lambs, treating yourself to lavender-infused snacks and beverages, and enjoying live music, sheep shearing demonstrations, and more.
— Visit BrittinghamFarms.com
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
June 27-August 28 | Clear Space Theater, Rehoboth
Carole King is the voice of a generation — but before she was a hit-maker and a household name, she was a spunky, young songwriter from Brooklyn with a unique voice. Her journey is the ride of a lifetime, a trailblazing saga filled with such unforgettable anthems as “You’ve Got a Friend,” “One Fine Day,” “Natural Woman,” and more.
— Visit ClearSpaceTheatre.org
Annual Running of the Bull
Saturday, June 28 | Starboard Restaurant, Dewey Beach
Every year hundreds of people gather at The Starboard dressed in red bandannas to celebrate, then parade through the streets of Dewey, and onto the beach where they are chased by “the bull” (two people in bull costume) for several blocks. The chase concludes with a bullfight played out at The Starboard, followed by festivities into the night. Proceeds benefit the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company.
— Visit TheRunningOfTheBull.com
Millsboro Stars & Stripes
Saturday, June 28 | Millsboro Little League Fields, W. State Street, Millsboro
This annual community celebration features entertainment, activities, and food vendors, and culminates with a professionally-staged fireworks show at dusk.
— Visit MillsboroChamber.com
The City of Lewes Annual Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 28 | George H.P. Smith Park, Lewes
This free community event, hosted by Lewes African American Heritage Commission, celebrates African American heritage and culture and features food trucks, dancers, live music and more.
— Visit LewesChamber.com
Independence Day Celebrations
Friday, July 4 | Delaware beaches
From parades to fireworks, each of the beaches — from Lewes to Bethany — will have events for you to celebrate the red, white and blue. (Rehoboth Beach will launch their display on July 5.)
— Visit VisitSouthernDelaware.com
Counting Crows: The Complete Sweets! Tour with Special Guest The Gaslight Anthem
Tuesday, July 8 | Freeman Arts Pavillion, Selbyville
Counting Crows have spent over 30 years crafting emotionally rich, alternative rock anthems. With over 20 million records sold and timeless hits like “Mr. Jones” and “Accidentally in Love,” their live shows remain powerful, passionate, and unforgettable.
— Visit FreemanArts.org
75th Annual Cottage Tour
July 8 & 9 | Select homes around Rehoboth Beach (TBA)
The Rehoboth Art League’s popular self-paced tour features select homes in the Rehoboth Beach area with a variety of landscapes, interior and architectural designs, ranging from historically significant to contemporary and sleek. Some homes have quite an evolving history and many homeowners showcase memories, artwork, and collections in creative ways. As parking can be limited, the Art League provides a shuttle service to each location for ticket holders.
— Visit RehobothArtLeague.org
The Bacon Brothers – Freestanding Tour
Friday, August 1 | Bottle & Cork, Dewey Beach
The Bacon Brothers blend folk, rock, soul, and country into their signature sound they call “forosoco.” With their new album Ballad Of The Brothers, Kevin and Michael Bacon continue decades of genre-bending storytelling and rich, roots-driven musical exploration.
— Visit BottleAndCork.com
52nd Annual Outdoor Fine Art & Fine Craft Show
August 2 & 3 and August 9 & 10 | Henlopen Acres, Rehoboth Beach
The Rehoboth Art League’s signature summer event features more than 100 artists and artisans from around the country displaying and selling their fine art and fine crafts. This unforgettable event is full of activities, including food, live music, artist demonstrations, gallery exhibits, beautiful gardens, the historic Peter Marsh Homestead, and a Dogfish Head Beer Garden.
— Visit RehobothArtLeague.org
Rocking the Docks Music Series presents The Heavy Heavy
Thursday, August 6 | Lewes Ferry Grounds, Lewes
With a vibrant mix of vintage rock, psychedelic soul, and souring harmonies, the UK-based band’s infectious energy and throwback sound deliver a dynamic, can’t-miss musical experience.
— Visit RockingTheDocksLewes.com
43rd Annual ZAP Pro/Am World Championship of Skimboarding
August 8-10 | McKinley Street, Dewey Beach
Known as the skimboarding capital of the East Coast, Dewey Beach has hosted one of the longest running skimboarding competitions for over four decades. Watch and cheer on top skimboarders from around the globe as they compete to earn the title of the best in the world. Presented by Alley-Oop & Skim USA, this three-day, all-ages event also features live music, food, art, and giveaways.
— Visit AlleyOopSkim.com
28th Annual Eastern Shore AFRAM Festival
Saturday, August 9 | Ross Mansion, Seaford
This free, outdoor multicultural festival celebrates African-American and Pan-African arts, history, and culture in a family-friendly atmosphere and includes live music, cultural foods, exhibits, special presentations and more.
— Visit VisitSouthernDelaware.com
Jim Gaffigan: Everything is Wonderful!
Friday, August 15 | Freeman Arts Pavillion, Selbyville
The Grammy-nominated, Emmy-winning comedian brings his signature humor and sharp observations to the stage for a night of nonstop laughs, wit, and family-friendly hilarity you won’t forget.
— Visit FreemanArts.org
3rd Annual Shuck Cancer 5K
Saturday, August 17 | Big Oyster Brewery, Lewes
Lace up your sneakers and run to help fight cancer. Proceeds from the event go to Fighting Pretty, a non-profit organization whose mission is to help women battling cancer feel strong and beautiful. After the race, runners will enjoy a fun after-party at Big Oyster Brewery.
— Visit FusionRaceTiming.com
