Locals' Season Delaware beaches, off-season

Events

Festivals, parades, markets and food events from now through spring.

Coming up

Tue29Sep

Crooktoberfest Free admission

Crooked Hammock Brewery, Lewes Runs Sep 14 to Oct 11

Crooked Hammock's month-long Oktoberfest-style party with German food, festival beers, live entertainment and stein-holding contests.

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Thu1Oct

Scarecrow Trail & Show Free

Businesses throughout Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach Runs Oct 1 to Oct 31

Businesses around Rehoboth and Dewey display decorated scarecrows all month for visitors to find and vote on.

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Fri2Oct

Fall Sidewalk Sale (Rehoboth & Dewey) Free

Shops in Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach Runs Oct 2 to Oct 4, 10am-8pm

Shops in Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach put end-of-season merchandise out on the sidewalks.

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Lewes Merchants' Fall Sidewalk Sale Free

Downtown Lewes shops Runs Oct 2 to Oct 4, 10am-5pm

Downtown Lewes shops hold their fall sidewalk sale on the same weekend as Boast the Coast.

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Sat3Oct

Boast the Coast Free

1812 Park and the Lewes waterfront 11am-2pm

Lewes's 30th annual celebration of its maritime heritage, with free canal boat tours, kids' activities, live music and free admission to the Cannonball House.

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Sun4Oct

Blues & Brews Festival Ticketed

Grain on the Rocks, Lewes 2pm-5pm

First-year Blues & Brews fall festival on the Lewes ferry grounds, part of Rocking the Docks: live blues, craft breweries, food trucks and local vendors.

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Thu8Oct

Greyhounds Reach the Beach

Dewey Beach and Rehoboth Beach (Convention Center and boardwalk) Runs Oct 8 to Oct 11

Hundreds of greyhound owners and their dogs gather over Columbus Day weekend for vendors, seminars and a boardwalk parade.

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Fri9Oct

The Rocky Horror Show

Clear Space Theatre, Rehoboth Beach Runs Oct 9 to Oct 31

Clear Space's Halloween-season production of the cult rock musical, with late-night audience-participation shows on Saturdays.

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Sat10Oct

Punkin Ale Fest Free (puppy yoga $25)

Dogfish Head Milton Brewery 11am-4pm

Free, family- and dog-friendly fall festival at Dogfish Head's Milton brewery with Punkin Ale, vendors, food trucks, live music and pumpkin painting.

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Thu15Oct

Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival Varies by show (free to $179)

Rehoboth Beach Convention Center and other venues in Rehoboth, Lewes and Dewey Runs Oct 15 to Oct 18

The 37th annual festival brings national smooth-jazz and R&B headliners to stages in Rehoboth, Lewes and Dewey over four days.

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True Blue Jazz Festival $35-$85 per show

Boardwalk Plaza Hotel and Rehoboth Beach Fire House, 219 Rehoboth Ave. Runs Oct 15 to Oct 18

Straight-ahead jazz festival with ticketed shows at the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel and a big-band marathon at the Rehoboth Beach Fire House.

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Sat17Oct

Zombie Fest 2026: Undead Disco $5 online / $10 at gate; kids 12 and under free

Hudson Fields, Milton 2pm-7pm

The Milton Theatre's Halloween festival with costume contests, live music, zombie makeup, vendors, food trucks, a kids' area and fireworks.

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Fri23Oct

Dewey Haunted Bonfire & Graveyard

Dewey Beach Runs Oct 23 to Oct 24

Dewey Beach's Halloween bonfire and graveyard walk, held the same weekend as Sea Witch and the Dewey trick-or-treat.

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Sea Witch Festival Most events free

Rehoboth Avenue, Boardwalk and around town, Rehoboth Beach Runs Oct 23 to Oct 25

Rehoboth's big Halloween weekend, with a costume parade down Rehoboth Avenue on Saturday, a dog costume parade, live music and family activities.

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Sun1Nov

Rehoboth Beach International Film Festival Passes and single tickets; special events $60-$100

Cinema Art Theater, Lewes Runs Nov 1 to Nov 8

The Rehoboth Beach Film Society's 28th annual festival, a week of independent and international films, filmmaker Q&As and special events.

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Sat7Nov

Rehoboth Art League Holiday Fair $5 adults; under 12 free

Rehoboth Art League, Rehoboth Beach Runs Nov 7 to Nov 8, 10am-4pm

The 42nd annual fine craft show fills the Art League's historic campus with artisans selling jewelry, glass, ceramics and fiber art.

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Analog-A-Go-Go Ticketed

Dogfish Head Milton Brewery noon

Dogfish Head's festival of craft beer and analog music, with vinyl DJ sets, live music and a marketplace of record stores and music vendors.

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Sat14Nov

Holiday Boutique and Book Sale

Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes

The Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park holiday gift boutique and used-book sale at the park's Officers Club.

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Schellville Enchanted Winter Celebration Free (some special events ticketed)

Schellville, Rehoboth Beach Runs Nov 14 to Dec 30

Free holiday village behind the Tanger Outlets with decorated mini-houses, a snow zone, sledding hill, live entertainment and Santa visits.

Details Source Unconfirmed for this season, call ahead

Fri27Nov

A Christmas Story (musical)

Clear Space Theatre, Rehoboth Beach Runs Nov 27 to Dec 20

Clear Space's holiday musical version of the classic movie about Ralphie's quest for a Red Ryder BB gun.

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Christmas Tree Lighting & Holiday Sing-Along Free

Rehoboth Beach Bandstand 6:30pm-7:15pm

The city lights its community tree at the Bandstand after a holiday sing-along on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

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Sat28Nov

Dewey Beach Tree Lighting Free

Fifer's, Dewey Beach

Dewey Beach lights its holiday tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving, with a second tree lighting on the Baywalk Dec. 5.

Details Source Unconfirmed for this season, call ahead

Rehoboth Beach Farmers Market Holiday Market Free

Grove Park, Rehoboth Beach noon-3pm

The farmers market returns for one holiday-shopping Saturday with about 40 vendors selling gifts, wreaths, pottery and local foods.

Details Source Unconfirmed for this season, call ahead

Old Town Market & Tree Lighting Free

John West Park, Ocean View 1pm-5pm

Ocean View's eighth annual holiday market and tree lighting in John West Park.

Details Source

Fri4Dec

Selbyville Christmas Parade Free

West Church Street, Selbyville 7pm

The 65th annual hometown parade with floats, marching bands, fire trucks, antique cars and Santa.

Details Source Unconfirmed for this season, call ahead

Sat5Dec

Dewey Santa Crush Crawl

Bars and restaurants throughout Dewey Beach

Holiday bar crawl through Dewey Beach's bars and restaurants.

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Holiday Happenings in Bethany Free

Bethany Beach Town Hall and bandstand plaza

Bethany Beach's holiday festival with trolley and beach-tractor rides, photos with Santa and the tree lighting at the bandstand plaza.

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Rehoboth Seashore Marathon & Half Marathon $155 half / $175 full

Starts at 301 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach 7am

Boston-qualifying marathon and half marathon on a flat course through Rehoboth and Cape Henlopen State Park.

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Lewes Christmas Parade Free

Downtown Lewes, ending at Zwaanendael Park 5pm

Lewes's old-fashioned Christmas parade of floats and lights, followed by the tree lighting and candlelight caroling in Zwaanendael Park.

Details Source Unconfirmed for this season, call ahead

Mon7Dec

Rehoboth Beach Hometown Christmas Parade Free

Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach 6:30pm-9pm

The Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company's evening Christmas parade down Rehoboth Avenue.

Details Source Unconfirmed for this season, call ahead

Sat12Dec

Milton Holly Festival Free

Downtown Milton, Milton Elementary, H.O. Brittingham Elementary and Milton Library 9am-3pm

Milton celebrates its history as the 'Holly Capital' with craft shows, fresh greens and wreaths, Santa's house, a book sale and carolers around town.

Details Source Unconfirmed for this season, call ahead

Thu31Dec

Dewey Crush Drop (New Year's Eve) Free

Route 1 and New Orleans Street (oceanside), Dewey Beach

Dewey Beach's version of a ball drop: a giant Orange Crush lowered from a crane at midnight.

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Fri1Jan

First Day Hike at Cape Henlopen Free (park entry fees may apply)

Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes 9am

A free guided New Year's Day hike around the Point at Cape Henlopen State Park.

Details Source Unconfirmed for this season, call ahead

Regular happenings

Historic Lewes Farmers Market - Fall Market Free

Lewes Elementary School parking lot, 820 Savannah Rd., Lewes Sat, 9am-noon

The Historic Lewes Farmers Market moves to Saturday mornings at Lewes Elementary for its fall season of local produce, meat, baked goods and crafts.

Details Source