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29th Annual Sea Witch Festival Brings Music and Family Fun to Rehoboth Beach

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Families are invited to enjoy a weekend of free live entertainment on the Rehoboth Bandstand during the 29th annual Sea Witch Festival.

Blue Cat Blues Band will kick off the weekend with a performance on Friday, Oct. 26, and on Saturday, Oct. 27, Paul Zavinsky, Nothin’ But Trouble, The British Invasion Experience and Trailer Grass Orchestra will perform. The weekend will wrap up with Ty Sherwood and the Tydewater Band, Lower Case Blues and Glass Onion Band on Sunday, Oct. 28.

Don’t miss this weekend of family fun and great music in Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach. For the full schedule of performances times, see the Rehoboth Beach – Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce website or call 302-227-6446. View the 29th annual Sea Witch Festival program of activities here. Sea Witch Bandstand Entertainment is sponsored by Discover Bank.

2018 Top Sponsors

  • WRDE NBC Coast TV – Official Sea Witch® Festival Mega Sponsor
  • Discover Bank – Official Bandstand Sponsor
  • Delaware Today – Perfect Wave Sponsor
  • Grotto Pizza – Perfect Wave Sponsor
  • M & T Bank – Perfect Wave Sponsor
  • Weis Markets – Perfect Wave Sponsor
  • Custom Mechanical – Barrel Wave Sponsor
  • DART First State – Barrel Wave Sponsor
  • Seaboard Hotels – Barrel Wave Sponsor
  • Arena’s Deli – Swell Wave Sponsor
  • AT&T Wireless – Swell Wave Sponsor
  • Atlantic Liquors – Swell Wave Sponsor
  • The BeachLife App. –  Swell Wave Sponsor
  • The Bellmoor Inn – Swell Wave Sponsor
  • Crosswinds Motel – Swell Wave Sponsor
  • DiFebo’s – Swell Wave Sponsor
  • Jack Lingo – Swell Wave Sponsor
  • Jeanine O’Donnell – Swell Wave Sponsor
  • Sussex County Association of Realtors – Swell Wave Sponsor
  • Affinity Energy – Rip Wave Sponsor
  • Atlantic Transportation Services – Rip Wave Sponsor
  • Boulevard Ford – Lincoln – Rip Wave Sponsor
  • Buffalo Wild Wings – Rip Wave Sponsor
  • Cape May – Lewes Ferry – Rip Wave Sponsor
  • Fins Hospitality Group – Rip Wave Sponsor
  • First Rate Movers – Rip Wave Sponsor
  • Fulton Bank – Rip Wave Sponsor
  • Hyatt Place Dewey Beach – Rip Wave Sponsor
  • Kilwin’s Rehoboth Avenue – Rip Wave Sponsor
  • Pieces of Time – Rip Wave Sponsor
  • Sussex County Women’s Journal – Rip Wave Sponsor
  • Trinity Logistics – Rip Wave Sponsor

40th Annual Sandcastle Contest on Rehoboth Beach

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The 40th annual Sandcastle Contest hits Rehoboth Beach on Sept. 8. Hosted by the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce (RBDBCC), teams and individual competitors are encouraged to express their artistic flair in the sand. In addition to traditional sandcastles, past sculptures have included mermaids, Funland rides, pyramids, dolphins and Olympic athletes. The contest will be held just off the Boardwalk on the beach in front of Funland between Delaware and Laurel Avenues.

The contest is open to adults and children of all skill levels. Registration is free and participants can sign up under the blue Chamber tent between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. the day of the contest. Sand sculpting may be started at any time the day of the competition but must be completed for judging by 3 p.m.

Who takes home the trophy? You be the judge!

The public is invited to participate in the People’s Choice Voting held from 3 – 4 p.m. the day of the competition. Vote for your favorite adult, youth and business division sandcastle by completing an event evaluation. Winners will be announced at 4:30 p.m. Trophies will be awarded to the to eight People’s Choice favorites in both the adult and youth divisions, and one trophy will be awarded in the business division. Children ages six and under will receive a souvenir squirt toy while supplies last.

The rules

  • Participants will be divided into four divisions: Business, Adult (15 and older), Youth (7 – 14) and Smiley division (ages 6 and under).
  • There is no limit to the number of participants per team.
  • Piles of sand must be formed by manpower only. Mechanical assistance is not allowed.
  • To be judged, creations must be built within event event “feather” flag boundaries.
  • The sand sculptures may contain only objects natural to the beach (shells, stones, seaweed, etc.). Participants must stay away from the dunes and the dune grass. The use of food coloring is prohibited.
  • Sculptures may not be dampened or sprayed with any solutions other than water. In other words… NO STICKY STUFF!
  • Sculptures must be finished by 3 p.m.

Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult when registering for competition. The Chamber encourages young participants to enter and asks that parents provide minimal assistance to youth entries. Sculpture subject matter is left to the artists’ imagination; however, the Chamber advises avoidance of political/controversial themes.

RBDBCC members are encouraged to compete in the business category and represent your company in the sand! Entries will be judged by the public during the Peoples’ Choice Voting. The winning business will receive a trophy, a free Beach Blast email and bragging rights for the entire year.

Sand art fun for kids of all ages

Beachgoers who would rather watch than create can join in the fun throughout the day.

  • Local sand sculptor Darrell O’Connor will lead the building of a community sculpture. Participants can sign up to lend a hand at the contest registration tent.
  • Children are invited to create a sand art keepsake craft on the beach to commemorate their contest experience. Kids can create their sand art craft under the white tent on the beach at Delaware Ave. on contest day 12 – 4 p.m. There is no charge for this activity, donations are welcome.
  • Spectators are welcome to view the incredible creations upon their completion beginning at 3 p.m., free of charge.

Start your weekend with free sculpting lessons

Sand sculpting artist Darrell O’Connor will be on the beach at Rehoboth Ave. & the Boardwalk from 5 – 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7 giving FREE sculpting demonstrations and lessons. Learn some skills, then put them to use during the competition on Saturday.

This event is weather dependent. In the event of bad weather, set up and registration may be delayed. If bad weather continues, this event may be postponed until the following year. If bad weather occurs during the contest, participants may continue at will or at the discretion of lifeguards. Judging may be cancelled at any time if warranted by weather conditions. In the event of inclement weather, updates will be posted to the RBDBCC Facebook page. Recorded updates will be available by calling 302-227-2233.

This event is produced by the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce and funded in part by Southern Delaware Tourism. For more information, visit the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce’s website at www.beach-fun.com.

Fourth of July Happenings in Coastal Delaware

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Celebrate the Fourth of July in the best way possible: On the beach, of course! Specifically on one of the beautiful beaches of the modern U.S.’ first state. It doesn’t get more patriotic than that, and nothing beats watching a sparkling fireworks spectacle with a bucket of caramel popcorn from Dolle’s or a Kohr Brothers ice cream cone with extra, extra sprinkles in hand.

Below are the Independence Day celebrations you’ll find along Delaware’s coast. For a full list of all the celebrations throughout DE, check out the events on VisitDelaware, and if you’re trekking south to Ocean City, Maryland on the Fourth of July, here’s a handy guide to the holiday in OC.

Bethany Beach

Stake out your spot in Bethany Beach on Wednesday for the town’s biggest party of the year.

The parade starts at 12 p.m. at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Garfield Parkway, and 12 bands — including a pipe band, a National Guard Army Band, the Downtown Dixieland Band, a German Oompah Band and more — will be walking the streets of Bethany to a highly-diverse range of sounds.

At 7:15 p.m. there will be an awards ceremony on the Bandstand followed by a Love Seed Mama Jump concert at 7:30. Fireworks begin at dusk.

Enter your own float in the parade between 9 and 11:30 a.m. on July 4 near the Christian Church grounds. Collectors t-shirts of the 2018 parade will be available 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on the 4th at the Christian Church entrance.

Rehoboth Beach

Head on over to Bethany or Lewes on the Fourth for an Independence Day spectacular, and if you’re looking to celebrate a few days early, Rehoboth is the place to be.

On Sunday, July 1 there will be a fantastic fireworks display at 9:15 p.m., launched from the beach south of Rehoboth Avenue and visible up and down the boardwalk and beach. Depending on the weather, the fireworks may be launched any time after 8 p.m.

The Funsters will be performing in concert on the Rehoboth Bandstand from 8 – 9:15 p.m., breaking for the fireworks and returning at 11 p.m.

The City of Rehoboth recommends visitors use the Dart Park & Ride to get downtown. In-town parking options include the North Rehoboth Deauville Beach Lot – fee per car until the lot is filled, and the metered and non-metered fee permit parking spaces throughout town.

Lewes

Join the City of Lewes for their annual Old Fashioned Fourth of July celebration from 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.

The day begins with old-fashioned games for children at 9 a.m. on 2nd Street, during which time 2nd Street will be closed to traffic.

Following the games, the Lewes Independence Day Boat Parade will wind its way down the Lewes – Rehoboth canal from the Roosevelt Inlet to Fisherman’s Wharf.The parade entrants will leave from Roosevelt Inlet across from the Coast Guard Station at 1:30 pm and at approximately 2 pm they will pass in front of the judges’ reviewing stand and turn before reaching the Savannah Road Drawbridge. The awards ceremony will take place on the deck of the Lightship Overfalls at 3:30 pm.

The fun continues with the unique and quirky Doo-Dah Parade that forms in the vicinity of Lloyd’s Market on Savannah Road and winds its way down Kings Highway to Second Street and ends on Savannah Road, heading back towards Lloyds. No preregistration is required and everyone is invited to participate.

Finally, the day caps off with fireworks that will be shot from a barge off Lewes Beach at dusk. The best visibility is from Roosevelt Inlet to the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal.

Dewey Beach Summer Movies and Bonfires Start July 2!

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Movies on the Beach, Dewey Beach Delaware

Dewey Beach, DE (June 28, 2018): The Rehoboth Beach – Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce along with major sponsor Weis Markets provides your family with movies and bonfires on the beach in Dewey this summer.  

Dewey Beach Bonfires

Bring your family and a beach chair to Dewey Beach on Mondays in July and August for a family movie night. Movies will start at approximately 8:30 p.m. on the beach at Dagsworthy Ave. in Dewey Beach. Glow necklaces will be available for $1 or donation. See the following schedule for 2018 dates and movie listings:

  • July 2nd – Moana 
  • July 9th – Tomorrowland
  • July 16th – Despicable Me 3
  • July 23rd – Finding Nemo
  • July 30th – Beauty and the Beast (2017)
  • August 6th – Cars 3
  • August 13th – Coco
  • August 20th – The BFG

Want “S’MORE” fun? Bring your family and a beach chair to Dagsworthy Ave. in Dewey Beach on Wednesdays in July and August for a bonfire on the beach! $1 or donation gets roasters four marshmallows and you can borrow a stick for roasting. See the following schedule for 2018 bonfire dates in Dewey Beach:

  • July 3rd (held on Tuesday, no bonfire July 4th)
  • July 11th
  • July 18th
  • July 25th 
  • August 1st
  • August 8th 
  • August 15th
  • August 22nd 

FREE PARKING IN DEWEY BEACH – Monday-Wednesday, 5 – 11 p.m.

These events are WEATHER DEPENDENT.  In the event of inclement weather, cancellations will be determined no later than:

  • 7:00 p.m. on day of event – MOVIES
  • 6:00 p.m. on day of event – BONFIRES

Notice of cancellation will be posted to the Rehoboth Beach – Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page.  Staff will notify Dewey Beach accommodations of cancellations made prior to the start of an event. If weather is clear, events will take place as scheduled but may end early due to weather conditions.

For more information, call the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce at (302) 227 – 2233 or visit the Chamber website at www.beach-fun.com.

Photos courtesy of Carolyn Watson Photography.

16 Mile Bend N’ Brew Yoga

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When: Every week on Wednesday at 6 PM Where: The Brewery at 16 Mile Cost: $7 in advance or $10 walk-in. Tickets include class and your favorite 16 Mile 5oz brew! Instructor: Class will be taught by licensed and certified instructor Helen Timmons. Vibe: This is a fun, energizing and uplifting yoga class. After class, join us at the bar for a delicious brew or just hang out with new, or old, friends! Tickets: can be purchased from this event online or at 16 Mile Brewery on day of event.

DATE: Wednesday, Jun. 20 – Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018

TIME: Recurring weekly on Wednesday from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

LOCATION: 16 Mile Brewery 413 S. Bedford St. Georgetown, DE

PRICE:  $7 in advance or $10 walk-in

PHONE: (302) 253-8816