One of the most anticipated events in Lewes returns on Sunday, June 2nd when the Friends of the Lewes Canalfront Park present the second annual “Picnic in the Park.” This fun, old-fashioned community event for the entire family will take place from noon to 3 pm at Lewes Canalfront Park.  The Park is located on Front Street in downtown Lewes. on the banks of the Lewes Rehoboth Canal, one of the most breathtaking settings in the state.

Fourteen great Lewes restaurants will offer tastings at this festive affair, including Agave, The Buttery, Café Azrafan, Gilligan’s, Half Full, Irish Eyes, Jerry’s Seafood, Kindle, Lewes Bake Shop, The Rose and Crown, Striper Bites, Touch of Italy, 2 Dips Ice Cream and The Wharf. Non-alcoholic beverages will be plentiful. Wine served by R & L Liquors and beer supplied by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery will be available to those who are 21 years of age or older.

Kids are welcome and there will be numerous activities for them to enjoy. They’ll be entertained with old-fashioned carnival games with prizes, face painting, a balloon artist, cotton candy, and the Park’s playground.  Live music will also be performed for everyone to listen and dance to!

Adult admission for the picnic is $10 in advance ($15 at the door), $5 for kids 12 and under. Food and beverage tickets are $2 each at the event, with items being one or two tickets each. For admission tickets, which may be purchased using PayPal, and information go to www.lewescanalfrontpark.org . Tickets are also available at the Lewes Chamber of Commerce, 120 Kings Highway, Lewes,  302-645-8073.  Advance purchase is encouraged as last year’s event was sold out. Rain location will be at the American Legion off Savannah Road.

Only a few weeks before the Historic Lewes Farmers Market opens for the season. I am so excited they are opening a little earlier this year on May 11, 2013. Last year we had to wait until May 26th for fresh local produce.

One of my favorite events of the year is a benefit to support the Lewes Farmers Market called “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” on May 4th, one week before the Market opens for the season. The evening begins with cocktails at the Inn at Canal Square in downtown. Then, progressive dinner parties will be held at beautiful homes all over Lewes. This will be the third time Bill and I have attended this event and we always have a great time and wonderful food.

We will then get a preview of one of this year’s vendors – Black Hog Farmstead – who is hosting the Lewes Chamber of Commerce Mixer at the farm on May 8th, a few days before the Farmers Market opens.

This is the perfect time of year in Lewes and everywhere in Coastal Delaware.

The Lewes Chamber of Commerce members in the Historic Business District surrounding Second Street are hosting their FUN FRIDAY event — a Mexican-themed Fiesta that will take place May 3, all day.  The fun begins when the specialty shops in the historic district open featuring Mexican-themed merchandise specials and some with Mexican refreshments.  Restaurants in the historic district will be selling a wide variety of your favorite Mexican foods during the festival and the specialty shops and businesses will be featuring their own Mexican-themed specials that day.

Fun Friday Fiesta!

One of my favorite places is the Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes, Delaware. The walking trails, the 4 miles of beach on the Atlantic Ocean and 2 miles of calm bay beach, the fishing pier and campgrounds make this park the crown jewel of Delaware State Parks.

If you retire to Lewes, Delaware, and you love spending time outdoors, the Friends of Cape Henlopen  State Park just might be for you. The Friends work with the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation and the staff of Cape Henlopen State Park to keep the Park beautiful and fun. From Monthly Trail Days and the Borrow-a-Bike Program to fund raising events there is always something going on.

Some of the upcoming events this year an Osprey tagging cruise on the new Cape Water Taxi! Check the FRIENDS OF CAPE HENLOPEN web site for the full calendar of events.

Lewes Chamber of Commerce

What’s happening in and around Lewes, Delaware in March?

The place to find out is the March Calendar of Events from the Lewes Chamber of Commerce. Some of my favorites coming up are the:

• Jasper String Quartet at Coastal Concerts
• Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park fundraiser at Bethany Blues
• Chamber Membership Mixer at the Inn at Canal Square – by far the best turnout of any Chamber event
• Great Delaware Kite Festival at Cape Henlopen State Park

Just a few of the great events going on in Coastal Delaware “Off-Season at the Beach”

The MidAtlantic Wine + Food Festival benefits The MidAtlantic Food + Wine Feast Charitable Fund at the Delaware Community Foundation, a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports regional arts organizations.

Events in every county of Delaware!

Events are held in a wide range of venues, from private homes of distinction to elegant hotels, museums and performing arts venues, and intimate restaurants ranging from Brandywine Hundred to Kent County and Rehoboth Beach.

2013 Venues include:
• The Hotel du Pont, celebrating 100 years in 2013
• World Café Live at The Queen
• Oberod, a spectacular home in “chateau country”
• The historic Annie Jump Cannon house in Dover
• Vicmead Hunt Club, a private sporting club set among wooded hills
• The University & Whist Club, Delaware’s premier fine dining club
• “Mt Cuba” and magnificent private homes
• Nage restaurant in Rehoboth Beach
• The Festival Village tent on historic Rodney Square in Wilmington

For More Information

FEATURING THE SEVENTH ANNUAL PET PAGEANT & THIRD ANNUAL YAPPY HOUR IN LEWES, DELAWARE, Friday, February 8 and Sunday, February 9, 2013

The 7th Annual Lewes Winter Fest Barkfest event takes place in the Historic Commercial District surrounding Second Street and across the canal at Irish Eyes Pub & Restaurant the weekend before Valentine’s Day (Friday, February 8 and Saturday, February 9). The event gives Valentine’s Day shoppers and diners additional activities in which to participate and attend. It has become more “dog-centric” in the past couple of years. The popular event has included a unique Pet Pageant for the past six years (although last year’s was cancelled due to weather) on Saturday afternoon and two years ago another event was added on Friday evening – a Yappy Hour for Pets and People who like to “Yap.” COMCAST SPOTLIGHT continues as the event’s Media Sponsor and financial contributor for the seventh year.  During the two-day Winter Fest event, numerous retail businesses and restaurants will be offering Valentine holiday-themed specials including discounts on specific items.

Yappy Hour

The Yappy Hour component of this year’s Winter Fest Barkfest was conceived by Lesley Bowers, owner of P.U.P.S. (Pawsitively Unique Pet Shop) on Second Street who also initiated the Pet Pageant seven years ago. (more…)

Last year, I took photos OF the Parade. This year we were IN the parade and I took this video of the crowds lining the streets of Lewes, Delaware, on this unseasonably warm evening. Watch the video and you’ll be able to tell right off that we had a fun time. Life is good in Lewes, Delaware.

The Christmas Tour of Lewes is December 1 from 10:00am-4:00pm. Advance tickets are $20.00 each; tickets purchased the day of the tour are $25.00.  Children under 12 and under are FREE when accompanied by an adult. Call 302-645-7670 (ext. 12) to purchase tickets in advance, or click here.

This self-guided tour gives the Society a chance to show off its historic houses decorated for the season. In addition, several private homes are selected each year to bring even more Yuletide cheer to our quaint town on the bay.

During the tour, come by the Christmas Antiques Bazaar and Bake Sale, held at the Rabbit’s Ferry House at Third and Shipcarpenter Streets on the Lewes Historic Complex.  It’s a wonderful chance to do a bit of shopping for the holidays! Outside of the house is a Holiday Greens Sale featuring fresh magnolia, pine and holly- while supplies last!

Read the Full Story here: Christmas House Tour

Cape Henlopen High School will be one of the main venues for this year’s Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival. In fact, opening night on October 11th, featuring Boney James takes place at the school’s auditorium. Then, on Friday, October 12th, Brian Colbertson with Eric Darius (seen to the right at a previous Jazz Festival) will light up the stage. Saturday afternoon Jonathan Butler will be joined by Maysa and Warren Hill.

For a complete schedule CLICK HERE

One thing I can say is that the seats at Cape are much more comfortable than the folding chairs at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center and it’s great to spread the Jazz from Rehoboth to Lewes. The new Cape Henlopen High School was completed in 2009 and provides a great local venue, with lots of parking and ease of access. What a shame that this is the first Jazz Festival I will miss in many years. Business calls me to Chicago.