Think Labor Day marks the end of beach fun for the year? I beg you to reconsider! As a year-round Rehoboth weekender, I truly believe that fall is the best time to visit the Delaware beaches. Below are some of my favorite excuses to return to the coast before the holiday season sets in.
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Photo by Matthew Klein |
1. The Dewey Beach End of Season Party
On Saturday, Sept. 22, the Dewey Business Partnership will host its annual End of Season Party from 5:30–9 p.m. What began as a handful of locals hanging out on the beach to bid farewell to the summer season (and all the renters) has evolved into a massive party for everyone to enjoy.
Held on the Dagsworthy Street beach, this laidback, family-friendly event will feature activities for kids, a bonfire and live music from Joe Bachman & The Party band. There will also be food for purchase from some great Dewey restaurants, as well as beer, wine and orange crushes.
VIP tables have already sold out, but fear not: You can bring your own beach chair or blanket. (Last year, someone even brought a coffee table.)
A $5 donation is required to attend.
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Sourdough waffles, buttermilk fried chicken, a sunny-side-up egg and Calabrian-chile maple syrup.//Photo provided by owner/chef Brenton Wallace |
2. The return of Crust & Craft’s Sunday Brunch Club
On Sunday, Sept. 23, Crust & Craft will celebrate the off-season with the return of its once-a-month Brunch Club.
The mouthwatering menu, crafted by talented owner/chef Brenton Wallace, features a variety of brunch dishes made from seasonal, farm-fresh ingredients.
Spend the afternoon grooving to music spun by DJ Zip while drinking beers from beloved Delmarva breweries (RaR, Burley Oak, Mispillion, Revelation and Dewey Beer Co.) or a keg-conditioned cocktail made with Dogfish Head’s Analog Vodka.
The Brunch Club takes place on the second-to-last Sunday of the month, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reservations are not available.
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Photo by Aimee Gibison |
3. Brews by the Bay​
Delaware Brewers Guild presents Brews by the Bay on Saturday, Sept. 29, from noon–4 pm. The beer festival will be held at the Delaware Seashore Campground, so attendees have the option to extend the fun by staying overnight.
Boasts the event page: “There is only one festival featuring ALL of Delaware’s breweries and over 50 unique beers, and this is it!” There will also be food trucks, cornhole and live music provided by Brixton Saint.
Tickets are $40 and include all-you-can-drink beer samples from a commemorative cup. (Or, if you’re a designated driver, tickets are just $10 and include unlimited refills of root beer.)
4. Sunday football at Nicola Pizza
Nicola Pizza’s Upper Deck Sports Bar, located on the second floor of the restaurant’s Rehoboth Ave. location, is the perfect place to watch Sunday football. Sports fans flock to Nicola’s each fall to enjoy live games on 25 TVs while savoring great food and drink specials. (Eagles gear isn’t required, but it is encouraged.)
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Dewey Goes Pink’s starting line.//Photo by Matthew Klein |
5. Dewey Goes Pink Walk/5K
Kick off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month at the 8th Annual Dewey Goes Pink Walk/5K on Saturday, Oct. 6. Be part of the sea of pink that fills The Starboard in support of the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition.
Both the 5K run and 1.5-mile walk will begin in front of The Starboard at 11 a.m. Post-race festivities include a pig roast courtesy of Bethany Blues BBQ, live entertainment and pink grapefruit crushes. (If you want to attend the event without participating in the run/walk, you can purchase a guest pass.)
Dewey Goes Pink was started seven years ago by Steve ‘Monty’ Montgomery, co-owner of The Starboard and other local restaurants, and Adam Howard, owner of BodyShop Rehoboth. The event has since raised almost $400,000.
6. Off-season menu specials
Many restaurants throughout the Delaware beaches begin offering off-season specials after Labor Day. This is an especially perfect time to explore the Culinary Coast. And if you need help navigating the seemingly endless dining options, Bob Yesbek—the beach-dining guru behind RehobothFoodie.com—has a “Cheap Eats” resource page that must not be missed. Bookmark it before your next beach trip!
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Maria DeForrest Photography, courtesy of Meals on Wheels Delaware |
7. The Celebrity Chefs’ Beach Brunch
Meals on Wheels Delaware will be hosting the 16th Annual Celebrity Chefs’ Beach Brunch on Sunday, Oct. 7, from 11 a.m.–2 p.m., at The Rusty Rudder. Spend a Sunday afternoon sampling decadent brunch items prepared by top beach-area chefs while sipping on craft beer and cocktails.
Music at the waterfront event this year will be provided by acoustic duo Bettenroo, as well as DJ Nan. There will also be live and silent auctions, with proceeds benefiting Meals on Wheels.
