September
Sept. 5: 31st annual Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral. A silent auction to benefit Sussex County Habitat for Humanity is 3:15–4:45p.m. Sept. 2 at Bethany Blues. Procession gathers at 5 p.m. at the north end of the Bethany Beach Boardwalk. The “Solemn Procession,” which bids farewell to summer, starts at 5:30 p.m. | 537-1585, jazz-funeral.com
Sept. 10–11: 39th annual Nanticoke Indian Powwow. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. This beloved festival features American Indian drummers and singers, 40-plus visiting tribes from across Indian country and authentic Indian arts-and-crafts vendors. | Nanticoke Indian Center, 27073 John J. Williams Hwy, Millsboro, 945-3400, nanticokeindians.org
Sept. 10: 38th annual Sandcastle Contest. Registration at 8:30 a.m.; judging at 3 p.m. Fisherman’s Beach at the north end of the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk, near the Henlopen Hotel in Rehoboth Beach. | 227-2233, beach-fun.com
Sept 10: 38th annual Bethany Boardwalk Arts Festival. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. More than 100 artists will sell their wares, including jewelry, glass, pottery, paintings, photography and woodworking. | 539-2100, bethanybeachartsfestival.com
Sept. 17: Arts & Jazz Festival. Beginning at 10 a.m., artists will sell their works and jazz artists will take the stage. Bring your own chair. | The Freeman Stage at Bayside, 31750 Lake View Drive, Selbyville, freemanstage.org/event/arts-jazz-festival
Sept. 18: Fourth annual Lewes Dragon Boat Festival. Beginning at 10 a.m., races and activities benefit the Sussex Academy Foundation. | Canalfront Park, Lewes, lewesdragonboat.com
Sept. 22–25: Dewey Beach Music Conference. This annual music industry event includes three nights of showcases, two days of mentoring and demonstrations, a trade show and meet-and-greets. | 448-5650, deweybeachfest.com/dbmc​
Sept. 30–Oct. 1: Dewey Beach Elvis Festival. Elvis didn’t leave the building. He’s alive and well, thanks to all the Elvis impersonators and fans who descend on the Rusty Rudder in Dewey Beach each year. | deweybeachlife.com
Sept. 30–Oct. 2: Golden Retrievers Weekend. There are beach activities for the pooches and their owners in Dewey Beach. | deweygoldenjubilee.wordpress.com
Sept. 30–Oct. 2: Lewes Merchants’ Fall Sidewalk Sale. | leweschamber.com
October
From left to right: Ramsey Lewis will headline the Rehoboth Beach Jazz |
Oct. 6–9: Greyhounds Reach the Beach. It’s the greyhounds’ turn for this annual gathering of Fidos and fans in Dewey Beach. | grtb.org
Oct. 7–9: 40th annual Fall Sidewalk Sale. 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Bargain-hunters can find bounty in downtown Rehoboth Beach’s eagerly anticipated event. | beach-fun.com
Oct. 8–9: Beebe Family Fun Festival. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Beebe Healthcare celebrates its 100th birthday at this event behind Shields Elementary School. Enjoy music, games and food trucks. Shields Avenue, Lewes. | beebehce.org
Oct. 13–16: Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival. This year’s event stars Patti Austin, Ramsey Lewis, and other well-known jazz artists and up-and-coming acts. | rehobothjazz.com
Oct. 28–30: 27th annual Sea Witch Halloween & Fiddlers Festival. Children’s activities, music, a costumed dog parade and, of course, the big Saturday parade are a tradition in downtown Rehoboth and the surrounding area. | seawitchfestival.com
November
Nov. 4–6: World Championship Punkin Chunkin. This event is back in all its gourd-ious splendor. | 18598 Road 591, Bridgeville, punkinchunkin.com
The Rehoboth Beach bandstand will be the setting |
Nov. 5–6: Rehoboth Art League 27th annual Holiday Fair Fine Craft Show. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | 12 Dodds Lane, Henlopen Acres, 227-8408, rehobothartleague.org
Nov. 4–12: Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival. This annual blockbuster features more than 100 foreign and independent films. | 645-9095, rehobothfilm.com
Nov. 25: Rehoboth Holiday Tree Lighting and Sing-A-Long. Starts at 6:30 p.m. with the sing-a-long at the Rehoboth Beach bandstand, followed by the tree lighting. | downtownrb.com
Nov. 26: Dewey Beach Tree Lighting Ceremony. 6–8 p.m. | deweybusinesspartnership.com
Rehoboth Art League will hold a fine craft show |
December
Dec. 3: 43rd annual Christmas Tour of Lewes. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Self-guided tour of public and private homes. | historiclewes.org
Dec. 3: Third annual Lewes in Bloom Christmas Market. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. | St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Second and Market streets, lewesinbloom.org
Dec. 3: St. Peter’s annual Soup Luncheon. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | St. Peter’s Parish Hall, 211 Mulberry St., Lewes, 645-8479, stpeterslewes.org
Dec. 3: Lewes’ 85th annual Christmas Parade. 5–6 p.m. (Rain-snow date is Dec. 10.) | leweschamber.com
Dec. 3: Rehoboth Art League Seventh annual Holiday Open House. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | Corkran, Ventures and Tubbs galleries,12 Dodds Lane, Henlopen Acres, 227-8408, rehobothartleague.org