What's Going On at the Beach This Fall?

If the moderate weather isn’t enough to tempt you to the beaches this fall, put these classic coastal happenings on your calendar. There’s something going on nearly every weekend.

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

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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

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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
Festival Oct. 13–16; the Sea Witch Festival is an entire weekend of family fun.

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

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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
for the annual Christmas tree lighting Nov. 25. 

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
Nov. 5–6. 

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

 

For more events in southern Delaware, go to visitsoutherndelaware.com and visitdelaware.com.

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