June 13-20
DuPont Clifford Brown Jazz Festival
Where: Rodney Square, Wilmington.
Lineup: Jackie Browne Jazz Band, the Blind Date Band, Edgardo Cintron & The Cintron Band, John “Sax” Williams, Tito Puente Jr., Jeff Lorber, Eric Marienthal, Pieces of a Dream, Chuck Loeb and more to be announced. In memory of the late trumpeter and native Wilmingtonian, an all-star tribute band will also perform.
Where to stay: The official hotels are the Sheraton Suites on Delaware Avenue and DoubleTree by Hilton on King Street.
Parking: The Wilmington Parking Authority has garages at 13th and Market streets and on Delaware Avenue at Madison Street. The maximum daily rate is $10.
Cost: Free.
www.cliffordbrownjazzfest.org
June 13
June Jam
Where: The campground on Gun and Rod Club Road in scenic Houston. Now in its 37th year, the festival is an ode to blues, Southern and classic rock, plus local flavor in the form of bands and vendors.
Lineup: Michael Allman Band, Ashley Mitchell Band, Bad JuJu Blues, Junior Jammers and more.
Drive time from Wilmington: 1 hour, 15 minutes.
Where to stay: Camp out on the festival grounds in your favorite tent or RV. Or spend the weekend at nearby Harrington Casino’s Baymont Inn Play & Stay.
Parking: Free onsite.
Cost: $28, with an additional $75 camping fee.
www.junejam.com
June 18-21
Firefly Music Festival
Where: “The Woodlands,” aka the land surrounding Dover International Speedway in Dover. Join 80,000 of your closest friends for a high-caliber four-day rock fest.
Lineup: Headliners include Paul McCartney, Kings of Leon, the Killers, while huge names like Morrissey, Snoop Dogg, Modest Mouse, Spoon and many others fill out the enormous lineup.
Drive time from Wilmington: 60 minutes.
Where to stay: Hotels fill up fast, but consider bunking at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino or one of the many national chains in town, like Holiday Inn, Hilton Garden Inn or Fairfield Inn & Suites. Or camp out in your tent or RV on the festival grounds.
Parking: Free on-site parking for campers and commuters alike, with a festival pass.
Cost: $299 for general admission, $149 for a general camping pass.
www.fireflyfestival.com
June 26-28
Big Barrel Country Music Festival
Where: The Woodlands of Dover International Speedway, Dover.
Lineup: Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Jake Owen, Chris Young, Gary Allan, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Kacey Musgraves, Eric Paslay, Cassadee Pope, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Del McCoury Band, Billy Joe Shaver and at least 20 more acts.
Drive time from Wilmington: 60 minutes.
Where to stay: Best Western Galaxy Inn, Comfort Inn & Suites, Comfort Suites, Days Inn, Fairfield Inn & Suites, First State Inn, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Home2 Suites by Hilton, MainStay Suites, Red Roof Inn, Relax Inn, Residence Inn, and Sleep Inn & Suites.
Parking: Free for one day, $30 overnight.
Cost: $99 for a three-day, general admission pass; $499 for Front Porch reserved seating or the Front Porch standing pit (prices don’t include applicable fees).
www.bigbarrel.com
July 31-Aug. 2
Riverfront Blues Festival
Where: Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park, Wilmington.
Lineup: Brandon Santini, Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, Walter Trout, The Peterson Brothers Band, Wayne Sharp & The Sharpshooter Band, Albert Castiglia, Kenny Neal Family Band, Mississippi Heat, Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues, Biscuit Miller & The Mix, the Golden State-Lone Star Revue, The Lowrider Band, more to be announced.
Where to stay: The Westin Wilmington.
Parking: The easiest is the Wilmington Parking Authority Train Station Garage on Martin Luther King Boulevard, between King and French streets. It’s a two-minute walk across MLK Boulevard to the park.
Cost: $25-$35 (single-day), $75 (three-day).
www.riverfrontbluesfestde.com
Aug. 14-16
Delaware Junction Country Music Festival
Where: Delaware State Fairgrounds, Harrington.
Lineup: Toby Keith, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Lee Brice, Cole Swindell, Thomas Rhett, Frankie Ballard, Tyler Farr, Colt Ford, the Cadillac Three, The Swon Brothers, Clare Dunn, Kristian Bush.
Drive time from Wilmington: 1 hour, 10 minutes.
Where to stay: Baymont Inn & Suites, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Super 8.
Parking: $20. First come, first served.
Cost: $199 for a three-day, general admission pass; $349 for the Rail Lounge VIP Experience; $799 for the Diamond VIP Experience (prices don’t include
applicable fees). No single-day passes are available.
www.delawarejunctionfestival.com
Sept. 25-26
Delmarva Folk Festival
Where: Farmlands near Hartly.
Lineup: Austin-based jam band Acoustic Stackabones and local duo Covered Bridge, with more to be announced.
Drive time from Wilmington: 60 minutes.
Where to stay: This fest’s all about family-friendly camping (and copious good vibes) among nature, but hotels abound 10 miles away in Dover.
Parking: Free on property.
Cost: $20.
www.delfolk.org
Oct. 15-18
Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival
Where: Various locations around Rehoboth.
Lineup: Jazz all-stars and up-and-comers: Gerald Albright, Marc Antoine, Rick Braun, Norman Brown, Peabo Bryson, Alex Bugnon, BWB, Steve Cole, Nick Colionne, Nathan East, Fourplay, Euge Groove, Curtis Harmon, Boney James, Al Jarreau, Stanley Jordan, Jeff Kashiwa, Bettye LaVette, Chuck Loeb, James Lloyd, Pieces Of A Dream, Eric Roberson, Art Sherrod, Jr., Brian Simpson, Kirk Whalum, Kim Waters
and more to be announced.
Drive time from Wilmington: 1 hour, 30 minutes.
Where to stay: The Atlantic Sands and Boardwalk Plaza offer oceanfront views. Hotel Rehoboth puts you on Rehoboth Avenue.
Parking: The Convention Center and Cape Henlopen High School have parking lots. Download the Parkmobile app to make it easy on yourself.
Cost: Varies per venue.
www.rehobothjazz.com
