From arts and culture to adventures and exhibitions, there’s so much to do throughout Delaware this month.
July 2: The Rocking the Docks music series continues at the Lewes Ferry Grounds with Bruce in the USA, followed by a pre-Fourth of July fireworks show. Bruce in the USA is a note-perfect and visually accurate re-creation of a Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band show. Matt Ryan began playing The Boss in the “Legends in Concert” show in 2000. In 2004, he started Bruce in the USA, delighting legions of Springsteen fans. Lewes
Through August 10: The Biggs Museum of American Art showcases “The Prints of Rockwell Kent: Selections from the Ralf C. Nemec Collection,” a landmark exhibition celebrating one of America’s most iconic printmakers. The collection offers an opportunity to experience the artistry and vision of Rockwell Kent (1882-1971)—a pioneering illustrator, author, and social activist known for his compelling portrayals of nature and humanity. Dover
July 8-9: The Rehoboth Art League Cottage Tour, celebrating its 75th anniversary, will be in its traditional two-day format from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. The tour will spotlight a selection of local homes that show off the best of the area’s art and design. The homes on this year’s tour offer a variety of landscapes and interior and architectural designs, ranging from historically significant to contemporary and sleek. Rehoboth Beach
July 11: Bestselling author, award-winning media creator, and podcast phenomenon Glennon Doyle takes to the stage of the Freeman Arts Pavilion to share powerful wisdom from her latest book, “We Can Do Hard Things: Answers to Life’s 20 Questions.” Known for her raw honesty and storytelling, Doyle aims to inspire audiences to embrace challenges and navigate life’s complexities with courage. Selbyville
July 11–20: “The Secret Garden,” a classic of children’s literature, is reimagined as a musical by Second Street Players at the Riverfront Theater. Orphaned in India, 11-year-old Mary Lennox returns to Yorkshire to live with her reclusive uncle, Archibald, and his disabled son, Colin. The estate’s many wonders include a magic garden, which beckons the children with haunting melodies, and the “Dreamers”—spirits from Mary’s past who guide her through her new life. Milford
July 12: Keeping the beat during the Bethany Beach Bandstand Seaside Concert Series, Lower Case Blues, the Rehoboth Beach-based trio, winners of this year’s “Delaware Today” Best of Delaware Downstate Musical Artist/Group category, entertains the summer masses. Since 2003, Lower Case Blues has given Delaware and the surrounding area a top-notch blend of blues and rock, working with musical greats such as Buddy Guy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jonny Lang, and Los Lonely Boys. Bethany Beach
July 12-August 24: “Escape to Margaritaville,” featuring all your favorite Jimmy Buffet classics, looks for that lost shaker of salt at the Candlelight Dinner Theatre. The Parrot Head-propelled production tells the story of Tully, a smooth-talking singer/bartender living on a small island in the Caribbean, whose laid-back, no-strings-attached lifestyle is turned upside down when he falls for Rachel, a career-minded environmental scientist. Wilmington
July 17-August 3: Delaware Shakespeare travels to Illyria in the group’s first musical production at Rockford Park, bringing a bilingual adaptation of “Twelfth Night, O Lo Que Quieras.” The poignant story, directed by Andrew Watring, follows twins Sebastian and Violeta, who are separated in a shipwreck. While the two strive to reunite, they find themselves entangled in a new and unfamiliar land, navigating immigration policy, discovering love, and longing for home. Wilmington
July 18–20: Race weekend comes to Dover Motor Speedway, highlighted by the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 on July 20. America’s best drivers will test their skills against the track known as the “World’s Fastest One-Mile Oval.” The event will be the 107th NASCAR Cup Series race at the high-banked, concrete track. The Monster Mile is one of only 10 tracks in the country to host 100 or more Cup races. Dover
Through July 27: Drawn from the collection of the Delaware Art Museum, “Inked Impressions: Etchings in the Age of Whistler” tells the story of the etching revival in France, Britain, and the United States. The second half of the 19th century saw a resurgence in the printmaking process of etching. This exhibition features the work of pioneering etchers, including James McNeill Whistler, as well as those who inspired him. Wilmington
