Delaware

Delaware New Year’s Eve parties: Many fun ways to ring in 2025

Published

1 year ago

December 4, 2024

Press Room

Delaware New Year’s Eve parties: Many fun ways to ring in 2025

It’s not too early to start planning how you want to celebrate the last day of 2024 in Delaware.

Here are a variety of different ways you can ring in the New Year in the First State.

New Years Furry Ball, Newark

A unique subculture exists of people who enjoy wearing furry costumes, and they’re affectionately known as “furries.” The New Years Furry Ball is an annual experience that’s been dedicated to this costumed crowd since 2005. This two-day event will be held in a hotel and features a dealers den, dancing and more. The game room opens on New Year’s Eve

Early sign-ups are available until Saturday, Dec. 14. Standard admission to this year’s ball includes a buffet dinner. The ball starts Monday, Dec. 30 until Wednesday, Jan. 1.

Embassy Suites By Hilton Newark Wilmington South (654 S. College Ave., Newark) at 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30; and from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31. Standard admission starts at $50 (early registration) or $55 at the door. Minor registration for ages 13-17 is $45 (early registration) or $50 door. Free for ages 12 or younger (must be accompanied by parents/guardian). Visit newyearsfurryball.com.

Noon Year’s Eve, Wilmington

Brandywine Zoo’s Noon Year’s Eve has a reputation of being cooler than most celebrations. Due to popular demand, there will be two time slots available for this event: 10 a.m. to noon or noon to 2 p.m. The first ball drop is at 11 a.m. (guests can arrive at 10 a.m.) and the second is at 1 p.m. (guests can arrive at noon).

Please make sure your kids dress appropriately, because this cool event is held outdoors. Instead of champagne, sparkling apple cider will be served. Since this event might sell out, online registration is highly recommended.

Brandywine Zoo (1001 N. Park Drive, Wilmington) from 10 a.m. to noon or noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31. Tickets are $5 for non-members; free for members and children aged 2 or younger. Visit brandywinezoo.org or (302) 571-7747.

STOMPing into the New Year, Greenville

Kids will ring in the New Year with live birds. Seriously, the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science likes to keep its celebrations interesting. This party is for all ages and features a live bird presentation from Animal Behavior & Conservation Connections, plus a special science-themed ball drop that will leave your little ones “STOMPing into the New Year.”

Delaware Museum of Nature and Science (4840 Kennett Pike, Greenville) from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Dec. 31. Admission is $3 to $17. Visit delmns.org or call (302) 658-9111.

Great Gatsby New Year’s Eve party, Wilmington

Adult fans of “The Great Gatsby,” people who are 21 or older, will step into the New Year while dressed in their favorite threads from the Roaring Twenties, for a special party that’s also a fundraiser for Safe Haven Healing (SHH).

The party will include dance music, cigar roller, fireworks at 9 p.m. (weather permitting), surprise live entertainment, Whiskey treasure hunt (seek clues and find treasure), hors d’oeuvres and light snack stations, unlimited complimentary Gatsby-themed drinks, dessert station, ball drop Prosecco toast, open bar from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., and a prohibition pull to benefit Safe Haven Healing.

All net proceeds from this party will benefit Safe Haven Healing, an organization that’s a hub for survivors of trauma tied to sexual assault, rape, and domestic violence, according to SHH’s website.

Riverfront Events (760 Justison St., Wilmington) from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31. Early bird tickets (until midnight on Black Friday) are $149 per person. General tickets are $199 per person. Visit facebook.com/WilmingtonWhiskeyClub.

Rusty Rudder New Year’s Eve party, Dewey Beach

Life’s a beach and folks are going to ride this wave one final time this year in a NYE bash with musical acts on two stages. The lineup features Love Seed Mama Jump, Gab Cinque Band, Stealing Savanah, Triple Rail Turn, Hector, and Hugh.

There will be an open bar/cocktail hors d’oeuvres, plus fireworks.

Rusty Rudder (113 Dickinson Ave., Dewey Beach) from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31. Tickets are $115. Visit rustyrudder.com or call (302) 227-3888.

Bellefonte Cafe: New Years Eve Masquerade Ball, Wilmington

You can mask your identity and step into the New Year in style at Bellefonte Cafe’s inaugural Masquerade Ball. Enjoy the complimentary spread of hors d’oeuvres, drink specials and groove the night away on the dance floor. Guests will have a champagne toast at midnight to ring in the New Year. The upstairs dining room will be available for dining with reservations available at 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Bellefonte Cafe (804 Brandywine Blvd., Wilmington) from 8 p.m. to midnight on Tuesday, Dec. 31. Tickets are $100. Visit facebook.com/thebellefontecafe or call (302) 761-9175.

Jeff’s Tap Room, Bridgeville

The band Sticky Situation will play the final show of the year At Jeff’s Tap Room. The event also includes free party favors, free champagne toast, and free breakfast.

Jeff’s Tap Room (416 Market St., Bridgeville) at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31. Visit jeffstaproomandgrill.com or call (302) 337-8602.

Bally’s Dover Casino Resort: New Year’s Party

The 21-and-over crowd will dance the night away with party band To The Max. This NYE celebration will heat up in the Fire & Ice Lounge. Tickets include party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. The dress code is upscale fashionable.

Bally’s Dover Casino Resort (1131 N. Dupont Highway, Dover) from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31. Tickets are $25-$35. Visit casinos.ballys.com/dover or call (800) 711-5882.

Gus’s Crab Shack, Port Penn

The band LeadFoot will mash the pedal toward a fun time as guests buckle up for 2025.

Gus’s Crab Shack (29 W. Market St., Port Penn) from 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31. Cover charge is $5. Visit gusgotcrabs.com, facebook.com/GusCrabs or to RSVP call (302) 598-2685.

Roll into 2025 at Mid County Lanes, Middletown

There are three major ways that bowling fans can celebrate the New Year at Mid County Lanes.

NYE Kickoff is $169.99 (per lane is up to six guests) and includes three hours of unlimited cosmic bowling (noon to 3 p.m.), bowling shoes, one large pizza and a pitcher of soda, and unlimited attractions: laser tag, Frog Hopper and bumper cars.

Family Fun Party is $199.99 (per lane up to six people) and includes three hours of unlimited cosmic bowling (4-7 p.m.), bowling shoes, pizza, salad, wings and fries buffet, and an arcade card.

Final Countdown Party is $299.99 (per lane – up to six people) and features four hours of unlimited cosmic bowling (9 p.m. to 1 a.m.), bowling shoes, full dinner and dessert buffet, unlimited fountain drinks, an arcade card, unlimited attractions: laser tag, frog hopper and bumper cars, New Year’s party favors, champagne toast, giveaways and countdown to midnight.

Mid County Lanes (875 N. Broad St., Middletown) on Tuesday, Dec. 31. NYE Kickoff is from noon to 3 p.m. and tickets are $169.99. Family Fun Party is from 4 to 7 p.m. and tickets are $199.99. Final Countdown Party is from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. and tickets are $299.99. Visit midcountylanes.com or call (302) 378-0677.

Newark Senior Center: NYE Celebration

Come dressed to impress at this BYOB celebration that features entertainment by DJ “Bradly” Brad. There will be a toast to the New Year and the catered main course includes mushroom burgundy London broil and tri-colored Tortellini Alfredo. There will be a photo booth for guests, 50/50 and raffles. Visitors are encouraged to bring an appetizer or dessert to share.

Newark Senior Center (200 White Chapel Drive, Newark) from 6to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31. Tickets are $35. Visit newarkseniorcenter.com. For more info, email Maura at maura@newarkseniorcenter.com or call Maura at (302) 737-2336 ext. 101.

The Wheelhouse: NYE Party, Lewes

There’s a $30 all-you-can-eat buffet with your name on it at The Wheelhouse’s NYE party.

Live music will be performed by The Jimmies upstairs, and there will be no cover charge for that show. Folks will also enjoy a midnight champagne toast. Appetizers: salad, shrimp cocktail, charcuterie board and sticky meatballs. Accompaniments: mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and veggies. Main course: Mediterranean veggie pasta, chicken Marsala. Carving station: smoked salmon platter, steamship round and Porchetta. Homemade soup: seafood bisque. Endless desserts: assorted dessert bar and chocolate fountain.

The Wheelhouse (7 Anglers Road, Lewes) from 6 to 9 p.m. (in downstairs bar room) and 8 p.m. to midnight (in Harbor View Room) on Tuesday, Dec. 31. Visit facebook.com/wheelhousede or call (302) 291-2163.

White Panda New Year’s Eve bash, Dewey Beach

A forecast of heavy EDM vibes is set to rain down buckets of joy over Dewey Beach, thanks to the mashup master White Panda. This event, which is for ages 21 or older, is likely to sell out, so you might want to get tickets early.

White Panda is a mysteriously masked DJ who played Firefly Music Festival multiple times, and he’s known for delivering wild remixes. Knappy will open the show.

Bottle & Cork (1807 Highway One, Dewey Beach) from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31. Tickets are $42. Visit bottleandcork.com or (302) 227-7272.

Flying Ivories: New Year’s Eve extravaganza, Milton

Back to close out Milton Theater for another straight year, The Flying Ivories will deliver three hours of New Years excitement. Flying Ivories features two dueling pianists that dish up an all-request, rock ‘n’ roll sing-along. The Flying Ivories’ songbook covers everything from Metallica to Arethra Franklin.

Milton Theatre (110 Union St., Milton) from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31. Tickets are $31.50 to $40. Visit miltontheatre.com or (302) 684-3038.

Docklands Riverfront New Year’s Eve party, Wilmington

It’s a one-stop shop to ring in 2025 at Docklands Riverfront. This event is for ages 21 or older. Ticket options include general admission, preferred dining room seating and VIP preferred lounge seating.

General Admission highlights include open bar, dinner buffet, valet, photo booth, Champagne toast, party favors, coat check and full access to both live bands. But GA doesn’t include guaranteed seating.

Preferred Dining Room includes all of the amenities of the GA package, while adding the opportunity to reserve your own space.

VIP Preferred Lounge Seating reserves you a space in a lounge under the tent. Lounges will have access to a private bar and buffet, plus seating for the duration of the night.

Docklands Riverfront (110 S. West St., Wilmington) from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31. Tickets are $125 to $175 (plus fee). Visit facebook.com/DocklandsRiverfront or docklandsriverfront.com or (302) 658-6626.

Irish Eyes NYE bash, Lewes

Ring in the New Year downstate with DJ Surf and shake off your stress from 2024, before starting anew.

Irish Eyes Pub & Restaurant (213 Anglers Road, Lewes) from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31. No cover charge. Visit irisheyespub.com or (302) 645-6888).

Tonic Seafood & Steak: New Year’s Eve, Wilmington

You can move to the sounds of Bruce Anthony and Lyric Drive while enjoying a la carte dining. There will be a midnight champagne toast.

Tonic Seafood & Steak (111 W. 11th St., Wilmington) from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31. No cover charge. Visit tonicsns.com, facebook.com/tonicsns or call (302) 777-2040.

If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.

Source link

Click to comment

Delaware

Delaware history in News Journal March 1-7: Fire rescue, power rate jump

Published

4 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Delaware history in News Journal March 1-7: Fire rescue, power rate jump

Delaware history from The News Journal archives March 1-7 includes woman, baby and dog rescued from burning a home in 1926.
Prisoners sue state over conditions at Sussex Correctional Institution in 1976.
Jump in electric rates in 2006 sparks talks of reregulating the industry.

“Pages of history” features excerpts from The News Journal archives including The Morning News and The Evening Journal. See the archives at delawareonline.com.

March 1, 2006, The News Journal

Under plan, 59% electric rate hike to be phased in

Delmarva Power has proposed phasing in electricity rate increases to reduce the shock of a 59% price hike for residents scheduled to begin May 1.

If the proposal is approved by the state, the typical residential bill would go up slightly less than $18 a month on May 1. Then on Jan. 1, the typical bill would go up again by the same amount. On May 1, 2007, a last increase of $34 would be added, assuming no other change in the market price for electricity. …

Delmarva Power officials unveiled the proposal Tuesday as part of a response to an executive order issued last month by Gov. Ruth Ann Minner. She asked state agencies to study possible responses to the rate hike, including the option of reregulating the industry.

In 1999, state lawmakers removed controls on the price of wholesale electricity, reshaping the power market in the state. As part of the change, electricity rates were lowered by 7.5% until 2003.

Delmarva Power says the coming 59% increase is mainly caused by price hikes in the cost of the fuels that generate electricity, such as natural gas and coal.

Under deregulation, Delmarva must buy about one-third of its total power needs on the wholesale market every year. If the wholesale market is lower next year, customers could save some money. If the wholesale market is up, then rates could go even higher than they are currently expected to go….

Deregulation was expected to reduce electricity prices by bringing competition to the electric market, but only the largest power customers in the state are able to shop for power. Residents do not have a choice about who supplies their electricity.

Some lawmakers are calling for the state to reregulate the industry….

Reregulating part or all of the electricity market is unlikely to have any impact on the 59% rises in bills, experts say, but could prevent dramatic price spikes in the future….

March 3, 1976, The Morning News page

Sussex prison dilemma prompts judicial warning

If the General Assembly doesn’t do something soon about the crumbling Sussex Correctional Institution, he will, a federal judge strongly hinted yesterday.

Judge Murray M. Schwartz said he frankly hopes lawmakers will come up with the extra $1.6 million needed for a thorough overhaul of the Georgetown prison this month.

If they do, he said, it probably will “wash out” the inmates’ suit to close the prison. Schwartz is hearing the suit now, but isn’t expected to make a ruling for several months.

Should he find that the “legislature has abdicated its responsibilities [to the prison],” Schwartz warned, “then that has opened up a hole the federal court will have to fill.”

The state earmarked $2 million from a bond issue for Sussex prison renovation, but the base construction bid opened in January was $2.8 million. With alternate improvements officials want, the cost would rise to $3.4 million.

Acting Correction Commissioner Paul Keve, a defendant in the inmates’ suit, said it “looks very hopeful” that $1.6 million originally appropriated for another prison project will be reallocated to the Sussex work….

Several times yesterday, Schwartz expressed puzzlement over the state’s defense to the suit which seemed to be, “Yes, Sussex is bad, but we’re going to improve it,” the judge remarked.

The improvements are part of the defense, replied Deputy Atty. Gen. John Willard. But he said he would also contend the prison’s deficiencies aren’t an unconstitutional denial of due process or cruel and unusual punishment, as the inmates claim.

The prison’s 45-year-old main building “defeats efforts to improve it in a superficial way,” Keve said, and demands instead a “drastic, complete, comprehensive” renovation.

He said a new kitchen is most urgently needed, but the plans also call for complete replacement of the plumbing, electrical and heating systems, construction of a gymnasium, medical-dental suite and space for classrooms and group discussions.

Prisoners have complained of a lack of rehabilitation programs….

March 6, 1926, The Evening Journal

Woman, baby, dog rescued from burning home

Mary Anderson … and a year-old baby were carried from the burning house at 4 W. 12th St. in Wilmington this morning. …

The fire, which originated in the chimney of the house, caused a spectacular blaze that destroyed the roof and damaged the interior of the dwelling, and drew a large crowd.

Trolley traffic on Market Street was tied up for 20 minutes or more. Long lines of cars from the Boulevard, Washington, Shellpot and Darby lines blocked both tracks for two squares or more, owing to the lines of fire hose that were stretched across Market Street.

The fire was first discovered by Mrs. Anderson who was in the house with the year-old baby of Margaret Thomas who was at work. Smelling smoke, Mrs. Anderson went to the second floor and seeing a flame around the stove pipe hole in the chimney, threw water on it. Thinking she had extinguished the fire, she started downstairs.

In the meantime, the blaze broke out around the edge of the roof and the smoke was seen by John Wright and Stanley Pletuszka, who were in the office of the Pittsburg Independent Oil Company at 12th and Market streets.

Wright ran to the fire alarm box at 13th and King streets and turned in an alarm to which Engine Companies 1,7 and 10 and Truck Company 1 responded.

Pletuszka ran to the house where he was joined by Lloyd Smith of West 13th Street. Finding the door fastened and knowing that Mrs. Anderson and the baby were in the house, they broke down the door.

They met Mrs. Anderson coming downstairs and when an attempt was made to get her to leave, she refused, insisting that the fire was out. The rescuers had to carry the woman from the burning building, then returning they found the baby in the lower part of the house and carried it to the home of a neighbor where the baby and the woman were cared for.

Herbert Johnson, son of Mrs. Anderson of Orange Street, hearing that his mother’s home was on fire, hurried there and with other men saved practically all of the furniture in the house. A small dog, owned by Mrs. Anderson, was rescued by Johnson, but a larger dog defied the efforts of other men to take it from the house. …

The firemen prevented the spread of the fire by deluging the building with water, the chemical streams first used being found insufficient to check the fire. …

The loss is estimated at $800.

Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.

Source link

Delaware

Elon Musk-Led Overhaul of Delaware Business Law Upheld by State Court

Published

16 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Elon Musk-Led Overhaul of Delaware Business Law Upheld by State Court

The Delaware Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of an Elon Musk-inspired overhaul of state law that governs most major US corporations, handing a win to company founders, insiders and private equity owners who sought less restrictive business rules.

Source link