Delaware

Festival frenzy: 17 Delaware events this spring & summer 2025

Published

12 months ago

May 16, 2025

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Festival frenzy: 17 Delaware events this spring & summer 2025

Festival season is just getting started in Delaware, and will soon be in full swing.

This whirlwind of events will hit every part of the state, and aims to hit every interest.

Here’s a preview of notable fests that will awake from hibernation this spring and summer.

Wilmington Street Food Festival 2025, Wilmington

A snack attack will be served up at the Wilmington Street Food Festival. Guests will experience over two dozen of the area’s top food trucks and restaurants. Menu items will cost $5 or less so guests can sample from plenty of vendors, per the festival’s Eventbrite page. The event also will feature live entertainment, axe throwing, kids’ fun zone and much more.

Tubman Garret Riverfront Park (Rosa Parks Drive, Wilmington) from 2 to 8 p.m. May 17. General admission starts at $7.99 (plus $2.89 fee). Visit facebook.com/WilmingtonStreetFoodFestival or call (888) 827-8340.

A Day In Old New Castle, New Castle

The community will ring in the 100th anniversary of the event “A Day In Old New Castle,” which will include a new feature: a 1920s Swinging Soiree. That means folks will party in Great Gatsby fashion at Zollie’s Shaw Alley from 7 to 10 p.m. Revelers will enjoy cuisine and dance to jazz, plus drink beverages from the 1920s. Tickets are $65. Proceeds will benefit A Day In Old New Castle, New Castle Community Partnership and many nonprofit partners, according to the event’s website.

There will be free events and activities that include children’s activities, crafts, Steam Cars from the Marshall Steam Car Museum, antique cars (1900-1940) from the Brandywine Antique Car Club, and more.

Additionally, A Day In Old New Castle will offer ticketed activities like a dock tour on the Kalmar Nyckel and tours of historic houses, gardens, museums and churches. Guests will receive $1 off for dressing in Colonial or Victorian-era attire.

The event will be held near 400 Delaware St., New Castle, on May 17. Day of tickets are $25 for adults, $5 for children aged 5+; free for kids under age 5. Swinging Soiree is $65 per person. Visit historicnewcastle.com.

Poseidon Festival 2025, Bethany Beach

The 10th anniversary of the Poseidon Festival is a four-day affair with pirates, mermaids, live music, a costume contest and more fun. Some of the highlights include a performance from the Caiso Steeldrum Band (May 23), sword demonstrations from Captain Jack (May 24 and 25), costume parade and contest where you can dressed as a pirate, mermaid or your favorite maritime creature (May 24), a summer luau show (May 24), United States Navy Band concert (May 25) and Memorial Day service (May 26).

The Poseidon Festival is held in downtown Bethany Beach (near Bethany Bandstand) from May 23 to 26. Visit townofbethanybeach.com/497/Poseidon-Festival or call (302) 539-8011.

Buccaneer Bash 2025, Bowers Beach

Fearless swashbucklers will sail to Bowers Beach for a peaceful adventure at the annual Buccaneer Bash. This free two-day festival is known to take seafarers back to the 18th century to experience pirate life through demonstrations, music, petting zoo, food, craft and modern vendors, and activities in downtown Bowers Beach.

Buccaneer Bash is held in downtown Bowers Beach from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 24 and 25. Free event. Visit Bowers Beach Buccaneer Bash on Facebook or call (302) 222-6341.

Ladybug Music Festival 2025, Wilmington

Over 30 acts will play the Ladybug Music Festival including headliner Margaret Glaspy. The singer-songwriter has drawn attraction from The New York Times and Rolling Stone, NPR and others.

The Ladybug Festival has been branded as the country’s largest free celebration of women in music. The festival, which started in 2012, has built a unique reputation for featuring 100% female-fronted acts.

Ladybug Festival is held in downtown Wilmington from 5 to 10 p.m. May 30. Free event. Visit theladybugfestival.com.

Black Music Festival 2025, Houston

This festival returns for a second year in honor of Black Music Month. The headliner is We Are One X-Perience Band, paying tribute to the legendary Frankie Beverly featuring Maze. Guests can bring their own beer, food, coolers, chairs and tents (10 feet by 10 feet) to the Black Music Festival for a good time.

G & R Campground (4075 Gun and Rod Club Road, Houston) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 7. Tickets for general admission are $50. Visit wilmingtonsgents.com, gandrcampground.com/event-calendar or call (302) 743-3417.

Delaware Pride Festival 2025, Dover

Dover will be dipped in rainbow hues for the return of the Delaware Pride Festival. This longstanding festival is the biggest Pride celebration in the state. The event will include drag performers Maddelyn Hatter, Louisiana Purchase and Scarlet Masters. There will be food vendors, beer garden, performers and more. There also will be community organizations sharing resources and support, reinforcing the message of inclusivity.

Near The Green (Federal Street, Dover) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 7. Admission is free. Visit facebook.com/DelawarePrideInc delawarepride.org or call (302) 753-2162.

Dover Con 2025, Dover

Don’t be surprised if you see more Dr. Doom and Fantastic 4 cosplayers this time around at Dover Con. Formerly Dover Comic Con, the free event is family-friendly and great for folks who are new to cosplay and/or want to get a taste of what a comic convention is all about. (The con is also perfect for folks who love to people watch.)

Lots of vendors and artisans sell wares and items at the convention. There usually are cool vehicles on display like replicas of the Batmobile, “Jurassic Park” Jeep or the Pikabug from “Pokémon.”

Dover Public Library (35 Loockerman Plaza, Dover) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 14. Free event. Visit delmarvaevents.net.

St. Anthony’s Italian Festival 2025, Wilmington

This year the St. Anthony’s Italian Festival celebrates 51 years of bringing Mediterranean cuisine to the First State. The eight-day festival, branded as one of the largest Italian celebrations in the country, dishes up a variety of authentic and tasty food.

The event is the primary fundraiser for St. Anthony of Padua Grade School in Wilmington.

St. Anthony’s Italian Festival (901 N. Dupont St., Wilmington) from 4 to 10:30 p.m. June 8; 6 to 10:30 p.m. from June 9 to 13; 4 to 10:30 p.m. June 14; 2 to 6 p.m. June 15. For tickets or more info, visit sapde.org or call (302) 421-3700.

Clifford Brown Jazz Festival 2025, Wilmington

The Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, a hallmark summer event, turns 38. The four-day festival hasn’t announced its full lineup yet, but we do know that ’90s R&B star Chantė Moore and The Wooten Brothers will grace the stage.

This festival has grown into the largest free jazz festival on the East Coast, according to the festival’s website. The main stage of this year’s festival opens on June 18 with a star-studded roster of performances through June 21. Each night after the main stage concerts, Late Night Jam Sessions will be hosted at local establishments throughout downtown Wilmington.

The Clifford Brown Jazz Festival is held on Rodney Square (1000 N. Market St., Wilmington) June 18 to 21. For more info, visit cliffordbrownjazzfest.org.

June Jam 2025, Houston

The 47th annual festival is back with a lineup of rocking bands that include Chesapeake Sons, who fans are pumped to see.

June Jam claims to be the longest-running music festival in the nation (since even the pandemic couldn’t stop them). Over the years, proceeds from June Jam have benefited all sorts of causes, from helping people struggling with medical bills to supporting Toys for Tots.

G&R Campground (4075 Gun and Rod Club Road, Houston) and gates open at 10 a.m. June 21. For tickets or more info, visit junejam.com.

Smyrna at Night 2025, Smyrna

Headlining this year’s Smyrna at Night is the mystical band Magic!, a Canadian band living in Los Angeles that delivers pop, reggae and alternative vibes.

Smyrna at Night is branded as Kent County’s largest free outdoor concert. This year’s event will be spread across three stages with 18 bands. Other notable acts include local favorite Jovon Newman, Spokey Speaky, Mike Hines & The Look, and Shwayze. There also will be food trucks, wine and beer vendors, downtown shops and vendors and kid-friendly activities.

Smyrna at Night will be held downtown from noon to 9:30 p.m. June 14. Free event. For more info, visit facebook.com/smyrnaatnight.

Juneteenth Freedom Parade and Festival 2025, Wilmington

The Juneteenth Freedom Parade and Festival in Wilmington is back to honor the emancipation of African Americans.

The event is on June 14 and starts with a parade at 11 a.m. from Rodney Square (1000 N. Market St., Wilmington) down to the festival that offers music, food, fun and more at Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park (Rosa Parks Drive, Wilmington). Visit Delawarejuneteenth.org or (302) 314-5863.

Running of the Bull 2025, Dewey Beach

The epic Running of the Bull even is back on deck in Dewey Beach. The Starboard’s annual event is charged up for a whimsical fiesta where participants are chased up the highway and onto Dewey Beach by a costumed bull. But this bull is special because it is powered by four human legs.

The Starboard (2009 Coastal Highway, Dewey Beach) on June 28. Visit thestarboard.com or (302) 227-4600.

Ice Cream Festival 2025, near Wilmington

It’s hard not to have a sweet time during the Ice Cream Festival at Rockwood Park & Museum. The event serves up ice cream, food trucks, entertainment, museum tours, over 40 marketplace vendors, carnival games, beer and wine garden, and more fun. Parking and shuttle are available at Rockwood Office Park (501 Carr Road, near Wilmington).

Rockwood Park & Museum (4651 Washington St. Extension, near Wilmington) from 1 to 9 p.m. June 28. Visit newcastlede.gov or (302) 395-5555.

Delaware State Fair 2025, Harrington

Where else can you eat fried Oreos, watch pigs race and catch a comedy show by the juggernaut Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias? There’s nothing like the Delaware State Fair and its 10 days of entertainment.

If comedy and concerts are your thing, this year’s lineup on the M&T Bank Grandstand features headliners Riley Green (July 19), Fluffy (July 20), Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms & Spin Doctors (July 21), CeCe Winans (July 22), Gavin Adcock (July 23) Russell Dickerson with Niko Moon (July 24), T.I. (July 25) and Big & Rich (July 26).

Aside from concerts, two other mainstage events are Harness racing Harness Racing (July 17) and the Demolition Derby (July 18).

The fair is also known for oodles of amusement rides, games, animals, vendors and other attractions. Not to mention, it usually has weird food like deep-fried Oreos and fried gator.

Delaware State Fair (18500 S. Dupont Highway, Harrington) July 17 to 26. General admission tickets are up to $10 in person or $10.50 (online). Concerts on the Grandstand are extra, and prices vary. Visit delawarestatefair.com or call (302) 398-3269.

Middletown Old-Tyme Peach Festival 2025, Middletown

Middletown has a fuzzy memory that it can blame on its Old-Tyme Peach Festival. The 32nd annual festival offers more low-hanging fruit in downtown to give folks a juicy time with a parade, food, pie-eating contest, historical exhibits, music, games, lots of peaches and more.

The festival begins with the parade at 8:45 a.m. on Broad Street.

The festival will be held downtown Middletown near Broad Street from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 16. Visit middletownpeachfestival.com or call (302) 378-7466.

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.

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Delaware

Snake-infested lakes and ponds in Delaware. What to know before you go

Published

9 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Snake-infested lakes and ponds in Delaware. What to know before you go

It could be one of your worst nightmares.

You’re enjoying a summer day in the water when you feel something brush past your leg. You turn, and there’s a snake.

While the chances of that scenario playing out are highly unlikely, there is a good chance the waters you enjoy playing in are also inhabited by snakes.

The danger level might not be as high as Florida’s, but it’s still something to be aware of when you go into the outdoors.

Here’s a look at the snake-infested lakes and ponds in Delaware, according to worldatlas.com.

Nanticoke River

The Nanticoke River runs 64 miles from southern Delaware to the Chesapeake Bay, winding through marshlands, forests, and farmland along the way. The habitat is perfect for the Northern watersnake. The snakes are nonvenomous, but they will defensively strike if you corner them or try to hold them.

The Brandywine

This is where you need to be very careful. The Eastern copperhead is a confirmed and documented presence, and a small group exists at Alapocas Run State Park along the water near Wilmington. The snakes won’t chase you, but if you step too close or don’t see them, they will strike. You should watch your step near log piles and rocky outcrops.

Millsboro Pond

Millsboro Pond is the home to perch, black crappie and frogs, which is the perfect food for snakes including northern water snakes, plain-bellied water snakes, queen snakes and common ribbon snakes.

The Eastern copperhead lives in southern Sussex County, which includes the pond. However, sightings are rare. It’s something to watch out for when you are at the pond.

Lums Pond

The pond, located in Lums Pond State Park, has numerous varieties of snakes. However, the inlets and small islands are perfect for northern water snakes to bask in the sun. The snakes thrive on fish and amphibians and benefit from the surrounding forest and wetlands.

One snake to watch for is the ringneck snake. It has a mild venom and its teeth have trouble puncturing human skin, but for those with venom allergies, you should treat it like any other venomous species.

Trap Pond

Trap Pond, located in Trap Pond State Park, is noted for its cypress swamp. The bald cypress trees and the tree’s root structure provide a great hiding place and basking spot for eastern garter snakes and northern water snakes.

Silver Lake

Located in Dover, Silver Lake is lined with trees and vegetation, making it a great place for snakes. The northern water snake is seen here, but eastern kingsnakes are also occasionally seen in the wooded areas of the lake.

Garrison Lake

Garrison Lake is a popular spot in Kent County for fishing and boating. The marshy areas and dense vegetation are perfect habitats for northern water snakes, eastern garter snakes and eastern rat snakes. The wetlands are attractive to snakes due to the abundance of prey and the availability of cover.

Red Mills Pond

Red Mills Pond, located near Lewes, has a rich biodiversity supporting numerous amphibians and small mammals, which attract snakes. Among the snakes you may see in and around the pond are the northern water snake, eastern ribbon snake and eastern ribbon snake.

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Delaware

Delaware Online wins investigative reporting prize, 17 other awards

Published

21 hours ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

Delaware Online wins investigative reporting prize, 17 other awards

Delaware Online/The News Journal won the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism for its reporting revealing hundreds of invalid teacher licenses in Delaware.

The work by reporters Kelly Powers and Esteban Parra led to lawmakers proposing a bill that would tighten licensing requirements for public school employees and penalize districts that retain unlicensed staff.

The judges cited the work for “meticulous and thorough reporting” and “a fair and balanced presentation of the situation.”

The A‑Mark prize honors excellence in watchdog and accountability reporting. It is backed by The A‑Mark Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit supporting investigative and unbiased social‑issue journalism, in partnership with the Maryland‑Delaware‑DC Press Association.

“The reporting from Kelly Powers and Esteban Parra reflects the very best of investigative journalism in Delaware – thorough, fair and impactful,’’ said Mike Feeley, executive editor of The News Journal and Delaware Online. “We are proud to see their work awarded with the inaugural A-Mark Prize in a highly competitive field.

“I congratulate all of Delaware Online’s award winners in this year’s MDDC Awards for their commitment to journalism that strengthens our communities,’’ Feeley said.

Delaware Online/The News Journal won a total of 18 awards May 8 at the MDDC Press Association’s annual conference.

The MDDC Awards recognizes news publications from Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. For each category, a first- and second-place winner is chosen based on circulation divisions. A part of the largest-circulation division, Delaware Online/The News Journal competes against news sites like the Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Banner and Washington Post.

Here is the list of winners, with links to the stories that took home the prizes.

Best of Show

News-Driven Art or Illustration: Luis Solano, “American’s deadliest habit”

First Place

Second Place

Feature Story: Non-Profile: Xerxes Wilson, “Why this Delaware prison is making tattooing part of its educational programming”
Sports Feature Story: Brandon Holveck, Martin Frank, “Eagles’ Saquon Barkley’s historic season built on selflessness, generational athleticism”
Local Column: Critical Thinking: Xerxes Wilson, “Broken bones, brick walls and searching for accountability”
Sports Photo (Feature): Benjamin Chambers, “Delaware wins 61-31 against UTEP in Conference USA regular season finale”
Public Service Reporting: Krys’tal Griffin, “While these Delaware riders depend on Paratransit, the service still lags post-pandemic”
Breaking News: The News Journal staff, “Delaware State trooper killed by shooter prevented other deaths, state officials say”
News Page Design: Luis Solano, “American’s deadliest habit”
Page 1 Design: Stephanie Lindholm, “Musical haven in Delaware”
Continuing Reporting: Kelly Powers, Shane Brennan, “Your property taxes are changing. What Delaware homeowners should know about new laws”
General Website Excellence, The News Journal

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Lawsuit says Delaware prisoners forced to ‘marinate’ in pepper spray

Published

1 day ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

Lawsuit says Delaware prisoners forced to ‘marinate’ in pepper spray

A lawsuit seeking to represent all people locked up by Delaware claims that prisoners are routinely left to “marinate” in a high-concentration pepper spray.

The lawsuit filed May 7 in Delaware Court of Chancery seeks an injunction barring correction officials from using the spray until leaders enforce rules the lawsuit says require staff to decontaminate prisoners after they are targeted.

In interviews, state prisoners have frequently described officers’ use of so-called OC spray, a more concentrated form of pepper spray only available to law enforcement, as cruel. Prisoners say the spray is deployed unnecessarily, recklessly, frequently and causes intense burning on the skin and through the respiratory system.

“Imagine taking a glass bottle, smashing it up and grinding it up and snorting that up your nose, then times that by 1,000,” said a former prisoner, William Davis, describing being sprayed during a previous interview about a similar use‑of‑force lawsuit involving Sussex Correctional Institution. “I felt it burn for days.”

Records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request show OC spray — short for oleoresin capsicum — is used hundreds of times a year and is a frequent issue in Delaware prison lawsuits. The new ACLU lawsuit seeks class-action status on behalf of all Delaware prisoners and focuses on what happens after someone is sprayed.

The lawsuit claims officers routinely ignore training, policy and clear health risks by failing to properly flush and clean people after using OC spray. It argues the practice violates Delaware’s constitutional ban on “cruel” punishment.

Prisoners allege they were sprayed while handcuffed, naked or already subdued, including one who said officers sprayed him through his cell door while he was locked inside, and another who said he was forced during a strip search to touch his genitals and then his mouth after being sprayed.

In each of these episodes, the lawsuit states that prisoners were not properly decontaminated, some were left unattended, returned to a contaminated cell, left in clothes drenched in spray and some were not allowed to shower for a day or more after.

“Refusing to decontaminate prisoners is cruel because it subjects them to hours of needless suffering. Prolonged exposure is also potentially deadly,” the lawsuit states.

Delaware Department of Correction officials did not respond to requests for comment.

The allegations of the lawsuit are built partially on declarations from eight named plaintiffs in Delaware prisons. Additionally, it leans on video and deposition evidence from two other excessive force cases the ACLU is litigating on behalf of Delaware prisoners.

In those other cases, several officers have testified in depositions that they had not decontaminated individuals they sprayed and were unaware if others had, the new lawsuit states.

The lawsuit also cites Department of Correction training materials turned over in other lawsuits. Policy and training documents outline that OC spray is only to be used when no reasonable alternative is available, not as retaliation or punishment and in short bursts from a safe distance.

A training presentation describes the health risks of OC spray and says sprayed individuals should be moved to fresh air, assessed for medical conditions and repeatedly flushed and wiped to decontaminate them.

It notes that people who have been sprayed must be monitored. It underscores these instructions with a red skull and crossbones.

Other litigation: New lawsuit claims excessive force used by Delaware officers during September prison raids

In interviews, prisoners have reported that officers would “empty the can” in long bursts directed closely at their face. The named plaintiffs in the new lawsuit include asthmatic individuals who said they were denied their inhaler after being sprayed.

Besides pain, OC spray can cause difficulty breathing, gagging, heart distress and blindness. It can also induce a feeling of suffocation and helplessness, according to a department training presentation. Failure to decontaminate can cause blindness, respiratory failure and skin conditions, the lawsuit states.

If sprayed too close, the OC molecules can cause what’s known as “hydraulic needling of the eyes” where the spray causes lacerations, the complaint states, noting that multiple prisoners in other states have died after being sprayed.

The lawsuit also claims that officers deploy OC spray in numerous ways, which include a grenade, fogger, spray, muzzle blast rounds, as well as pepper balls fired from a weapon similar to a paintball gun.

One of the named plaintiffs was shot numerous times by a pepper ball gun, rupturing the globe of his right eye. A separate lawsuit filed on behalf of that prisoner was dismissed because he didn’t address written complaints about the episode through prescribed channels inside the prison.

Rather than seeking damages for federal constitutional violations, the lawsuit asks only for an injunction forcing changes to decontamination practices. And instead of following the typical federal-court path for prisoner-rights cases, it was filed in Delaware’s Court of Chancery — the state’s business court, where cases tend to move more quickly.

It names Department of Correction Commissioner Terra Taylor as its lone defendant, claiming that the department has knowingly failed to follow its own policy regarding the spray’s use.

It also cites a deposition given by Taylor in other litigation in which she states there is no specific process for decontaminating those targeted with OC, that she hasn’t taken any steps to require officers to do so, and that she doesn’t believe there is an obligation to do so.

Contact Xerxes Wilson at (302) 324-2787 or xwilson@delawareonline.com.

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