Delaware

Festival frenzy for Delawareans in 2024: Lineup of 14 dope events in new year

Published

2 years ago

January 2, 2024

Festival frenzy for Delawareans in 2024: Lineup of 14 dope events in new year

Who in their right mind in Delaware is already thinking about can’t-miss festivals for 2024? It’s the type of person who messed around and found out that events do sell out.

To avoid that drama, you can get an early start on planning your schedule for 14 sweet festive events located in and around the First State in 2024.

There’s a strong focus on spring and summer events for this preview, stick with us for updates.

Kennett Winterfest, Kennett Square, Pa.

The beer event Kennett Winterfest gives new meaning to the phrase “cold drinks.” The February festival has over 60 breweries on tap serving over 130 beers, joined by live music and food trucks.

The event has a Delaware vibe since it’s just down the road and features local breweries like First State Brewing, Iron Hill, Bellefonte Brewing, Big Oyster Brewery, Wilmington Brew Works, and Dewey Beer. A regular admission ticket gets you an unlimited number of tastings. Designed drivers pay $15 (plus fee) and will receive a mocktail.

Kennett Winterfest (600 S. Broad St., Kennett Square, Pennsylvania) from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. General admission $60 (plus fee); Designated driver $15 (plus fee). Visit kennettwinterfest.com.

Dover NASCAR weekend in Fan Zone

During NASCAR weekend there’s always a festival atmosphere at Dover Motor Speedway’s Fan Zone, a place that often offers free and fun activities for supporters.

The Fan Zone is home to driver autograph sessions, free concerts (which have hosted big names like Jimmie Allen and X Ambassadors), games and attractions for kids and adults.

The Monster Monument at Victory Plaza is a huge attraction and some of fans’ favorite NASCAR drivers and executives are usually spotted doing interviews at the 46-foot-tall Monster.

When NASCAR returns with a tripleheader to the Monster Mile in April, fans can look forward to the Track Treasures Trailer that features mementos, NASCAR collectibles, one-of-a-kind autographed items, clothing and advertising banners for sale near the Monster Monument.

Proceeds will benefit Speedway Children’s Charities, Dover Motor Speedway Chapter, per Dover Motor Speedway’s website.

Race fans are encouraged by the Speedway to keep checking the website for added attractions, event times and more about Fan Zone festivities for the spring.

Dover Motor Speedway (1131 N. Dupont Highway, Dover) from Friday, April 26 to Sunday, April 28. More details TBA. Visit dovermotorspeedway.com.

WrestleMania 40, Philadelphia

The Super Bowl of professional wrestling is back in the City of Brotherly Love for the first time in 25 years with WrestleMania 40. This two-day event also marks WrestleMania’s first time in the home of the Philadelphia Eagles.

It’s confirmed (via a promo image on their website) that the Mania card includes wrestlers Brock Lesnar, Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, Roman Reigns, Asuka, Bianca Belair and Seth Rollins. Other stars that fans want/expect to see on the card are CM Punk, Randy Orton, John Cena and Stone Cold, and plenty others. More clarity about who is participating in WrestleMania will likely be revealed after the Royal Rumble happens Jan. 27.

Lincoln Financial Field at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7. Tickets combos for both days are $560 to $10,000+. Tickets for each night are $188 to $5,000+. Visit wwe.com.

420 weed party and more, Townsend

You and your best buds can roll up to one of the First State’s biggest 420 celebrations for a one-of-a-kind, 24-hour event that’ll unite marijuana lovers in the same month that Delaware legalized weed in 2023.

Delfire Group and Delaware NORML are teaming up to deliver two marijuana-themed events in one: Delfire’s Spring Fling event and Delaware NORML’s 420 Party.

This fully baked collaboration features art vendors, merch, live music, cannabis advocacy and camping at, and lots of weed. The event is for ages 21 or older.

Fire Base Lloyd (474 Flemings Landing Road, Townsend) on Saturday, April 20. More details TBA. Visit Facebook.com/weedstockde or Facebook.com/DENORML.

Dover Days Festival

One of Delaware’s oldest and largest festivals is in the Capital City, Dover Days takes guests back to the Colonial era for two days.

The first day has fireworks and the second offers a full festival and parade. Dover Days is known for Maypole dancing, balloon rides, historic re-enactments, artisans, games and food vendors, and more. This festival is rain or shine.

Near Leg Hall (411 Legislative Ave.) on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4. More details TBA. Visitdelawarevillages.com.

Point-To-Point, Winterthur

A fashion show, carnival and horse racing — these ingredients make up the 46th annual Winterthur Point-To-Point Steeplechase.

The yearly event raises money for the preservation and maintenance of the garden and estate at Winterthur. It features a parade of pups and carriages, steeple chase racing, vintage vehicles, raffles, community vendors and lots of family activities. But folks love to come out for tailgating to show off their extravagant outfits.

Winterthur (5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur) from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 5. More details TBA. Visit winterthur.org or (302) 888-4600.

Wilmington Flower Market

A lavish garden of fun and entertainment will blossom at a festive, three-day event that’s a staple in northern Delaware. The 103rd annual Wilmington Flower Market has live music, rides, food, beer and (of course) flowers, and lots more. The event also has a habit of booking musical acts that’ve played Firefly.

Proceeds from the Flower Market benefit children’s charities in Delaware.

Rockford Park (2629 W. 19th St., Wilmington) from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 9; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, May 10; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 11. More details TBA. Visit wilmingtonflowermarket.org.

Dover Comic Con

Since actions speak louder than words, you can tell everyone who your favorite anime is by cosplaying them at Dover Comic Con.

The free event is family-friendly and particularly good 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’s usually cool vehicles on display like replicas of the Batmobile or “Jurassic Park” Jeep. Last summer, “Pokémon” fans went wild over a replica of the Pikabug car pulled up.

Near Leg Hall (411 Legislative Ave.) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 8. More details TBA. Visit delmarvaevents.net.

June Jam, Houston

The longtime festival June Jam will make some noise with its 46th annual musical rodeo featuring headliner Shoot to Thrill, the all-female tribute to AC/DC.

June Jam, which is a nonprofit, is self-branded as the longest-running music festival in the nation (since the pandemic couldn’t even stop it).

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 Recreation Campground (4075 Gun and Rod Club Road, Houston) on Saturday, June 19. More details TBA. Visit junejam.com.

Delaware State Fair, Harrington

From pig races and concerts to crunchy fried Oreos, there’s a little something for everybody to enjoy at Delaware’s hottest event of the summer: the Delaware State Fair.

Last year’s event attracted 308,989 guests over 10 days with headline performances by comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, rappers Nelly and Vanilla Ice, country acts Lainey Wilson, Tyler Hubbard, Jackson Dean and Riley Green, plus Christian artist Zach Williams.

Delaware State Fair (18500 S. Dupont Highway, Harrington) Thursday, July 18 through Saturday, July 27. General admission tickets are up to $10 in person or $10.50 (online). Concerts on the Grandstand are extra. More details TBA. Visit delawarestatefair.com or (302) 398-3269.

Phish festival, The Woodlands Dover

The iconic jam band Phish will debut a new four-day festival in The Woodlands of Dover this summer.

The Woodlands have been starving for a festival since Firefly took a break and skipped 2023. The surprise announcement of the Phish event (which isn’t part of Firefly) is giving the Capital City renewed excitement by attracting a fresh audience of music lovers. Phishheads tend to be little older than the college-aged Firefly crowd, yet they’re still passionate and intense about seeing live shows (something “Phish phans” have a reputation for).

Details about Phish’s event are bare at the moment. But ticket prices and more information is probably coming soon. Check back with us soon.

The Woodlands (1131 N. Dupont Highway, Dover) from Thursday, Aug. 15 to Sunday, Aug. 18. More details TBA. Visit Phish.com.

Firefly Music Festival, The Woodlands Dover

Despite some fan speculation that Firefly Music Festival might not return for a second straight summer, Firefly organizers said in 2022 that they will come back to The Woodlands for 2024.

So far, the festival producers haven’t said otherwise. The last Firefly brought four days of music to The Woodlands with over 100 acts including headliners Halsey, My Chemical Romance, Green Day and Dua Lipa.

With Firefly attendance dropping over the years, the annual festival took the year off in 2023 to “recharge our lights.” Firefly producers have been quiet during their hiatus and haven’t revealed their festival lineup yet.

The Woodlands (1131 N. Dupont Highway, Dover). More details TBA. Visit fireflyfestival.com.

Delaware Renaissance Faire, Townsend

Vikings, elves and everyone in-between are welcome for a third season at the Delaware Renaissance Festival, organizers announced.

In 2023, Delafaire expanded to three weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) and sold out each Saturday. The fall festival also drew new vendors and entertainers to this family-friendly event that offers archery, axe-throwing and much more.

Since launching in 2022, Delafaire has quickly become one of the First State’s most beloved events. The Ren Faire’s website announced it’s coming back for its third annual event in 2024. Ticket prices and dates haven’t been announced yet.

Fire Base Lloyd (474 Flemings Landing Road, Townsend) in fall 2024. More details TBA. Visit delafaire.com.

Oceans Calling — Ocean City, Md.

The debut of Oceans Calling in the fall saw more than 30 artists hit the stage across three days. Acts included John Mayer, Alanis Morissette, Incubus, Jack Johnson and The Lumineers.

Festival organizers recently promised “a triumphant return” back to Ocean City this September. Oceans Calling hasn’t announced its lineup yet.

Ocean City Inlet Beach (809 South Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, Maryland) from Friday, Sept. 27, to Sunday, Sept. 29. More details TBA. Visit oceanscallingfestival.com.

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

Is snow hitting Delaware? Here’s the latest forecast

Published

9 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Press Room

Is snow hitting Delaware? Here’s the latest forecast

Delaware will get more rain and potentially miss the snow, again.

The forecast for Dec. 5 from the National Weather Service has changed with the First State mostly getting a wintery mix at worse.

Here’s a look at the latest Dec. 5 forecast.

Will it snow in Delaware?

It depends where you live, but for the most part, the First State will be spared from snow.

New Castle County forecast: There’s a 30% chance of snow before 11 a.m. with highs reaching 31 degrees. There’s a 20% change of snow overnight into Dec. 6 as temperatures drop into the mid-20s. There will be little to no snow accumulation.

Kent County: There’s a chance of snow before 2 p.m. with the precipitation changing over to rain as highs reach 35 degrees. There’s a 60% chance of precipitation. If you’re heading out Friday night, you’ll want to be very careful. There’s a chance of snow before 10 p.m., changing over to a rain-snow mix from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. and then rain after 1 a.m. There’s a 30% chance of overnight precipitation. Lows will be in the upper 20s. There could be up to half-and-inch of snow.

Sussex County: There’s a chance of snow before 10 a.m. turning to rain and snow with highs around 37 degrees. Less than a half-an-inch of snow is expected to fall. In the overnight from Dec. 5 to Dec. 6, there is a 50% chance of rain before 1 a.m.

How cold will it get in Delaware after the snow?

While the weekend is looking sunny with typical temperatures for winter, with highs in the 40s and lows in the mid to upper 20s, First State residents will get a bit of a chill on Dec. 8.

Highs on Dec. 8 are only expected to hit 31 degrees and the overnight temperatures will drop into the teens in New Castle County to the low 20s in Sussex County.

What should be in your emergency kit for winter driving?

Whether it’s a bag or box in the back or trunk of your car, you should have a kit while driving in the winter. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, which is incredibly familiar with heavy snow, your kit should include:

Blankets or sleeping bags
Extra stocking caps, warm socks, gloves/mittens
Flashlight with extra batteries
First-aid kit
Booster cables and windshield brush/scraper
Drinking water and high-calorie, non-perishable food (trail mix, energy/protein bars)
Sand or cat litter to sprinkle around your tires for traction in case you get stuck
Cellphone adapter/charger

While not in the kit, it’s also essential to always have a charged cellphone in the car when driving in winter weather.

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Delaware

Unemployment claims in Delaware declined last week

Published

21 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Press Room

Unemployment claims in Delaware declined last week

Staff reports
| USA TODAY Network

Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Delaware dropped last week compared with the week prior, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday.

New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, fell to 472 in the week ending November 29, down from 672 the week before, the Labor Department said.

U.S. unemployment claims dropped to 191,000 last week, down 27,000 claims from 218,000 the week prior on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Nebraska saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims jumping by 98.5%. Virgin Islands, meanwhile, saw the largest percentage drop in new claims, with claims dropping by 58.3%.

USA TODAY Co. is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s weekly unemployment insurance claims report.

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Delaware

Delaware rescinds sponsorship contract, citing conflict with Nomad bar owner

Published

1 day ago

December 4, 2025

Press Room

Delaware rescinds sponsorship contract, citing conflict with Nomad bar owner

Why Should Delaware Care?
The Division of Small Business distributes millions in grants and incentives each year to assist small businesses and organizations. But in September, a business owned by a senior agency official received funding from the agency, raising questions about oversight and conflicts of interest.

Officials at the Delaware Division of Small Business recently rescinded a $7,500 sponsorship contract awarded to a Wilmington bar after learning that an owner of the business was the state agency’s own deputy director.

Beyond returning the money, agency spokesman Rony Baltazar-Lopez told Spotlight Delaware that officials had also imposed “corrective actions,” in response to the apparent conflict of interest.

Those included “employee education, discipline, and internal policy revisions,” Baltazar-Lopez said in an email.

The situation began in late September when the Division of Small Business received an email from Rachel Lindeman, co-owner of the popular Nomad Bar on Orange Street in Wilmington, asking the state to sponsor her networking series for small business owners

The request didn’t appear to raise any alarm, as Division of Small Business Director C.J. Bell responded three hours later stating that his office would award the Nomad a $7,500 sponsorship, according to emails obtained by Spotlight Delaware through an open records request.

Baltazar-Lopez said the sponsorship was the kind of project the office routinely supported.

What was different though was that the money went to a business co-owned by Jaimie Watts, deputy director of the Division of Small Business.

But the sponsorship was short-lived after officials learned of Watts dual roles.

Within weeks of Lindeman’s email, state officials quietly opened an internal investigation, rescinded the money, and determined that the sponsorship posed a conflict of interest inside the agency responsible for overseeing millions of dollars in business grants and incentives each year.

“We recently learned that a sponsorship was issued to a business that was not eligible to receive DSB funding due to its relationship with a state employee,” Baltazar said in his statement.

Spotlight Delaware further asked whether the office has ever rescinded a sponsorship; how long a typical sponsorship decision takes; and what controls exist to ensure contracts do not go to businesses owned by agency staff. The Division of Small Business declined to comment further.

Watts became deputy director of the Delaware Division of Small Business in April. A month later, she purchased the Nomad Bar with Lindeman.

Watts also is a member of Spotlight Delaware’s governing board of directors. Read our editorial independence policy here.

In an email sent to state officials in October, Lindeman said she had been “informed” that the sponsorship money had to be returned. By early November, an agency official confirmed in an email to a colleague that it had been.

Watts did not answer questions for this story, instead referring Spotlight Delaware to a Division of Small Business spokeswoman.