Delaware
Festival frenzy for Delawareans in 2024: Lineup of 14 dope events in new year
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Come inside Wilmington’s The Queen and hear from new General Manager Devin Ball as he shares his observations and plans for bringing it back to life.
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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Delmarva Power objects to applying legislation to interim rate
The debate among commissioners over the breadth of their oversight on utility rates comes as the company has pushed back on the group, limiting its interim rate increase to half of its total request, even while it faced criticism from commissioners that it is “cruel” and “tone deaf” for continuing to press for rate hikes.
Delmarva Power, an investor-owned utility, serves 344,000 residential and nonresidential customers in the state. Its parent company, Exelon Corporation, is the nation’s largest regulated electric and gas utility.
Its customers pay a supply and a delivery charge for gas and electricity. The supply of energy comes from PJM Interconnection, a regional grid serving Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and several other states. Delmarva Power profits through the distribution fee.
Delmarva Power Region President Marcus Beal said they need to file rate hike requests to recoup money it spends on improving and maintaining the infrastructure.
“Our equipment is extremely expensive, the items that we buy, the transformers, they’re very large, complex things to build,” Beal said. “Even something as simple as a treated pole of a certain size can be very pricey, so we spend a lot of money on the grid itself.”
Under Delaware law, interim rates can be approved seven months after a rate case is filed, while the full petition is being considered by the commission. Prior to the legislation, 100% of the rate request could be implemented. The bill caps interim rates at 50% and allows 75% of the ask to go into effect after 12 months. The bill also puts limits on Delmarva Power’s infrastructure spending.
Delmarva Power spokesperson Matt Ford said the commission overstepped its authority to cut the interim rate as much as they did and the company has argued in its PSC submissions that SB 326 did not apply to the rate increase request filed in December because it had yet to be signed into law. Meyer said he signed the bill Monday.
“Delmarva Power further reserves its objections to the applicability of the legislation, should it become effective, including its impermissible retroactive application,” the utility company said in comments filed Monday afternoon with the commission.
In addition, Delmarva Power has objected to halving $23.2 million in distribution system improvement charges as part of the interim rate commissioners approved. The fee allows utility companies to recover project costs and depreciation between full rate case proceedings.
“My suggestion is, if you don’t like it, appeal it,” Iorii said.
It’s unclear whether the utility plans to appeal the order. Ford said they were reviewing it and its implications.
Tweedie said he hopes they decide not to appeal.
“If they appeal this, what they are essentially saying is, ‘We want to extract more money from our customers than the commission intended to allow,’” he said.
Delaware State Police have identified the man who was struck and killed by a vehicle while lying on the roadway in Harrington, Delaware.
On Monday, July 13, 2026, Jimmy Burgess, 62, was struck by a Chevrolet Silverado driving westbound near the 1500 block of Whiteleysburg Road.
According to police, the Silverado, which was operated by a 17-year-old boy from Milton, Delaware, was unable to stop once he saw Burgess on the road, striking him. The driver of the Silverado was not injured during the crash.
Burgess was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead, said police.
The roadway was closed for approximately three hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.
The Delaware State Police Troop 3 Collison Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this crash.
Troopers ask anyone with information about the crash contact Sergeant M. Long at (302) 698-8518.
Information can also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police, or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-(800) 847-3333
Where the music grew
Soon playing the restaurant piano became part of Leonard’s regular routine.
In early 2024, a friend encouraged him to record himself playing the old instrument and post the videos online.
The series, “Putting the Chinese restaurant on to jams,” featured Leonard performing R&B, funk and soul covers in the restaurant and interacting with customers. Before long, the videos found an audience online.
Leonard made one thing clear: It was never about building a following; it was about having peace.
As more videos were posted, he invited his friend to join him. In every live stream, viewers suggested adding more instruments and upgrading the sound system, which he initially thought was ridiculous.
“We started bringing speakers. We started to make music. We started to remix music,” he said. “We pretty much treated it as a public studio at that point.”
Word continued to spread of Leonard’s music and the Chinese restaurant where he played. Drummers, bass players, saxophonists and singers began making their way to the restaurant, transforming an ordinary neighborhood takeout spot into an open jam session where no two performances were ever the same.
“Everything is bliss. So it’s not planned. We just show up,” he said. “I may start a groove — and usually it’s like R&B, gospel, funk, soul, somewhere in that vein — and then it takes off, because the drummer may have a way that he wants to add to the groove. We all just feed off of each other, and then we create something. It’s almost like magic.”
Audiences became part of the performance. Some sang along. Others danced. Many pulled out their phones to capture the moment. Customers who stopped in for dinner often stayed long after their food was ready.
“You’ll have some people come in, maybe to order food, and then they’ll forget that they’re in a restaurant because of everything that is happening,” he said. “They may order food and then stick around for maybe 10 to 15 minutes and then leave.”
For Leonard, the biggest change wasn’t the growing audience or the recognition. It was rediscovering the confidence he thought he had lost.
“When I picked up the … DoorDash at the Chinese restaurant, that piano was my reminder of leaning more towards my creative side and not really pushing it all the way to the side,” he said.
“Me being able to bring things to life in a Chinese restaurant with a piano, able to reach a lot of people from across the globe, it definitely built my spirit back up.”
An imperfect piano; a perfect community
As the jam sessions grew, Leonard realized they were becoming something larger than just music.
“The piano being out of tune and not really in good shape … I actually thought it… would actually push more people away from it,” he said.
Instead, the opposite happened.
Leonard said he believes the piano’s imperfections are what made the phenomenon possible. Because the instrument is out of tune, musicians have to adapt to it and to one another, creating a sense of collaboration and shared purpose.
“We can still make it adhesive if we all agree to be in tune with the piano,” he said.
He hopes people leave the restaurant with more than a memorable performance.
“I hope they feel recharged,” he said. “They leave that restaurant feeling great, and they feel like they can do whatever they want to do. No matter what goes on in the world.”
The jam sessions have also introduced Leonard to opportunities he never imagined, connecting him with other artists and collaborators. He has even produced a couple of songs with British singer-songwriter, rapper and producer KWN.
“Honestly, I just hope it grows in a direction where it needs to,” Leonard said. “I’m just following God at this point, because I mean, to me, a year ago, I didn’t really see this happening. But it just happened.”
Leonard said he hopes to continue creating music similar to his jam sessions, curating spaces where strangers become collaborators and where art feels accessible to anyone.
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