Delaware

Springtime events: What to do, know this weekend at the Delaware beaches

Published

1 year ago

April 9, 2025

Press Room

Springtime events: What to do, know this weekend at the Delaware beaches

When April hits, there’s something, or more likely many somethings, happening at the Delaware beaches every weekend.

Seasonal restaurants are opening their shutters, businesses are trying to draw in early business and more and more people are returning to the sand.

As we head toward Memorial Day, Delaware Online/The News Journal will keep you posted each week on can’t-miss events, what’s open, traffic and other things to know in Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island and surrounding communities.

Here’s what you need to know this weekend, Friday, April 11, to Sunday, April 13.

Women’s+ FEST

Camp Rehoboth’s Women’s+ Fest actually starts Thursday and runs through Sunday. It’s a springtime tradition that offers “entertainment, sports, music, dancing, comedy, education and fun for women, both trans- and cisgender, nonbinary folks, and those that live on the spectrum of the feminine spirit,” according to the website.

There are Women’s+ Fest events throughout Rehoboth Beach all weekend. Visit camprehoboth.org for details.

Springtime aesthetic not your thing? Brimming Horn Meadery will host this death metal concert featuring Pessimist and other bands Friday night at 6 p.m.

It’s a free show. Brimming Horn is located at 28615 Lewes-Georgetown Highway in Milton.

This is Delaware’s biggest indoor yard sale, held in the gym at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes. Up to 100 vendors will sell excess business inventory, handmade goods, antiques, collectibles and second-hand household items.

The Merchants’ Attic event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, but get there early for the good stuff!

Schellville, Schell Brothers’ event venue behind Tanger Outlets Seaside in Rehoboth Beach, will host an Easter Eggstravaganza Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $11 per person.

The event features, of course, an egg hunt, the Easter bunny, facepainting, balloon art, a bounce house, an obstacle course and more. Tickets will likely sell out so get them now. If you can’t go this week, there’s another event next Saturday.

Get Hopped Up

This is Schellville’s adult Easter event, starting at 5 p.m. Saturday. A $40 ticket buys you unlimited “tastings” from numerous local wineries and breweries, as well as a concert by Kleptoradio. Designated drivers get in for free, but the event is strictly for those 21 and older. Artisan shacks and food vendors will be open.

The Dogfish Head brewery in Milton hosts this free event. This year, there’s a vendors’ “Shakedown Street,” Grateful Dead giveaways and food, an Extended Play record shop, DJ Droid and custom tie-dye shirt-making.

The event takes place Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Catch Dogfish founder Sam Calagione DJing from 1 to 3 p.m.

This is Salted Vines Vineyard and Winery’s second year hosting this festival focused on wine, music and shopping.

Food trucks will be on site throughout the day Sunday and the “vendor village” will be open from 11 to 4 p.m. Music starts at noon with The Fabulous String Theory, followed by The Funsters at 4 p.m.

The event, which also features the re-release of Salted Vines’ Lower Slower Delaware wine, is free to the public. Salted Vines is located at 32512 Blackwater Road in Frankford.

Things to know

Some of these events are weather dependent. It’s predicted to rain this weekend, so check to make sure they’re still on before you go.

The north side beach at Delaware Seashore State Park has reopened after replenishment, but if you were hoping to get a look at the dead humpback whale just west of the Indian River Inlet, you’re too late. On Tuesday morning, the whale floated back through the inlet and out to sea. The Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Insitute is monitoring its movement.

The Lewes Tulip Festival continues, with colorful blooms making any visit to town extra special. There’s also a new playground open at Canalfront Park in Lewes.

Little Leagues throughout the country are starting their seasons. Lewes and Milton and will have Opening Day parades Saturday morning in their respective downtowns, which will cause brief road closures.

Some other road closures and construction to know about:

Armory Road, between Dukes and Omar roads in Dagsboro, is closed through mid-May.
If you’re headed to Slaughter Beach, the Cedar Creek drawbridge is closed until further notice.

Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com.

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Delaware

UD’s Blue Hen Forever statue becomes a new campus landmark

Published

4 minutes ago

June 8, 2026

Press Room

UD’s Blue Hen Forever statue becomes a new campus landmark

There’s a new big man – er, Blue Hen – on campus at the University of Delaware.

The Blue Hens Forever sculpture is intended as a campus rallying point that will serve as a key landmark for the UD.

Weighing in at over 3,000 pounds and measuring 7.5 feet tall, it’s impossible to miss the bronze statue when walking around campus.

Funded by the school’s alumni association, the statue traces back to the original 2019 plans for Alumni Circle, a project recognizing high-achieving UD graduates. Pandemic-related delays pushed back work on Alumni Circle – and the statue – until 2025, when the Board of Trustees approved it.

The statue is located outside of Alumni Hall, just off Main Street on the northern end of campus.

It was installed May 14, just before the end of the school year, but was formally unveiled May 31 as part of Alumni Weekend festivities.

The sculptor is Brian Hanlon, a New Jersey artist who has decades of experience crafting college and professional sports sculptures.

Beth Brand, the university’s vice president for development and alumni relations, said she was confident the statue was on its way to becoming a celebrated UD landmark.

“If you go to campuses across the nation, there’s so many great traditions and points of pride in statues and sculptures on campus,” Brand said. “We didn’t have a real central point for people to take pictures with the Blue Hen.”

The sculpture is already garnering buzz around campus, Brand said.

“It was installed just before graduation, which was pretty intentional,” Brand said, “so that we could have students and graduates take advantage of photo opportunities.

Alumni took notice too, flocking to the statue throughout Alumni Weekend.

Jacob Marks, a recent UD alum who works at the school bookstore, put it simply.

“I mean, it’s a really big chicken,” he said.

Marks said he has always leaned into the uniqueness of UD’s mascot, always explaining to out-of-towners that the name dates back to the Revolutionary War.

Commenters on an alumni association Facebook post about the statue welcomed its addition to campus, but a few wondered how many people would try to hop on its back and “ride” the statue.

Brand said that concern is soon to be taken care of. Summer additions include lighting, security cameras, landscaping and a “Do Not Ride” sign.

Jackson Cooper is an intern reporter for Delaware Online/The News Journal. He can be reached at jcooper@delawareonline.com.

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Delaware

Pop star Nick Jonas showed up in Delaware. Here’s where he ate

Published

10 hours ago

June 7, 2026

Press Room

Pop star Nick Jonas showed up in Delaware. Here’s where he ate

Wilmington continues to attract all of the stars.

Pop star Nick Jonas stopped into Bardea Food and Drink in downtown Wilmington, according to a post from the popular restaurant’s Instagram.

“Great having Nick Jonas stop by for dinner during an unexpected visit to Wilmington,” the June 7 post said. “Thanks for joining us at the table.”

Jonas is currently on a brief East Coast tour, and had a show in Niagara Falls on June 4 and another show in Hanover, Maryland, on June 6.

The Texas-born, New Jersey-raised pop star is best known as a member of the Jonas Brothers band, along with some solo work. He also starred in a few television shows and movies.

Bardea Food and Drink is among the leaders in the Wilmington’s food scene, and one of several eateries operated by Bardea restaurant group in the city.

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