Delaware

🎃👻🍬 Welcome to our 2024 Halloween Guide 🍬👻🎃

Published

2 years ago

October 5, 2024

🎃👻🍬 Welcome to our 2024 Halloween Guide 🍬👻🎃

Halloween is making a statement everywhere right now.

End caps of grocery stores overflow with bags of candy corn and mini chocolate bars. Skeletons and witches loom throughout the neighborhood, and farms, bars, breweries, museums and other venues are ready to entertain you, scare you silly, or both.

So, whether your idea of Halloween is a trunk or treat with other families, chased with streaming “Hocus Pocus,” or it’s more zombie run and Frightland, we’ve got you:

Right up there with apple-picking, corn mazes and haunted houses, pumpkin-picking has become a fall traditiion for many.

In 2020 alone, as many as 66,200 acres of pumpkins were harvested in the United States, producing over 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins that year, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

From the classic orange jack-o’-lantern to the whimsical Cinderella’s coach, pumpkins are a staple of the season – and many are ripe and ready to be picked.

Here’s where – and how – you can pick your perfect pumpkin in the First State this fall.

Halloween is just around the corner, and a majority of Americans have begun their planning and shopping for Halloween costumes.

According to the National Retail Federation, an estimated $12.2 billion was spent on Halloween last year across the country, nearly a third of which was spent on costumes, and the shopping wave seems to start earlier and earlier.

Here are some stores around Delaware to look for the perfect costumes and decorations this Halloween season, plus some events and contests that will get the spooky season started.

It’s about that time of year when Halloween costume planning is starting to set in.

If you’re out of classic ideas and looking for something topical and modern, here are some costumes inspired by the happenings of 2024 so that you’re the life of your upcoming Halloween celebration.

Halloween celebrations are filled with plenty of tricks and treats, and while horror-filled fun comes with the season, it may not be suitable for everyone.

Whether you have small kiddos in tow or want something a bit tamer, here are some Halloween celebrations around the state that are perfect for family outings and children of all ages.

Halloween thrill-seekers in Delaware, this spooky season’s events are ready to scare the pants off you, so going commando might not be wise.

Here’s a mix of freaky, witchy and eerie events that will be conjured around the First State, before and after Halloween.

If you thought southern Delaware had a lot of fall events, wait until you see the lineup for Halloween.

You’ll be fighting a candy hangover for months after attending all the parades, haunted houses, fantasy trails and more at or near the Delaware beaches. There’s no shortage of costumed events for adults, children, families, pets and zombies.

Mark your calendars for these events.

Halloween is still just over a month away, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to start planning this year’s Halloween party.

Just in time for the spooky season, these Halloween cocktails are unique ways to get into the spirit. If Sober October is more your speed, it’s even easier to make these into equally refreshing alcohol-free beverages.

Delaware is also home to plenty of cocktail bars and breweries that serve fall-inspired drinks.

Here are some recipes to try at home and some Halloween-inspired brews to look for in Delaware.

There is no replacing trick-or-treating on Halloween. Kids and parents in costume greeting their neighbors and getting their favorite candy creates memories that can last a lifetime.

If you want an earlier start on the Halloween fun, there are some trunk-or-treats around the First State that can get everyone warmed up for holiday itself.

Trunk-or-treats are events where people park their cars and give out candy in a parking lot. Instead of a neighborhood, it’s a lot and instead of houses, it’s car trunks. Community center and churches are common places to see these events.

Grab a bucket, bag or pillowcase, throw on a costume and check out some of these trunk-or-treats in all three Delaware counties right as Halloween season is in full swing.

In the home state of Dogfish Head’s iconic Punkin Ale, craft breweries take fall seriously.

Over the next month, breweries will roll out autumnal-themed events tying all sorts of things ― horror comics, candy, brunches and cooking and pet costume contests ― to, well, beer, of course.

So grab your favorite flannel and make some plans to celebrate pumpkin season with some of the state’s best beer-makers.

The calendar has turned over to October meaning the clock is ticking for your Halloween preparations.

McDonald’s is ready, according to the Instagram site @snackolator. The fast food giant is bringing back Boo Buckets.

This Halloween season, forget about ghosts: The scariest thing is what the holiday does to the environment.

According to Waste Managed, Halloween generates a significant amount of waste, from discarded single-use costumes to nondisposable decorations to plastic candy bags.

Luckily, there are several ways to help curb your carbon footprint this year, but also make for fun new traditions for the whole family to enjoy.

Here are a few tricks-slash-treats you can help make for a sustainable and spook-tacular Halloween season.

As Halloween approaches, many revelers are eager to elevate their costumes with makeup but aren’t sure how to achieve their desired looks.

While envisioning a face painted hauntingly white, intricately marked with swirls of black paint, hollow eye sockets and adorned with red petal flowers, they end up with makeup that feels dry, coverage that looks uneven and fades quickly.

However, with the right tools and a bit of practice, anyone can bring their Halloween vision to life.

Whether you’re leaning toward creative glam or venturing into special effects and fantasy looks, Delaware-based makeup artists Daysla Ixtli and Chyna “Chy” Gibbs have expert tips to help you nail your spooky transformation.

It’s the spookiest time of the year and, in some cases, the only time you’ll see most of your neighbors.

Halloween is on the horizon, as shown by the holiday displays at local grocery stores, Walmarts and Targets.

Here’s what you need to know about Halloween.

Check out some creepy houses of Halloweens past.

Here are some tips to ensure a safe night of Halloween trick-or-treating.

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Delaware

Utility costs are ‘crushing’ in Delaware. What leaders are doing about it

Published

3 hours ago

June 15, 2026

Press Room

Utility costs are ‘crushing’ in Delaware. What leaders are doing about it

Between energy costs spiking last year and higher Delmarva Power electricity rates kicking off earlier this month, utility affordability remains top of mind for consumers and lawmakers.

In a press conference June 15, Gov. Matt Meyer called on the Public Service Commission to “freeze rates immediately” ahead of an interim hike set for July, as well as implement penalties for delayed action on solar power. The Democrat also announced he will join a petition to stop the “gouging” on ratepayers with the company’s 10.5% return on equity, or money invested in power infrastructure.

Delmarva Power said in a statement that afternoon it shares these affordability concerns, but investments have already been made to “strengthen reliability.” The company said it remains focused on efforts to drive down its supply costs, which it argues have driven 90% of consumer bill increases since 2024.

Meyer’s calls also join several bills passed last year and this session – ranging from rate regulations to expanding eligibility for energy credits – with many already signed into law. Yet, residents remain frustrated and unlikely to feel any impact quickly.

Looking even farther ahead, lawmakers are also still considering future energy sources to help relieve heavy consumer burden.

So, what have Delaware leaders done so far – and what’s left to tackle?

What legislation has passed, with more still on the table

There are 14 pieces of legislation centered on energy and utilities now filed in the General Assembly in 2026 alone, according to state Sen. Stephanie Hansen.

Some highlights include:

Senate Bill 239, which lifts the 8% cap on net energy metering
Senate Bill 326, which looks to limit Delmarva’s infrastructure spending, enhance rate transparency and utility communication and caps how much utilities can claim with interim rates, to name a few provisions. This bill builds off previous legislation signed into law last year, which limits yearly capital costs retrievable by Delmarva, as previously reported by Delaware Online/The News Journal.
House Bill 310, which would exempt data centers from corporate tax breaks or fee reductions granted to new businesses under the state’s Blue Collar Jobs Act, according to Hansen, a co-sponsor of the bill.
House Bill 233, which mandates certain utilities to set “a separate rate class” for large energy users. Primary bill sponsor Rep. Frank Burns told attendees during a June 15 press conference this bill would take all the expenses created by large-scale data centers, “puts them in a bucket” and ensures those centers pay that price. Without it, the Pike Creek Democrat said, Delawareans would see an estimated 80% increase on their electric bills.

Six of those bills – including Senate Bill 210, Senate Bill 239, Senate Bill 276, Senate Bill 321, House Bill 269 and House Concurrent Resolution 94 – have cleared both chambers.

Two of these bills, Senate Bill 210 and House Bill 269, were signed by Meyer earlier this spring, offering solutions related to interconnections.

Senate Bill 210 – also known as the legislature’s “interconnection bill,” according to Hansen – states that so long as a point of interconnection is located within the Delmarva Power region and under their jurisdiction, it can be connected. This will make room for 10 community solar-related projects, a total of roughly 30 megawatts, to come online with enough to power approximately 30,000 homes, said the Middletown Democrat.

In turn, House Bill 269 clarifies interconnection rules for electric suppliers must match with the most recent procedures from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.

On June 10, Meyer also signed Senate Bills 239 and 276 into law, removing the 8% cap and allowing electric cooperatives discretion to provide electricity to “large load” electric users.

Others, like House Bill 310, have managed to clear their chamber of origin, according to Hansen, while some have yet to appear before committee.

Lawmakers have also largely focused on cost and the potential impact of data centers.

These centers often require mass amounts of infrastructure to operate, such as coal and natural gas power plants, according to the Environmental and Energy Studies Institute. Additionally, because they have “an immense electricity demand,” they require new substations to function, which in turn can cost a lot of money to build, according to Russell Zerbo of the Clean Air Council.

As a result, lawmakers have not only focused on utility costs, but also how data centers could impact ratepayers and overall reliability, Hansen said.

Delaware has faced its own share of data center proposals. One proposal, called Project Washington, was set to occupy roughly 6 million square feet over two campuses in Delaware City, with approximately 11 buildings and several neighboring electrical fields.

The proposal faced a major setback, however, when the Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board upheld the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s decision to bar it this past spring.

What has been done in other states?

Faced with sky-high energy costs, Delaware’s neighbor states have sprung into action.

New Jersey has enacted several initiatives to address utility cost hikes. One of Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s first executive orders froze rate spikes and delivered ratepayer relief.

The second expanded programs to look into new power sources in-state, equating more power with lower costs.

Pennsylvania lawmakers introduced a legislative package with the goal of driving down energy costs on May 1. Efforts include data center regulations, updating the state’s electric grid and pushing for the development of “a virtual power plant,” as reported by the Pennsylvania Independent.

Fellow neighbor Maryland also enacted the Utility RELIEF Act, which aims to save residents at least $150 on energy bills on a yearly basis. The act also requires data centers to cover any expenses related to energy infrastructure adjustments, rather than let Maryland families take the fall.

Delaware similarly has two programs in place: the state Energy Fund and the Delmarva Customer Relief Fund.

The energy fund assists any eligible customers – not including Delmarva customers – if their income falls under 350% of the federal poverty level, or $55,860 for a one-person household.

In contrast, Delmarva’s relief fund provides upward of $500 via Energize Delaware and the United Way of Delaware. This is one of many relief funds and programs available designed to support lower-income consumers across the state.

Among the laws signed by Meyer last year included barring the use of consumer funds for non-utility-related purposes; mandating transparency regarding regional energy grid guidance participation; and ensuring consumers benefit from surplus energy credits.

However, because these bills were just signed into law last year, consumers most likely won’t see the results of some of these bills right away. It takes time to put these regulations in place, according to Dustyn Thompson of the Delaware chapter of the Sierra Club.

Hansen said in a statement that legislators understand supply and demand has been “crushing,” hence why the General Assembly has been acting to get these bills passed and onto Meyer’s desk as soon as possible.

“We’re trying to attack this from many different angles,” she continued during the June 15 press conference on the subject. These angles include direct assistance with paying bills – such as the energy fund – and a greater “systemic approach,” scaling back on how much money utilities ask to be recovered.

The same press conference saw Meyer announcing he will join a petition and call on the Public Service Commission to “freeze rates immediately,” as well as implement penalties for delayed action on solar power.

He also voiced support for several bills headed to his desk.

But the work is far from over.

What more can Delaware do?

While the priority has largely been on costs and data centers, legislators have also directed their attention to other available energy sources.

One effort has been the Delaware Nuclear Energy Feasibility Task Force. Established in 2025, this group is responsible for looking at the benefits, dependability and potential impact of using small modular reactors in the First State.

The task force is scheduled to present its final report by the end of July, detailing a direction for Delaware with this energy source, according to Hansen.

However, when it comes to this and other energy sources, a long road lies ahead.

Take offshore wind, for example. After much back-and-forth last session, lawmakers passed an effort that overturned the Sussex County Council’s rejection of a permit needed for US Wind to build a substation critical to plans to erect more than 100 wind turbines off the Delmarva coast, which went into effect earlier this year.

Despite this, President Donald Trump has remained firmly against wind turbines, even signing an executive order temporarily putting permits, approvals and energy lease sales for offshore wind projects on hold last year.

And while the Delmarva project is ready to go, it is still being held up at the federal level, according to Hansen.

“Rather than spending money to build something, we’re spending that to not build something,” Thompson said.

Even if the federal government supports the project, the Sierra Club leader estimates it will take somewhere between five and six years to get off the ground.

As for natural gas or nuclear energy – considered “the largest source of clean power” in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Energy – Hansen said that can take even longer.

Large natural gas turbines usually come with a four-to-eight year waiting period, according to the lawmaker.

“You can’t just buy them off the shelf,” she said.

Additionally, building a nuclear power plant is a multi-million-dollar undertaking, often with construction challenges and long lead times.

In neighbor state New Jersey, lawmakers also passed a bill that would expand nuclear power throughout the state. However, one expert estimates it could take between 10 and 20 years for that power to go online.

Hansen herself made a similar projection, saying it could take eight to 10 years to get up and running in Delaware, maybe more. So, she said it’s also crucial lawmakers look into energy that won’t require as much time to get online, specifically solar.

Hansen previously backed a bill that would have allowed the use of small, plug‑in solar power systems in the First State earlier this spring, a technology gaining traction as energy costs rise nationwide.

Because it is still a new technology in the United States, and doesn’t have set safety standards in place, the bill is now a resolution, Hansen said.

This resolution requests the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility and the Natural Resources Department conduct a study on the safety and use of balcony and plug-in solar devices. These entities must share a report on the study by Jan. 26, 2027.

Looking ahead, Hansen said lawmakers need to do everything they can to bring “all-size solar” to the state, whether it be community, utility or rooftop. This will help bring down energy costs in the meantime as lawmakers wait for other energy projects to take off.

Because, as Hansen explained, time is of the essence.

“We need more generation,” she said. “And we need it now.”

(This story has been updated to change a video.)

Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at omontes@delawareonline.com.

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Delaware

4-year-old boy among 2 shot in Wilmington, Del., Sunday night, officials say

Published

14 hours ago

June 15, 2026

Press Room

4-year-old boy among 2 shot in Wilmington, Del., Sunday night, officials say

The Wilmington Police Department (WPD) is investigating a shooting incident that left a 4-year-old boy and a teenager injured Sunday night, June 14, 2026.

The shooting occurred at approximately 6:39 p.m. on Sunday when Wilmington Police located the teen and boy on the 1400 block of West 3rd Street in Wilmington, Delaware, officers say.

Both victims were found in stable condition and were transported to a local hospital.

According to police, the 18-year-old victim had exchanged gunfire with multiple people during the incident and was found to be wanted for an unrelated incident. Charges against the teen for the shooting are pending, officials say.

The incident continues to be under investigation, and further details will be released.

The WPD asks that anyone with information on this incident contact Detective Johnnie Everett at (302) 576-3972, or send information to Delaware Crime Stoppers at (1-800) TIP-3333 or at delawarecrimestoppers.com.

Additionally, the WPD Victim Services Unit and Youth Response Unit are available to provide support, free counseling, and other services to victims of crime and traumatizing events. To contact the Victim Services unit, call (302) 576-3622, and to contact the Youth Response Unit, call (302) 576-3183.

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Delaware

3-year-old shot in Wilmington, Delaware

Published

24 hours ago

June 15, 2026

Press Room

Monday, June 15, 2026 3:46AM

WILMINGTON, Del. — A 3-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital after being shot Sunday evening in Wilmington.

The shooting happened around 6:30 p.m. in the 1400 block of West 3rd Street.

Police said the child was shot at least once and was taken to Nemours Children’s Hospital for treatment. There was no immediate word on his condition.

Authorities said the shooting occurred in the area of a child’s birthday party.

Investigators have not released further details about what led up to the incident.

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