Besides dancing the night away at a concert, what else is there to do in Delaware in July?
From festivals to theater performances and other activities, here are several exciting ways to enjoy the First State this month:
Major 4th of July Celebrations
Hockessin
Uncle Sam vibes will take over Hockessin’s Independence Day celebration, featuring a beer garden, food trucks and live music.
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At about 8 a.m., the relay races will begin, organizers said. The parade begins at 3 p.m. on Old Lancaster Pike and heads to Valley Road.
At dusk, fireworks are launched. The main viewing area to see the display is Swift Park, the Piedmont baseball fields, the Hockessin Library, and the Artesian soccer fields.
Old Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, July 4. Visit hockessin4th.org or call (302) 239-6900.
Wilmington
Delaware’s largest city will be celebrating the Fourth of July holiday with family-friendly activities and live entertainment at Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park, including a cruise on the Kalmar Nyckel starting at 4 p.m. Fireworks will begin around 9:30 p.m.
Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park (Rosa Parks Drive, Wilmington) from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, July 4. Visit cityfestwilm.com or call (302) 576-2100.
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Dover
The Capital City will celebrate America’s birthday with a parade, music, vendors, fireworks and more. The parade begins at 6 p.m. on Hazel Street, heads south on State Street and ends at Water Street. Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m.
The event will be held near The Green (25 The Green, Dover) and Legislative Hall (411 Legislative Ave., Dover) from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, July 4. For the full schedule, visit dover4thofjuly.com.
Rebound
Keep in mind that the Rehoboth Beach fireworks display is on the weekend. People will be able to see the sparks flying from the beach and Rehoboth boardwalk.
Road closures will begin around the bandstand at 6 p.m., and at 7 p.m., on Henlopen and Surf avenues. Starting at 7:30 p.m., vehicles will not be allowed to cross Rehoboth Avenue at the circle. Eastbound Rehoboth Avenue and Church Street from Route 1 will be closed at 8 p.m., organizers said.
Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk (8 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach). Fireworks begin around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 6. Visit cityofrehoboth.com or call (302) 227-6181.
Floating, Seaford
Although the Nanticoke Riverfest is no more, the spirit of the festival will live on through the annual float. Floating was a popular event at Riverfest, and this year’s float begins at noon. The launch site is at First State OMS in Seaford, adjacent to Route 13 to the south, across from the Seaford Ice Plant.
A shuttle service will be available from Water Street to the launch site starting at noon. There will be no shuttle service for cars left at the launch. Floaters are asked to park downtown. All floaters under the age of 16 must wear a life jacket, according to event organizers.
Registration for the float-in begins at noon on Saturday, July 13. The launch site is at First State OMS (9096 Riverside Drive, Seaford). Admission to the float is $2 (cash only). Visit seafordde.com or call (302) 629-9173.
Shady Grove Music Festival, Arden
Arden’s arts community is gearing up for another fan-favorite Shady Grove Music Fest. This year’s festival features performances by Death by Indie, Von Holden, Queasy, The Lunar Year, Pink Blush, Red Smith & Friends, and more. Guests are welcome to bring a chair and blanket to this festival, which features food trucks, beer, and wine. But you can’t sneak in your own beer or pets.
Arden Gild Hall (2126 The Highway, Arden) at noon, Saturday, July 13. Tickets are $29. Visit ardenconcerts.com.
‘Julius Caesar’ by Delaware Shakespeare, Wilmington
During the tyrannical reign of Julius Caesar, a group of leaders, led by Cassius and Brutus, plan and carry out a major assassination.
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Delaware Shakespeare will feature a gender-spanning cast in its outdoor production of Shakespeare’s classic “Julius Caesar.” Guests are encouraged to bring a chair, blanket, and picnic, and enjoy pre-show entertainment and the main event. This wheelchair-accessible festival runs Wednesday through Sunday, July 18 through August 4.
Rockwood Park (4651 Washington St. Extension, near Wilmington) Thursday, July 18, through Sunday, August 4. All shows start at 7:30 p.m., except Sunday shows, which start at 6 p.m. (July 21, July 28 and August 4). Tickets are $23 to $45. Visit delshakes.my.salesforce-sites.com or call (302) 468-4890.
Delaware State Fair 2024, Harrington
Fans can already smell the fried Oreos, barbecue and sweaty excitement that the 105th Delaware State Fair will bring this year.
The 10-day fair offers everything from mouth-watering food and amusement rides to concerts by top artists.
This year’s concert lineup at the M&T Bank Grandstand features headliners Rick Springfield (Thursday, July 18), Jon Pardi (Friday, July 19), Ludacris (Saturday, July 20), Jordan Davis (Sunday, July 21), Cooper Alan (Monday, July 22), We the Kingdom (Tuesday, July 23), Brantley Gilbert (Wednesday, July 24) and Turnpike Troubadours (Saturday, July 27).
Delaware State Fair (18500 S. Dupont Highway, Harrington) Thursday, July 18, through Saturday, July 27. General admission tickets are $10 in person or $10.50 online. Grandstand shows are extra and prices vary. Visit delawarestatefair.com or (302) 398-3269.
‘Circle of Truth’ art exhibition, Dover
“Circle of Truth” is a new art exhibition that resembles the game of telephone, where a message whispered from person to person becomes so distorted that the final version hardly resembles the original.
“Circle of Truth” began with a painting by co-curator Shane Guffogg, sent anonymously with a blank canvas for the next artist. Each artist in this “Circle” was then given the previous anonymous painting, a blank canvas and instructions to paint their response to the “Truth” they perceived, according to the exhibition description. This continued for 49 artists over nine years.
Biggs Museum of American Art (406 Federal St., Dover) from Thursday, July 25, to Sunday, September 22. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. Admission is $2 to $10. Free for children under 18, college students (with valid ID), active-duty military and dependents, companions or caregivers, or people with disabilities. Visit thebiggsmuseum.org or call 674-2111.
Paranormal Circus, Dover
Halloween kicks off in July when zombies, sexy vampires and spooky ghosts take the stage at Paranormal Cirque. This darkly themed circus show includes adult language and other content that requires guests under 17 to be accompanied by an adult 21 or older. Paranormal Cirque performs aerial acrobatics, contortions and more under a giant tent in the mall parking lot.
Dover Mall (1365 N Dupont Highway, Dover) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 25, and Friday, July 26; 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 27; 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Sunday, July 28. Tickets are $20 to $60. Visit paranormalcirque.com or call (941) 704-8572.
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Food and Beer Festival in Downtown Newark
People can cool off with their choice of more than 40 craft beers paired with fun food offerings from a dozen Newark restaurants as part of the annual Downtown Newark Food & Brew Fest. Tickets are not required, as patrons will travel from restaurant to restaurant in this pay-as-you-go festival. The first 2,000 guests receive a commemorative 5 oz. tasting mug from the 20th annual NFB. It is available at the information booth on the Academy Lawn (Academy and Main streets).
Downtown Newark from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 27. Visit outandaboutnow.com.
If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider subscribing to his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.
