 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Annual Events January February March April May June July August September October November December |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Special Events NASCAR Races NASCAR racing is one of the fastest-growing spectator sports in the United States. (NASCAR stands for the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc.) Dover Downs International Speedway, the “Monster Mile,” hosts two NASCAR race weekends each year. Usually scheduled the first weekend in June and the fourth weekend in September, race weekends in Dover encompass qualifying laps on Friday, a Busch Grand National series race on Saturday, and Winston Cup series race on Sunday. This schedule is subject to change in case of inclement weather. For the first time in 2000, a new NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race is scheduled on the Friday of the September race weekend. During NASCAR weekend events, over
120,000 fans cheer their favorite drivers at Dover Downs during the Sunday
Winston Cup feature race. Winston Cup race tickets often sell out in advance
of the race. Busch Grand National and other racing event tickets are more
readily available for visitors on race day. For further details and for
race tickets, contact Dover Downs, Inc. at 800-441-RACE, 302-734-RACE,
or 302-674-4600.
Old Dover Days Old Dover Days is a must-see event in Delaware. Held annually the first weekend in May, Old Dover Days showcases the colonial history of downtown Dover, capital of “The First State.” This unique event truly captures the character and spirit of Delaware. Generations of local families and visitors come to Old Dover Days for the annual maypole dancing on The Green, traditional crafts demonstrations, special historic house tours and museum tours, delicious food, and costumed reenactments. A fife and drum corps leads the morning parade, kicking off the festival. Delaware’s governor, United States representatives, and other elected officials dress in colonial garb to mix and mingle with the crowds. The setting for this event is spectacular, as it is centered on Dover’s Capital Complex and colonial historic district, with The Green, Old State House, Legislative Hall, nearby historic State Street, and the Loockerman Street shopping district. Museums and schools throughout the city participate with special tours, food festivals, and more. The award winning Old Dover Days
event was featured in Southern Living magazine in 1999. Overnight accommodations
packages are available for individuals and groups wishing to enjoy the
weekend festivities. Contact the Kent County Delaware Convention &
Visitors Bureau in Dover at 800-233-KENT for event information and accommodations
packages.
Amish Bike Tour In September, join us for a ride
through the farmlands and small settlements that dot the Kent County landscape
Birding at Bombay Hook Autumn and spring are busy seasons for the Delaware coast, as thousands of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds make their annual journey. One of the best places for birdwatching is Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, east of Smyrna. Bombay Hook is an important feeding and resting stop on the Atlantic Flyway. In May, the refuge participates
in National Birding Week festivities by hosting special programs and guided
hikes, both on-site and at other nearby state wildlife areas and bay beaches.
For more information on this year’s birdwatching programs and events, contact
the Bombay Hook NWR Office at 302-653-6872 or 302-653-9345.
Delaware State Fair The Delaware State Fair, one of the largest events in the state, begins the third week in July each year at the state fairgrounds in Harrington. This 80-year tradition brings nearly a quarter million Delawareans and visitors together to play, celebrate, and eat! During the ten-day event, there is nightly headline entertainment at the Harrington Raceway Grandstand, acres of carnival rides and games, livestock, poultry, and produce competitions, pig kissing contests, displays, children’s shows, cooking contests, all kinds of yummy food, and lots more. You have to see it to believe it! During the state fair, special railroad excursions are available to bring visitors from Wilmington and other locations to the fairgrounds and beyond. During the fair, gate admission
is charged for adults and children 10 and over. Tickets for headline concerts,
auto races, demolition derby and daredevil shows, and other entertainment
offerings are available by calling the ticket office at 302-398-5020. Tickets
can also be purchased on-line at www.delawarestatefair.com. For fair
dates and this year’s information, call the Delaware State Fairgrounds
office at 302-398-3269.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ongoing Events Concerts and Performances Dover and Central Delaware are quickly becoming known as an entertainment destination. Both of the slots casinos in Central Delaware, Dover Downs Slots and Midway Slots, host headline performers on a regular basis. Dover Downs Slots concerts are held in the grandstand theater overlooking the Dover Downs International Speedway. For a concert schedule and show tickets, contact Dover Downs Hospitality Services at 800-711-5882. Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, is in the renovated Capitol Theater on State Street in downtown Dover. Beginning in 2002, this 600-seat art deco theater will feature music, dance, movies, and live theater. The Center will partner with the Grand Opera House in Wilmington to host performances appearing there. Opera Delaware, Dover Symphony, Delaware Theater Company, and local theatrical troupes are among the other performers expected to grace the stage. Independent films, foreign films, classic movies, and Saturday matinees for kids will also be offered. Contact the Friends of the Capitol Theater at 302-678-3583 for more information. Theatre, musical performances, and art exhibits are currently showcased year-round at Wesley College and Delaware State University, two major educational institutions in Dover. The Delaware State University Education and Humanities Theatre is a focal point for all kinds of performing arts. It is a large, modern theatre on the south side of campus, with two balconies and a state of the art sound system. DSU also has an art gallery with changing exhibitions located in the library. Contact DSU at 302-739-4924 for a schedule of events and ticket prices. At Wesley College in downtown Dover, performances are held in the Wesley College Chapel on Division Street, a quaint venue that contributes to the historic ambience of the campus, with restored woodwork and stained glass windows. Contact Wesley College at 302-736-2336 for a schedule of events and ticket prices. For a real treat, come to Dover’s Annual Spring and Summer Performing Arts Series on The Green. Each Thursday evening at 7 p.m. between mid-May and early September, entertaining open-air performances take place in Dover’s beautiful colonial historic district. Folk singers, dancers, quartets, various musicians and singers, and children’s performances are among the variety of shows offered. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs, a picnic dinner, and your favorite companions, and join local Dover residents for this popular community event series. Contact the City of Dover Parks and Recreation Department at 302-736-7050 for the seasonal schedule of free shows. Community Appreciation Days at DAFB Community Appreciation Days take place at the Air Mobility Command Museum the third Saturday each month, from April through October. The Dover Air Force Base maintains a wonderful relationship with Dover and the Central Delaware community, and invites the public to enjoy this regular event on the grounds of the base. This exciting monthly event features military demonstrations and special aircraft tours. On Community Appreciation Days, the base fire department responds to simulated aircraft fires to demonstrate specialized fire fighting techniques and equipment. Other demonstrations showcase the special skills of a remote-controlled bomb disposal robot and military working dogs. Cockpit tours are available of selected aircraft, and retired military volunteers at the museum relate their experiences of combat and Air Force service. Uniformed military personnel conduct drills and ceremonies during the event. If missions permit, a giant C-5 Galaxy cargo plane is opened for walk-throughs on the first and third Friday and Saturday each month, including the Community Appreciation Day events. The DAFB occasionally hosts major
air show events. The navy Blue Angels performed at the base in 1999. Air
shows typically include skydiving demonstrations, antique aircraft, stunt
performances and military flyovers. Contact the AMC Museum at 302-677-5938,
or the Kent County Delaware CVB at 800-233-KENT for special event information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Event Venues Delaware Agricultural Museum & Village The fascinating Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village in Dover is the setting for numerous delightful special events and exhibits, year-round. (Shhh – it’s a well-kept secret!) Visitors who find out about the Agricultural Museum offerings are pleasantly surprised by the charming quality and character of these special events. Special changing exhibits highlight various aspects of the museum’s collections, such as hand-woven textiles, folk arts, farm tools, and antique equipment. Changing art exhibitions showcase landscape paintings and other agricultural-related works of local artists. Special event admission fees are charged for some events, and some require pre-registration. Contact the Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village at 302-734-1618 for an annual special events brochure. Agricultural Museum and Village annual events include: Annual Benefit Auction in April. Old, new, collectible, junk, antique, farm, and home…it’s all here! A Spring Living History Event. Sheepshearing, blacksmithing, music, 19th century children’s games, weaving, and horse drawn plows welcome the planting season. Delaware Herb Festival in May. Medicinal, edible, and decorative herbs with demonstrations, workshops, and tastings. Summer History Camps and other fun programs for kids in June and July. Early American Wrought Iron Conference in September. Regional blackmiths, metal workers, and farriers meet to exchange ideas and techniques. A Fall Living History Event. Apple packing and pressing, corn shucking, children’s games, and folk crafts celebrate the bountiful harvest. Christmas on the Farm Exhibit Thanksgiving through the end of December. Traditional holiday greenery, handmade ornaments and wreaths, decorated trees and holiday related artifacts grace the 1890’s village. A Farmer’s Christmas in December. Traditional Christmas music, craft demonstrations, activities and exhibits, and a walk through the lantern-lit village highlight this 2-day event. Delaware State Fairgrounds The Delaware State Fairgrounds is a growing entertainment complex, site of Midway Slots and Simulcast, Harrington Raceway, Quillen Arena, the annual Delaware State Fair, and numerous events throughout the year. The Delaware State Fair, held the last week in July, welcomes nearly 250,000 visitors to enjoy the carnival midway rides, headline entertainers, local culinary treats, farm animal and produce competitions, handmade crafts, and much more. During the fair, special train excursions are available from Wilmington to the fairgrounds and beyond. Street rod shows, auto races, motorcycle races and rallies, and popular concerts are also held at the Raceway Grandstand. Delaware State University Education and Humanities Theatre DSU plays host to a variety of events throughout the year, including musical performances and concerts, guest lecturers and famous speakers, dance performances and recitals, and traveling thatrical groups. The beautiful auditorium is comfortable, parking is plentiful, and the entertainment is first-rate! Dover Downs A Casino, a hotel, a racetrack for cars and horses, and special events! Dover Downs has it all. On a monthly basis, you will find a concert; sporting event like harness racing, NASCAR, or boxing; casino promotions; and plain fun at this evertainment mecca! The Schwartz Center for the Arts The Schwartz Center for the Arts, opening in 2002, will feature music, dance, movies, and live theater. The Center will partner with the Grand Opera House in Wilmington to host performances appearing there. Opera Delaware, Dover Symphony, Delaware Theater Company, and local theatrical troupes are among the other performers expected to grace the stage. Independent films, foreign films, classic movies, and Saturday matinees for kids will also be offered. St. Jones Estuarine Research Reserve Fun programs for the public include boat trips on the river in a 24-foot Carolina skiff, canoe trips, marsh walks, and research programs. The St. Jones Center for Estuarine Studies also offers on-site and outreach programs for students in grades K-12. Students learn about topics such as watersheds, beach ecology, water pollution and water quality, land use decisions, and horseshoe crabs. Programs and special events are offered year-round. Call the reserve at 302-739-3436 for event schedules and registration information. |