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FOURTH OF JULY

Cape Region events to celebrate Independence Day

Fireworks, kids games, hometown celebrations aplenty
July 1, 2016

Visitors and locals in the Cape Region: Get ready to celebrate your red, white and blue. Independence Day falls this year on Monday, July 4, so that means a weekend chock-full of festivities. Here’s a look ahead:

Rehoboth fireworks blastoff set July 3

The annual fireworks extravaganza in Rehoboth Beach is set for 9:15 p.m., Sunday, July 3.

Zambelli Fireworks will launch its show from the beach at Laurel Street, in front of the Star of the Sea condominium. If bad weather threatens, the show could go off as early as 8 p.m. The rain date is Monday, July 4.

The July 3 show will allow Rehoboth to host the first fireworks of the season, said Rehoboth Communications Director Krys Johnson. “Safety is the top concern for the fireworks, and we are grateful to all of the emergency responders for the preparation, training and hard work that is necessary to bring an event of this magnitude to fruition,” she said.

Main Street is encouraging visitors to use the DART Park and Ride buses or the Jolly Trolley to get into town. Premiere parking can be found at Epworth United Methodist Church, 19285 Holland Glade Rd., for $20 cash only. The cost includes transportation on the Jolly Trolley bus into Rehoboth, a separate service from the Jolly Trolley tram line. The 300-car lot opens at 6 p.m. and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Proceeds from the church parking lot will go to the Rehoboth Sunshine Rotary club.

The Jolly Trolley will operate until 2 a.m. on a fixed route from the Rehoboth Boardwalk to Dickinson Avenue in Dewey Beach with stops at Village By The Sea, the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, Robinson Drive on Silver Lake and six stops in Dewey.

 For those parking in town, spaces are available at the Deauville Beach parking lot and at metered and nonmetered spaces. However, at 7 p.m., vehicles will not be able to cross Rehoboth Avenue at the traffic circle. At 8:30 p.m., the entrance to Rehoboth at Church Street will close, making State Road and Bayard Avenue the only ways into town.

In addition, Henlopen Avenue will be limited to only resident and bus traffic beginning at 6 p.m. Only bus traffic will be allowed on Surf Avenue beginning at 6 p.m.; residents of Henlopen Acres and North Shores will be able to access their homes via First Street beginning at 8:30 p.m.

After the fireworks, those on the north end of town will be able to leave town using Rehoboth or Columbia avenues, while those on the south side of town can leave via Bayard Avenue or using Hickman Street or Munson Street to get to State Road.

This will be Main Street’s final year as the primary sponsor of the event. The organization will be dissolved in March 2017 and the city will take over sponsorship of the show.

Dewey to blast off July 4

From a boat in Dewey's Head of Bay Cove, Highway One Companies will host its annual fireworks display Monday, July 4. Parking in Dewey is free on Mondays from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Lewes fired up for the Fourth

Lewes will continue its long Fourth of July tradition with a handful of activities for the entire family.

Beginning at 9 a.m., Monday, children are invited to participate in old-fashioned games on Second Street. Games include a hula hoop competition, a pie-eating contest and egg on a spoon, three-legged and potato sack races.

Following the games, the Lewes Independence Day Boat Parade will wind its way down the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal from the Roosevelt Inlet to Fisherman’s Wharf. Dr. Nancy Targett has been named the parade’s honorary grand marshal to honor her service to the Lewes community for 33 years.

The parade entrants will leave from Roosevelt Inlet across from the Coast Guard Station at 1:30 p.m. and reach the judges’ reviewing stand at Fisherman’s Wharf at about 2 p.m. Mayor Ted Becker will announce the parade in the area of Fisherman’s Wharf. The parade judges are members of city council, board directors from the Lightship Overfalls Foundation and the Lewes Chamber of Commerce. This is the 13th year that the Lewes Chamber of Commerce and the Overfalls Foundation have jointly sponsored the Independence Day Boat Parade.

All pre-registered boat entrants will be eligible for prizes that include a unique hand-carved figurine by local carver Bert Long, a member of the organizing committee. The figurine will be awarded to the most creatively decorated boat. First-, second- and third-place ribbons will also be awarded. Boats will be judged on the best use of patriotic decorations. To be eligible for a prize, the vessel must be registered prior to 10 a.m., July 4.

Registration forms will be available at the Lewes Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center in the Fisher-Martin House in Zwaanendael Park, at Pilottown Marina on Pilottown Road and the Lewes Harbour Marina Bait and Tackle at the end of Anglers Road. For more information, call the Lewes Chamber of Commerce at 302-645-8073. Late, unregistered entries are invited to join the parade by arriving at the Roosevelt Inlet at 1:30 p.m., tuning a VHF radio to channel 65 and following instructions. There is no charge to participate as an entrant in the boat parade or to be a spectator.

Later in the afternoon, the Doo-Dah Parade will begin around 5 p.m. on its regular route toward town on King Highway, Savannah Road and then onto Second Street.  

Milton to host hometown celebration July 4

 The Milton Community Foundation and Irish Eyes Pub & Restaurant will host the annual Bring Mayberry Back to Milton celebration on Monday, July 4, at Milton Memorial Park.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes a bike-decorating contest, dunk tank, sack races, pie-baking contest, water balloon battle, cornhole, food, free ice cream and family-friendly games. The bike decorating contest and bike parade will begin at 11 a.m., with registration at the park gazebo at 10:45.

To compete in the Red, White or Blue-themed pie-baking contest, bring a pie to the hospitality tent between 9 and 10 a.m. All pies must be made from scratch, prepared in a 9-inch disposable pie pan with a cover and not require refrigeration. Prizes and certificates will be awarded to the winners.

Musical entertainment at the gazebo will feature Milton’s Walt Hetfeld, known for his Buddy Holly tribute performances, and DJ Jerry B from Affordable Wedding Entertainment.

For more information, to volunteer or become a sponsor, email Maryellen Kiernan at mare@irisheyespub.com.

Cape Gazette reporters Chris Flood, Maddy Lauria, Ryan Mavity and Nick Roth contributed to this story. 

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