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Fourth of July to light up Cape Region

Events planned July 2, 4
June 24, 2017

The Cape Region is gearing up for plenty of fireworks-filled Independence Day celebrations. As July 4 falls on a Tuesday, the weekend before the holiday is packed with activities, parades and fireworks. Here is a list of happenings for those looking to celebrate:

Lewes

The City of Lewes continues its long tradition of hosting old-fashioned games for children on Second Street beginning at 9 a.m., Tuesday, July 4. Second Street will be closed while the games are in progress and will reopen at the conclusion of the games.

Following the games, the Lewes Independence Day Boat Parade will wind its way down the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal to Fisherman's Wharf as part of the City of Lewes' Fourth of July holiday festivities. The parade entrants will leave from Roosevelt Inlet across from the Coast Guard Station at 1 p.m. and reach the judges' reviewing stand at Fisherman's Wharf at about 2 p.m.

Mayor Ted Becker will announce the parade, while members of city council and board members of the Lightship Overfalls Foundation and the Lewes Chamber of Commerce will serve as judges.

All preregistered 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. All boat entrants will receive merchandise prizes from the Overfalls Foundation. Boats will be judged on the best use of patriotic decorations.

At the conclusion of the parade, all boat entrants are invited to attend the awards ceremony on the deck of the Lightship Overfalls at 3:30 p.m. 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 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. Good viewing spots line the canal on both sides and go on a first-come basis.

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

While not part of the official Lewes celebration, it is not uncommon to see fireworks along Lewes Beach after the sun sets. Lewes Mayor and City Council and the police department are discouraging folks from setting off fireworks this year, as all fireworks, including sparklers, are illegal under Delaware law.

Trinity Faith Christian Center on New Road will host Fourth of July celebration from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, featuring children’s games, volleyball, adult tricycle races, hay ride and a car show. For more information, call 302-645-5446. Rain date is Saturday, July 8.

Cape May-Lewes Ferry

The Cape May-Lewes Ferry will offer a unique view of the Rehoboth Beach fireworks Sunday, July 2, with a cruise from the Lewes terminal to Rehoboth. Check-in for the cruise from 5 to 6:45 p.m. Photo ID is required for the person picking up the tickets. Boarding of the ferry will begin at 6:45 p.m. and the scheduled departure time is 7:15 p.m. The fireworks are scheduled to begin at 9:15 p.m. The ferry will return to Lewes at about 11 p.m.

The special cruise will feature live entertainment by Glass Onion, and food and drinks will be available for purchase at the terminal's waterfront grill and aboard the ferry. For more, go to cmlf.com.

Henlopen Acres

Henlopen Acres will host its annual Independence Day children's parade at 8:30 a.m., Sunday, July 2.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the parade route will start at the marina and head east on Tidewaters, south on Zwaanendael, west on Rolling Road and north on Dodds Lane. Prizes and refreshments will follow at the marina.

The parade is open to children of all ages, pets and nonmotorized vehicles. Residents are encouraged to decorate their homes and cheer on the parade.

Dewey Beach

Highway One Companies will host its annual fireworks display Tuesday, July 4, in front of Northbeach and Ivy restaurants at the end of Dagsworthy and McKinley avenues, in Rehoboth Bay.

The show is conducted by Zambelli Fireworks and is free to the public.

From 7 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 5, the Dewey Beach Partnership will host a carnival-style Fourth of July celebration for children on the beach at Dagsworthy Avenue. The event is free to the public and will include kids' games, music, face-painting and will coincide with the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce's beach bonfire. Parking in Dewey Beach is free Wednesdays from 5 to 11 p.m.

Millsboro

The 11th Annual Celebration and Children's Parade will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 4, at St. Mark's Labyrinth, on the corner of State and Ellis streets, Millsboro. Following a brief patriotic ceremony, children dressed in patriotic colors and costumes will parade on the church grounds to the parish hall. Each will receive a special gift for participating. There will be children's activities and games. Hot dogs, chips and beverages will be provided. In case of rain, the celebration and parade will be held in St. Mark's parish hall. For more information, contact Gale White at 302-644-0777.

Milton

Milton's Fourth of July Festival will kick off at 10 a.m., Tuesday, July 4, at Milton Memorial Park, with the theme of bringing back Mayberry.

The festival runs until 2 p.m., and will feature sack races, games, a pie-baking contest, a bicycle-decorating contest, a bike parade, food, music and train rides in the park.

The bicycle-decorating contest and bike parade are sponsored by Irish Eyes Pub and Restaurant, and grand prizes of new bikes will be awarded to each of two winners. The bike parade will begin at 11 a.m. with registration on Irish Eyes' patio at 10:15 a.m.

For more information, email mare@irisheyespub.com.

Rehoboth Beach

The 2017 Rehoboth Beach Fireworks extravaganza is scheduled for about 9:15 p.m., Sunday, July 2. The rain date is Monday, July 3. Below are various parking options recommended by city officials; officials say get to town early, as spaces will fill up fast and Rehoboth Avenue will begin to shut down at 7 p.m. starting with the Bandstand area.

Parking with transportation into town:

• The Park & Ride DART bus provides transportation from the Park & Ride parking lots on Route 1 into town.

• Premier parking is available at Epworth United Methodist Church, 19285 Holland Glade Road, Rehoboth Beach, at $20 per vehicle. Parking includes Jolly Trolley bus transport to and from the north end of the Boardwalk. Parking fee must be paid in cash, and the lot opens at 6 p.m. Parking spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There are approximately 300 spaces. A portion of the parking proceeds will benefit the Rehoboth Beach Sunshine Rotary Club.

In-town parking options:

• North Rehoboth Deauville Beach lot parking charges a fee per car until the lot is full.

• Metered and nonmetered parking fee or permit parking spaces are available throughout town.

The Jolly Trolley will be operating the daily Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach shuttle services, in full schedule, from 8 a.m.-2 a.m. The Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach fixed route will be from/to the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand and to/from South Dewey Beach at Dickinson Avenue on the bay. Traffic delays are expected after the fireworks display. The uptown Christian Street stop will be closed. For route information, please visit jollytrolley.com or call 302-644-0400.

Slaughter Beach

The Town of Slaughter Beach will celebrate Independence Day with a July 4th Regatta starting at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 4, at Virginia Avenue along the bay.

Event start times are approximate and subject to change, but the event expects to host a boogie board race at 3:30 p.m., a kayak race at 4 p.m., a monohull race at 4:30 p.m., followed by a catamaran race at 5 p.m. The celebration will also include a pie-eating contest, and Slaughter Beach's version of a wet T-shirt contest – in which participants race to put on as many soaked T-shirts as possible.

For more information, call 302-424-7659.

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