Live it up and learn with Boast the Coast events Oct. 7 in Lewes
The 27th annual Boast the Coast event will celebrate Lewes and its maritime history with a variety of fun and educational activities Saturday, Oct. 7.
Boast the Coast was conceived in 1996 to showcase Lewes’ nautical heritage and to feature activities complementing the University of Delaware’s long-established Coast Day event that takes place annually on the first Sunday in October. This year’s Boast the Coast activities are sponsored by Irish Eyes Pub & Restaurant, Delaware Public Media and Beebe Healthcare, with partial funding from Southern Delaware Tourism.
A number of free activities associated with Boast the Coast will be taking place in and around 1812 Park on the canal from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Freedom Boat Club will provide brief, free boat tours leaving from the city dock during these hours. There are no advance reservations for these short excursions on the canal; they will be available on a first-come, first-served basis with six to eight passengers per trip. Visitors to the park and dock will be entertained from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. by Lewes vocalist Jgar Helwig performing his repertoire of Broadway show tunes and other popular favorites. Chuckles the Pirate will be demonstrating balloon art forms and giving them away to audience members from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Copy Cat Paint Parties will offer free face painting from 12 to 2 p.m.
Cape Water Tours will also offer hour-long tours departing from city dock at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The Floating Through Lewes Maritime History tour will be narrated by Marcos Salaverria, Lewes Historical Society director of education. The cost is $20 for adults and $15 for children under 12. Reservations are available online at CapeWaterTours.com.
Two other chamber members, the Lewes Historical Society and the Overfalls Lightship, are partnering with the chamber on Boast the Coast to offer free tours. The Lewes Historical Society’s Lewes Maritime Museum in the Cannonball House at 118 Front St. and the U.S. Life-Saving Station in Canalfront Park will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Overfalls Lightship, also in Canalfront Park, will be open as well.
The annual Lewes Merchants’ Fall Sidewalk Sale has long been associated with Boast the Coast. It is a three-day event taking place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday to Sunday, Oct. 6 to 8, with most of the retail businesses in the Historic Lewes Business District participating.
For more information about all Boast the Coast activities, visit leweschamber.com, or call 302-645-8073 or 877-465-3937.
