Rehoboth's Get Down in Town coming April 5

In three short years, Get Down in Town has become the official start of spring in Rehoboth Beach.

Get Down in Town, 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, April 5, pairs local retailers with restaurants to provide a night of food, fun and shopping. Azura Clothing-owner Alyssa Titus founded Get Down in Town and its sister wintertime event, Rehoboth Cocoa Crawl, as a way to bring visitors to town in the off-season. Retailers provide discounts and deals on their merchandise, while restaurants set up inside the retail stores to provide sample drinks and treats from their menus.

Titus said this year, several new restaurants will take part, such as Semra’s Mediterranean Grill, Modern Mixture and Old Bay. She said pairings will include many of Rehoboth's favorite eateries and stores, such as Salt Air at Azura Clothing, Hobo’s at Hula Sue’s, Espuma at Carlton’s, Blue Moon at Elegant Slumming and Cabo at South Moon Under.

Titus said restaurants will offer spring-themed drinks to usher in the season such as sangria and lemonade margaritas.

Returning features include Grotto’s pizza truck and Paul Cullen performing at First Street Station. For kids, there is reduced-cost daycare at Kids Cottage, face-painting and arts and crafts in the courtyard of First Street Station.

Titus said this year instead of wristbands, patrons can buy $10 stickers that will make them eligible for the grand prize, given away at the end of the night: $1,000 in gift cards from the participating stores. While patrons can attend the event without buying a sticker, attendees must have a sticker to win the grand prize. Stickers are available at Azura, South Moon Under, Carlton’s and Heidi Lowe Gallery, and, on the night of the event, at First Street Station.

After last year’s three-day event, Titus said this year is April 5 only, although participating stores will be offering discounts throughout the weekend.

Proceeds from the stickers will go to Sussex Consortium and Rehoboth Inspired Chefs Initiative, which educates children to make healthy food choices.

Titus said she is expecting good weather and a healthy crowd; last year’s event sold 700 wristbands, but many more shoppers were on hand, she said.