The Starboard opening weekend is March 14-16

The Starboard Restaurant's much-anticipated opening weekend begins Thursday, March 13. Dewey Beach prepares to come alive again for Saint Patrick’s Day weekend, and Steve “Monty” Montgomery and his crew at the Starboard Restaurant are ready to open the doors for another season.

The Starboard opening weekend has become its own event in Dewey Beach because it brings such an influx of people to the area. Many Dewey Beach hotels require two-night minimums for the weekend and anticipate being sold out. Other local businesses follow suit and open their doors to take advantage of the crowds that flock to town in search of a reprieve from winter’s icy grip.

Rob Marshall with Atlantic Oceanside Motel says they open in step with The Starboard for this weekend, and it’s a great primer to grease the wheels for the upcoming season. “The busy weekend helps get the property ready for spring,” he said. "Without the incentive of a full house, we would probably stay mostly shut down for at least another month when our greyhounds come.”

The festivities will kick off Thursday, March 13, with the annual Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours. The event, running from 5 to 7 p.m., typically draws the biggest chamber crowd of the year. This year, they are expecting more than 300 people to wine and dine as they celebrate the start of another great season at the beach.

The Starboard will expand into the parking lot for an indoor/outdoor party Friday, March 14. Montgomery's crew puts up a heated tent over the parking lot, which will remain up Saturday and Sunday. Live entertainment will be featured each afternoon, with acoustic performances by Kristen (of Kristen and the Noise) & Johnny Phatt (of Mr. Greengenes) from 3 to 6 p.m., Saturday, and LauraLea and her acoustic trio from 2 to 6 p.m., Sunday.

Opening weekend is the perfect time to pick up Starboard VIP Cards and check out the new menu options, new craft beer flavors, and all the new upgrades that will be in place for the 2014 summer season.