The 2020 Sundance Festival, Paddlefest, Ocean City Jeep Week all Help Close Out August in the Coastal Region

It’s the final weekend before Labor Day 2020, meaning this year’s summer season is coming to a rapid close in the coastal regions of both Delaware and Maryland. We like to say every year that it’s been a “Summer Like No Other,” but I don’t think anyone would disagree that this has definitely proven true in 2020.

But as we often do in this part of the state and country, we’ve done our best to make the best out of a bad situation. We haven’t enjoyed all of the great community festivals and other happenings that normally highlight the warm summer months, but there’s still been plenty of fun things to do this year at the beaches.

And for this final weekend of August, we have a few more interesting and entertaining things to tell you about, highlighted by one virtual event and several outdoor activities and happenings.

So keep reading below as our “glass is half full” tour of the Summer of 2020 rolls on into September and to what is normally the busiest part of the year for local festivals (more on that next week).

We kick things off for the weekend of August 28-30 with what has been converted to a virtual event this year, but will take place over many more days than usual. And that’s an always fun Rehoboth Beach get together put on by the fun loving folks at CAMP Rehoboth.

Sundance 2020 (August 30 – September 5). This fun local event has been held every year since 1988, but this is the first time that CAMP Rehoboth has held Sundance virtually. But the good news is that they’ve converted it into a week-long festival this year that will kick off on Sunday, August 30, and run through Saturday, September 5.

With a 2020 theme of “United in Love,” this year’s event is built as a “celebration, fundraiser and community building experience” and will have the same jovial feel that these annual Sundance events normally have and are known for.

As always, all proceeds from Sundance benefit the good work that continues to be done at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center, located on Baltimore Avenue in downtown Rehoboth Beach.

For more information on the 2020 Sundance festival, call 302-227-5620 or visit www.camprehoboth.com.

Paddlefest (August 29). Get ready for some fun in the sun (hopefully) this weekend as the popular Paddlefest festivities kick off for another year at Delaware Seashore State Park.

This is the fourth year for the event, which was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the park but has continued in subsequent years due to high demand and popularity.

Even with COVID-19 concerns making some changes to the event for 2020, there are still a few additions that organizers have announced for this year’s Paddlefest. This includes new educational stops along the course, a digital course map and a Do It Yourself (DIY) option for those who are concerned about the current state of the pandemic but still want to enjoy Paddlefest.

The highlight of the event is still the four-mile kayaking excursion, filled with many sights and members of the park staff along the way to help out. The one big change this year is that there won’t be an after party for 2020, due to health protocols that are in place in Delaware.

Learn more about this year’s Paddlefest at Delaware Seashore State Park by visiting www.paddlefestde.com.

Ocean City Jeep Week (August 27-30). Ocean City Jeep Week is scheduled for this Thursday to Saturday in Maryland’s favorite summertime resort, with a few changes due to current health protocols. But organizers still promise a fun-filled event at the beach for all participants.

Hosted at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center on Coastal Highway, this year’s event is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday to Saturday. There will be no activities at the convention center on Sunday, August 30, but the event will wrap up that day with a final “beach crawl” and send-off party on the beach.

Other scheduled events and activities include sand courses, convention center activities, a daily beach crawl and much more.

For much more information on 2020 Jeep Week, including a full schedule of events and COVID-19 related restrictions, visit www.oceancityjeepweek.com or call Brad Hoffman at 443-366-5944.

Click here to learn what else is happening this weekend in the coastal region