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4th Annual Poseidon Festival set May 24-27 in Bethany Beach

May 1, 2019

The 4th Annual Poseidon Festival will take place over Memorial Day weekend, Friday to Monday, May 24 to 27, in Bethany Beach. The town will host island-inspired entertainment at the bandstand, and Nature Center activities at 807 Garfield Parkway, all designed to celebrate the sea while informing the community about safety during potential coastal emergencies.

Local artist George Zaiser will demonstrate sand sculpting on the beach all weekend, starting at 11 a.m., Friday, May 24. Zaiser is a professional artist and educator, and also the owner and operator of Bottle Branch Studio, which specializes in watercolor and sand sculpture art. Sculpting professionally since 1989, Zaiser has traveled to locations in the U.S., Canada, The Netherlands, and China.

Kicking off the Poseidon festivities at 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 24, on the Bandstand will be Jimmy Buffett tribute band Parrotbeach, one of the few full-time Buffett bands. Members from across the country give their sound a variation of musical influences, and attendees are encouraged to dress in island attire.

Mermaid activities and a book signing will begin at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 25, at the Nature Center with Nancy Sakaduski, author of “The Mermaid in Rehoboth Bay.” Kids are encouraged to dress as their favorite sea creature to get a prize. Later at the bandstand, Saturday’s events feature pirate shows and mermaid encounters including a live mermaid tank and costume contest in search of Mr. and/or Ms. Poseidon.

From 5:30 to 9 p.m. on the Bandstand Plaza, there will be an Emergency Meet and Greet with local experts on how to prepare for a potential coastal emergency. Attendees can take a mini tour of the town’s Mobile Command Center. Lifeguards, police officers, and emergency personnel will be on hand to discuss ocean safety and distribute helpful handouts. The day will highlight tropical rock performances by Sons of Pirates at 3 and 4:30 p.m., and the Chris Sacks Band at 7:30 p.m. on the Bandstand stage.

The second annual Bethany Beach Hermit Crab Derby will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, May 26, at the Bandstand. Attendees can choose a crab to race or just watch the fun in this event run by the National Crab Racing Association and backed by Florida Marine Research. In between heats, festivalgoers can take part in a hands-on Marine Science Camp taught by marine biologists and environmentalists.

Activities will explore dolphins, sharks, rays, and coral reefs. There will also be a scavenger hunt on the beach at 3:15 p.m. with a craft made from recycled treasures. RELYance Skim Camp will teach Skimboard Basics on the beach off Garfield Parkway at 5:30 p.m., with boards provided. The U.S. Navy Band Country Current will finish out the day with a performance of country and bluegrass at 7:30.

VFW Post 7234 will conduct a public Memorial Day service at 11 a.m., Monday, May 27, on the Bandstand. The festival concludes with an Aloha Summer! luau show at 1 p.m. that will offer an enchanting journey through the Polynesian islands to set the stage for another exciting summer season in the Town of Bethany Beach.

Find detailed information and updates at www.townofbethanybeach.com under Activities, Poseidon Festival.

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