Bethany Beach Poseidon Festival set May 23-26

The 10th annual Bethany Beach Poseidon Festival events will take place from Friday to Monday, May 23 to 26, at the town bandstand.

The  event marks the unofficial start of summer with a celebration of the sea and helpful information to prepare the community for potential coastal emergencies.

All weekend events are free and sponsored by the town.

To kick off the festivities, the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:45 p.m., Friday at the bandstand to celebrate the festival’s 10th year. The Caiso Steel Band will play jazz, rock, calypso and Latin American music from 5 to 9 p.m. 

Pirates and mermaids will take over the Bandstand Plaza from 1 to 5 p.m., Saturday and 11 a.m to 3 p.m., Sunday. There will be pirate shows, a live mermaid tank and multiple photo opportunities throughout the day. Adults and kids alike can come dressed in seafaring costumes on Saturday to participate in a parade and contest.

Popular band 3 Hour Tour will take the stage with trop rock favorites at 1 and 3 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., there will be the Super Jam Bash skimboard competition on the beach off Garfield Parkway. At 7:30 p.m., Aloha Summer Luau will conclude the night with an exciting revue of island dances including a fire knife finale. 

Ocean awareness activities will be featured from 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday, at the bandstand. There will be hands-on exploration of sharks, sea giants and fossils. The Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute will have an interactive exhibit about its rescue efforts and mission of conserving marine mammals and sea turtles.

The Chris Sacks Band will play fun beach music at 1 and 3 p.m.

Local experts will share tips from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Sunday, on what to do if a coastal emergency threatens the area. Lifeguards, police officers and emergency personnel will be on hand to discuss ocean safety and distribute helpful handouts.

The U.S. Navy Band Country Current will finish out the weekend at 7:30 p.m., Sunday with a blend of modern country music and cutting-edge bluegrass.

VFW Post 7234 will honor the true meaning of Memorial Day at 11 a.m., Monday, May 26, with a service on the bandstand.

To learn more, go to townofbethanybeach.com.