Bonfires on Bethany Beach begin April 22

De Tierra Caliente will kick off the Bethany Beach Concert Series with its mix of Latin, Caribbean and Brazilian rhythms at 6 p.m., Saturday, May 7, at the Bethany Beach Bandstand on the Boardwalk.

No longer just a summer series, shows will continue through October.

In 2021, the town scaled back performances from three nights on weekends to just one night during the week to accommodate an unprecedented number of visitors.

“The pandemic allowed for a lot of people to work remotely, and many chose to do it from their beach homes,” said Julie Malewski, events director. “We polled the audiences, and they liked the new schedule.”

Businesses also appreciated the increased midweek traffic.

Summer concerts will take place at the usual time of 7:30 p.m. Thursdays in June, July and August.

May, September and October shows will start at 6 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays. “The shoulder seasons offer great weather and opportunities for weekend visitors, so we extended the schedule to include Sundays too,” said Malewski.

Of the 40 acts lined up to play the venue, 15 are making their Bandstand debut, while others are returning from past years or as recurring audience favorites.

Bonfires on the Beach will take place from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, April 22, and continue April 29, May 6 and 13, and Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28, on the beach off Campbell Street. Marshmallows, roasting sticks, and glow bracelets will be provided while supplies last.

Movies on the Beach will be shown at dusk Mondays, starting June 6 and continuing through Aug. 29.

For updates and full schedules, see the Activities list at townofbethanybeach.com.