Cape Region holiday events shine despite COVID-19

The holly, jolly holiday season will go on, despite a very different year. Many events will continue, with COVID-19 precautions such as social distancing and face masks required. 

Dewey Beach

• Beach & Bay Lights - With the annual Dewey Beach tree lighting ceremony canceled this year, a group of volunteer residents has launched Beach & Bay Lights to expand the amount of holiday decorations that traditionally welcome visitors to town. A large tree full of lights and natural ornaments on the TJ Redefer Memorial Baywalk overlooking Rehoboth Bay will serve as the centerpiece of the holiday display, and the adjacent gazebo and planters throughout town will also be decorated. The holiday display will run nightly through Saturday, Jan. 2.

• Magic Mailbox - Kids will find a magic mailbox to send letters direct to Santa Claus until Thursday, Dec. 24, on the patio of Woody’s Take Out, 1905 Coastal Highway, Dewey Beach.

Dover

• A Farmer’s Christmas 1890-2020 - The Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village in Dover announced A Farmer’s Christmas 1890-2020 will run through Saturday, Dec. 19. A variety of activities enables visitors to recapture the holidays of yesteryear by enjoying the simple pleasures of listening to strolling carolers, gazing at the twinkling lights and ornaments adorning Christmas trees, and savoring the scent of fresh-baked cookies. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to agriculturalmuseum.org/a-farmers-christmas-2020.

Georgetown

• Caroling on The Circle - The annual Caroling on The Circle event has been canceled, but the annual Pack the Pod food drive items will be distributed among nearly 20 pantries throughout Sussex County. To make donations convenient for the public, this year’s campaign includes two different options:

• Food donations - These can be made 24 hours a day outside the county administrative offices building, 2 The Circle, in downtown Georgetown. Receptacles, including a 14-by-7-foot portable storage unit, will be placed outside the county complex, allowing the public to make no-contact food donations throughout the holiday season. Staff will routinely collect items and ‘Pack the Pod’ before delivering food to pantries

• Monetary donations - The campaign this year will accept monetary contributions as an alternative for those who prefer to limit their outings. Funds raised will be used to purchase food items through local suppliers to distribute among local pantries. Checks should be made payable to Sussex County Council and mailed to Sussex County Government, c/o County Administration, PO Box 589, Georgetown, DE 19947. Donors should note Caroling on The Circle/Pack the Pod food drive in the memo line.

In 2019, the food drive collected more than 28,000 items for various organizations. Since its inception in the 1980s, Caroling on The Circle has gathered more than 750,000 items for local families.

Lewes

• Lewes Lights - More than 120 homeowners and businesses have signed up to participate in a holiday lights competition from dusk until 9 p.m., daily until Dec. 31. The winners of each category will be determined by a panel of judges who do not live in Lewes, and the winners will be announced on Christmas Day. To sign up as a participant or to receive a map, go to www.leweslights.org.

• Cape Artists Open House - The artists cooperative, located at 110 W. Third St. in Lewes, is ringing in the holiday season with special hours, a virtual show, an open house and holiday promotions. The gallery will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Monday in December, as well as by appointment; call 302-644-7733. Holiday shoppers will receive a free pack of notecards with any purchase during December. In addition, Cape Artist Evelyn Vanderloo is raffling her watercolor painting of King's Ice Cream Shop. Tickets are available at the gallery through Sunday, Dec. 20.

• A Christmas Tour of Lewes - Nine homeowners open their doors virtually to the community during the Lewes Historical Society’s 47th annual signature event, A Christmas Tour of Lewes. Viewers will be led on this professionally filmed and narrated house tour by host Michael Sprouse, a local television and radio personality. Tickets can be purchased through Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. Tickets are $25. Ticket holders will also have access to a new LHS exhibit, Breaking Britannia's Grasp, at the Cannonball House, 118 Front St. For more information, go to historiclewes.org.

Milton

• Milton Christmas Parade - The parade has been canceled.

• MAG Holiday Market - The Milton Arts Guild gallery will be open at 310 Walnut St. to present its holiday market from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 12-13.  MAG requires visitors to wear masks and practice social distancing.

• Women’s Club of Milton Holiday Bake Sale - The 2020 Women’s Club of Milton Holiday Bake Sale will return from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12, outside the Milton Historical Society In addition to delicious home-baked goods the club is known for, members will be selling raffle tickets for a handmade quilt donated by club member Nancy Reeves, unique holiday ornaments, and blank holiday note cards designed by Milton Arts Guild members Cathy Rose, Ginny Barney, Carol Yost, Anne Buck and Barbara Coffin. The Milton Garden Club and Lavender Fields will also be offering unique and festive items for sale.

• Winter WonderFest - The annual event at Hudson Fields is an entirely stay-in-your-car experience, The WonderFest Express: A Journey to the North Pole, running daily through Dec. 31. After the one-mile ride among nostalgic Christmas lights, visitors will arrive at the North Pole and drive through a tented Santa’s Workshop. A glass box alongside the car route inside the workshop is where children can drop their wish lists, then watch a Christmas elf take their list and hand-deliver it to Santa. For ticket information, go to wonderfestde.org.

• Milton Garden Club - Because Holly Fest was canceled, Milton Garden Club will sell wreaths, greens and arrangements in downtown Milton Saturday, Dec. 12.

• Milton Tree Lighting - The tree lighting has been canceled, but the tree and the lights in Milton Memorial Park will still shine during the holiday season.

Ocean View

• Drive-Thru Christmas Party - The Mason Dixon VFW Auxiliary will host a Drive-Thru Christmas Party for children in the community from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, in the post parking lot at 29265 Hope Way, Ocean View. Santa and Mrs. Claus will present gifts to children, and snacks will be distributed at drive-through stations. Event is free; food pantry donation suggested.

Rehoboth Beach

• Glittering Greeting - A gleam of holiday cheer can be found at the chamber’s visitor’s center, welcoming everyone to the City of Rehoboth Beach with a display of over 10,000 twinkle lights at 501 Rehoboth Ave.

• Magic Mailboxes - Kids will find three magic mailboxes to send letters direct to Santa Claus until Thursday, Dec. 24, at the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce building, 306 Rehoboth Ave. Children on the Nice List can use the Wish List Recording Station to tell Santa what they would like to find under their tree on Christmas morning. 

• Rehoboth Christmas Parade - Rehoboth’s annual Hometown Christmas Parade has been canceled.

Online

• Storytime - Edwards Christmas Village will host a storytimes with a new story to be read on Facebook each night through Dec. 24. Visit its Facebook page to watch a video of the story each day. Edwards Christmas Village had to cancel the in-person showing this year. Since more people are hurting than ever, the Edwards family is collecting donations for Jusst Sooup. For more information, go to edwardschristmasvillage.com.

Read about holiday events and more in Cape Gazette’s special publication, ‘Tis the Season, at capegazette.com/article/2020-tis-season/212106.