Entry deadline is Monday, Nov. 23 for Lewes parade

Tom King, longtime chairman of the Lewes Christmas Parade, jointly sponsored by the City of Lewes and the Lewes Chamber of Commerce, has announced the selection of Adele Hudson as the parade’s honorary grand marshal in honor of her many years of involvement in Lewes.

The parade begins at 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5 (rain/snow date: Sunday, Dec. 6). The theme for this year’s parade is Frosty the Snowman Visits Lewes for Christmas. Organizations and individuals who want to enter the parade in a decorated vehicle or in a marching group should contact the Lewes Chamber of Commerce at 645-8073 to receive an entry form. The deadline for entry is Monday, Nov. 23.

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: Youth Marching Group, Band, Clown, Equestrian, Classic Car, Decorated Vehicle, Fire Company, Commercial Float, Punkin Chunkin Vehicle, Community Organization Float and Youth Organization Float. Entrants will be notified in a mailing Wednesday, Nov. 25, regarding their entry number and their parade lineup time. The parade begins on Savannah Road in front of the Ninth Grade Academy and will end in front of King’s Ice Cream Shop on Second Street. Parade entrants are asked to commit to the rain/snow date if it is necessary.

Adele Hudson was born at Beebe Medical Center and began working in the 1970s at the Zwaanendael Museum after having been a docent in the Lewes Memorial Commission. In 1988 she was named the superintendent of the Delaware State Museum’s Sussex County properties, and in 1998 she became the site supervisor for the Zwaanendael Museum.

Concurrently, she served on the Lewes Parks & Recreation Commission after having served as a volunteer with a group of citizens interested in the Lewes parks. She was instrumental in building the fountain in Zwaanendael Park in 1989, which was dedicated to her husband, John. He was one of the original organizers of the Lewes Little League from 1957 until his death in 1988. He also served as president of the Lewes Board of Public Works. Adele retired from the Lewes Parks & Recreation Commission in 2006 and pursues her passion - volunteering with the Lewes After School program at Lewes Presbyterian Church.

Dennis Forney, publisher of the Cape Gazette, returns as the parade announcer and will introduce the entries from the judges’ reviewing stand in Zwaanendael Park to the crowd gathered on Savannah Road. After the parade, the Christmas tree in Zwaanendael Park will be illuminated followed by candlelight caroling in the park led by Christy Taylor with sound by Bill Larsen. A reception with hot cider and cookies follows in the Fisher-Martin House.

The Christmas Parade is part of the Christmas Weekend in Historic Lewes event. The weekend kicks off Thursday, Dec. 3, with a Beebe Medical Center Tree Lighting followed by the Lewes Merchants’ 23rd Annual Hospitality Night from 6 to 9 p.m. in the historic commercial district surrounding Second Street. The Lewes Historical Society’s 36th Annual House Tour takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5.

There are numerous other activities throughout Lewes associated with the weekend. For a complete listing, visit leweschamber.com. The chamber’s visitor center is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday and will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5.