Lewes July 4 traditional festivities continue morning into night
The City of Lewes will continue its long tradition of hosting old-fashioned games for children on Second Street beginning at 9 a.m., Friday, July 4. For public safety, Second Street will be closed to vehicular traffic before the games begin and will reopen after the Doo-Dah Parade has concluded. Sidewalks will be available for pedestrians to access the shops and restaurants.
Following the games, the Lewes Independence Day Boat Parade will wind its way down the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal from Roosevelt Inlet to Fisherman’s Wharf as part of the city’s holiday festivities.
Parade entrants leave from Roosevelt Inlet across from the Coast Guard Station at 1:30 p.m., and at approximately 2 p.m., they will pass in front of the judges’ reviewing stand at Fisherman’s Wharf and turn before reaching the Savannah Road drawbridge. Lewes Mayor Amy Marasco will announce the parade with amplification in the area of Fisherman’s Wharf and the city dock.
The boat parade judges are members of Lewes City Council, Overfalls Foundation and Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club.
All preregistered boat entrants will be eligible for prizes. Boats will be judged on best use of patriotic decorations. After the parade, all boat entrants are invited to attend the awards ceremony at 3:30 p.m. on the Lightship Overfalls deck. To be eligible for a prize, the vessel must be registered no later than 3 p.m., Thursday, July 3. Registration forms are available at the Lewes Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center in the Fisher-Martin House at Zwaanendael Park and Lewes Harbour Marina Fishing & Boating Outfitters at the end of Anglers Road.
For more information, call the Lewes Chamber of Commerce at 302-645-8073. There is no charge to participate in the boat parade or to be a spectator. Good viewing spots line the canal on both sides and fill on a first-come basis.
The fun continues with the unique and quirky Doo-Dah Parade that forms in the vicinity of Lloyd’s Market on Savannah Road and winds its way down Kings Highway to Second Street, finishing on Savannah Road heading back toward Lloyd’s. No preregistration is required and everyone is invited to participate. The time, the parade kickoff is expected at 5 p.m.
The day caps off with the annual, fully sanctioned fireworks that will be launched from a barge off Lewes Beach at dusk.
The fireworks are funded by donations from the Lewes-area business community, local residents and out-of-town donors. The Go Fourth Committee was formed with Chairman Russ Palmer leading the group of volunteers who have been meeting to coordinate the fundraising, promotion and logistics, and stage the event, which is open to the public.
To learn more, go to GoFourthLewes.org, ci.lewes.de.us or LewesChamber.com.
