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Rehoboth’s sing-along holiday tree installed

Annual event slated for Nov. 28 draws thousands to Bandstand for fun
The tree that will be used for Rehoboth Beach’s annual tree lighting and holiday sing-along was installed Nov. 20 at the Bandstand. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTOS
Chris Flood
November 20, 2025

Story Location:
Bandstand
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
United States

The tree that will be used for Rehoboth Beach’s annual tree lighting and holiday sing-along was installed Nov. 20 at the Bandstand.

This year’s tree, donated by the state, was located off Route 1 next to the Tharros Village and Delaware Department of Transportation salt barn. The property is the former home of Delaware State Police Troop 7.

The city gets help cutting, transporting and installing the tree from Harry Caswell, a plumbing and utility company from Long Neck; George Plummer & Son, a Lewes-area crane business; and Delmarva Power.

Owner Harry Caswell credited the state with being a willing partner in the process. Caswell said he’s been eyeing the tree for a while.

“I tend to drive around and look for trees now,” he said. “I didn’t think they would agree to it.”

Jen Coverdale, Division of Facilities Management director, gave Caswell the go-ahead and was on hand Nov. 20 to watch the process. She said there was no hesitation about donating the tree.

Rehoboth’s tree lighting and sing-along event is a longstanding tradition, and the state was happy to help the community, said Coverdale.

The annual tree lighting and sing-along event is traditionally held on Black Friday, which this year is Friday, Nov. 28. The show is slated to begin at 6 p.m. with the Cape Henlopen Holiday Band, followed by the sing-along with Clear Space Theatre at 6:30 p.m. The tree lighting happens soon afterward.

 

It’s all hands on deck when it comes time to navigate the trunk into the tree stand.
George Plummer & Son’s Greg Plummer watches as the tree gets cut.
A sizable stump is left after the tree is removed.
A 20-foot-section of water pipe shows the height of the tree.
Harry Caswell employee Billy Talbot secures himself in place before getting to work cutting the tree.
The state owns the property from where the tree came. Shown are Sussex County Chief of Maintenance Anthony Fasano, Division of Facilities Management Director Jen Coverdale and Sussex County Facilities Management Supervisor Sean Gooden.
Saw dust from the tree catches the sun rays.
The tools needed to cut the tree down.
Even with some of the tree left, the part of the tree that was removed was about 6,000 pounds.
Billy Talbot squares off the round trunk before it’s placed.
Keith Long sticks his hand in the air to direct the crane operator.
A view of the tree being installed from the beach.
Dozens of vehicles drive by while the tree is in the air.
An escort from the Rehoboth Beach Police Department.
The crane stays put as the crew from Delmarva Power ratchets everything into place.
John L. Briggs & Co. owner Charles “Reds” Dolson III, right, talks with Harry Caswell. Dolson oversaw the moving of the tree from 1980 to 2022.

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Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.

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