Return Day tradition to be renewed Nov. 10

The renewal of a unique historical event is scheduled to take place around The Circle in Georgetown Thursday, Nov. 10.

The 105th Return Day will kick off the night before with entertainment on The Circle leading up to a full day of activities – many with roots dating back to the early 19th century – Thursday.

Included on the schedule are the Mayor's Hatchet Toss at 9 a.m. at the Old Courthouse on South Bedford Street, entertainment on the main stage from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by the traditional parade starting from Sussex Central Middle School to West Street, King Street to East Pine Street and back to the school. This year's parade includes the University of Delaware band.

The grand marshal is Seaford Volunteer Fire Department Fire Police Capt. Ken Tull, who was seriously injured when he was hit by a vehicle while providing traffic control Oct. 30, 2021. Tull, 84, spent 11 weeks in the hospital and in rehabilitation before returning home.

Ken McDowell, retired director of the Department of Elections for Sussex County, and Sam Wilson, retired Sussex County Council member, are honorary marshals.

After the parade, all eyes will be on the main stage and Sussex County Courthouse where election results will be certified by Sheriff Robert Lee and read by town crier Kirk Lawson. 

The ceremony will conclude when leaders of the four political parties in the county gather to bury the hatchet in Lewes Beach sand to end the political season.

As tradition dictates, free roast ox sandwiches are given away following the ceremony.

Bowden said the committee has opted this year not to have a politicians’ reception at Delaware Technical Community College prior to the parade.

Food and arts and crafts vendors will be set up on side streets around The Circle and will open for business at 8:30 a.m.

Wednesday night entertainment includes Danny Paisley & Southern Grass from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.; Big Hat No Cattle from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.; and The Funsters from 9:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Debby Jones is president of Sussex County Return Day Inc.

About the carriages

Jim Bowden, a member of the Return Day Committee and president of the Georgetown Historical Society, said no one has officially contacted the committee that they will not take part in the parade because of the controversy over the Confederate flag and memorial at the Marvel Carriage Museum, where some of the carriages used in the parade are on display.

“We have heard that members of the Democrat Party taking part in the parade will provide their own vehicles, but nobody from the party has reached out to us,” he said.

Bowden said the use of carriages has somewhat diminished over the last decade. In non-presidential election year events, six to eight carriages are in the parade, which are usually reserved for those holding higher offices, he said.

History of Return Day

After much research, it's been determined the first verifiable Return Day occurred in 1812, but it may have roots back to 1792, the year the courthouse opened in Georgetown, the new county seat. Lewes was the first county seat in Sussex.

Contrary to some published material, Bowden said Return Day was not canceled in 1918 during the Spanish influenza pandemic. “They were concerned about people gathering, but had the event anyway.”

The event was canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the only other time it's been canceled was during World War II in 1942 and 1946. Bowden said thanks to the efforts of Nutter Marvel, the event returned in 1948. That year, he was grand marshal and rode his horse along the parade route. Voters were required to cast their election ballots in Georgetown and then return two days later to hear the results, hence the name Return Day. The day quickly turned into a celebration. It's held every two years on the Thursday following the election.

Eventually, voting districts were established, but votes were still counted at the county seat, and the voters and candidates returned to Georgetown to learn the results of the election two days before.

It's an event with no equal anywhere in the United States.

For more information, go to returnday.org. The Return Day office is located at the Georgetown Historical Society's Marvel Carriage Museum.