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Sun and smiles for Sea Witch parade in Rehoboth Beach

35th annual event hosted by Rehoboth-Dewey Chamber still has one more day of fun
The 35th annual Sea Witch parade took place Oct. 25. Hilda the Sea Witch makes her way down Rehoboth Avenue. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTOS
Chris Flood
October 25, 2025

Story Location:
Rehoboth Avenue
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
United States

It may have been a little chilly, but the Rehoboth Beach–Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce brought the heat with its 35th Annual Sea Witch costume parade Oct. 25.

Rehoboth Avenue was packed with tens of thousands of visitors who watched a parade that was over an hour long and featured dozens of Halloween floats and costumed ghouls from local businesses and individuals who love this time of year.

The parade was created by chamber President Carol Everhart, who is set to retire at the end of the year after more than three decades with the organization. Busy making sure the day runs smoothly, Everhart didn’t have much to say about this year being her last parade.

“The sun is shining and so am I,” said Everhart. “There are a lot of smiles.”

The second of the festival’s three days is nearly the books, but there’s one more day of fun scheduled Sunday, Oct. 26. Events taking place include being able to take a selfie with Hilda the Sea Witch Balloon at the convention center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; the best costumed dog parade on the Boardwalk at 1 p.m.; and a horse show on the beach at 3 p.m., on the beach at Rehoboth Avenue.

There will also be food vendors, artisans selling their goods and children’s activities around the Bandstand.

The weather looks like it’s going to cooperate Sunday. The National Weather Service is calling for sun and a high of 60.

See a full schedule of popular weekend events in the Oct. 25, edition of the Cape Gazette, starting on page 65, or online at capegazette.com.

For more information, go to beach-fun.com. Contact the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce at rehoboth@beach-fun.com, 302-227-2233 or 800-441-1329.

There were thousands of kids lining the parade route looking for candy, including 15-month-old Declan Backus and 4-year-old Cameran Backus, who are with mom Christin Backus.
Dressed as Buster Moon from “Sing,” Blake Drew hands out candy.
Dressed in bright orange, these three Loraxes are hard to miss. Shown are (l-r) Rachael Pietkiewicz, Rebecca Gianforcaro and Sarah Leister.
The parade balloons are blown up and ready for action.
These two are dressed as characters from “Where the Wild Things Are,” but they are hardly the only wild things in attendance.
Preston Russell, center, and few of his closest friends enjoy the parade.
Hanna Warfield makes her way down Rehoboth Avenue dressed as Hiccup riding Toothless from “How to Train Your Dragon.”
Judges have a hard job this year. Shown are (l-r) Rehoboth Beach Mayor Stan Mills, Rehoboth Beach Commissioner Patrick Gossett, Southern Delaware Tourism Executive Director Scott Thomas, Dewey Beach Town Manager Bill Zolper and Dewey Beach Commissioner Paul Bauer.
Painted in bright green, Hilda the Sea Witch is an eye catcher.
Young paradegoers sit like vultures ready for candy to be thrown their way.
A.J. Kincaid, 17 months, takes a nap while mom Jennie Kincaid pulls him along.
Paolo Damiano soars down Rehoboth Avenue.
Dressed in her Hello Kitty overalls, Jill Ridgaway sneaks out to take a picture.
With the fragile stuff taken care of, Marie Murray sets up another table for more fun.
Mike Firetti does his best scaring witch impression.
The wind instruments of the Cape Henlopen High School marching band.
The Woodland String Band from Philadelphia always brings a good show.
Matt Fox, center in white sweatshirt, celebrates after making one of the rings onto the soda bottles that are part of Funland’s float.
Janelle Collins performs as Ursula for the Sussex Pride float.
Reilly Reeves is happy to be handing out candy to Aliyah Salifou.
That’s a lot of hippos that need to use the tub to get clean.
The parade is over, so the Delaware State Police Mounted Patrol Unit bring up the rear.
Dressed as Marie Antoinette, Cheryl Drach looks over Sea Witch T-shirts.
The price is always right for Anastasia and Don Resnik.
This big DelDOT plow just looks nicer in pink.
A gardener, some flowers and a bee before the parade. Shown are (l-r) Beth Pearson, Sarah Beatty, Rachel Milburn, Paulene Scalvino, Sue Wilson, Fran Daly and Sarah Skorpinski.
Mike Ward watches guard on the Sea Witch pirate ship float.
Woody’s owner Jimmy O’Conor dresses as Woody from “Toy Story.”
The largest container of Thrashers French fries ever made.
Dozens and dozens of fire, police, EMS and other emergency personnel are on hand to make sure things went smoothly. Shown are (l-r) Millsboro Police Department officer Gavin Mullen, Rehoboth Beach Police Department officer Timothy Chan, Rehoboth Beach Police Department officer Kamryn Linsenbigler, Rehoboth Beach Police Department officer Joe Mulhern, Rehoboth Beach Police Department officer Brian Reynolds, Rehoboth Beach Police Department officer Ethan Buttridge, Rehoboth Beach Police Department officer James Ellinger and Laurel Police Department officer Spencer Sukar.
Hilda the Sea Witch is on the move, so the parade has begun.
There must be some Dallas Cowboys fans in the crowd, because there are still some boos as Tristan Foster holds up 6-month-old son Banks Foster.
There are plenty of activities to do in the Bandstand area, near the Boardwalk.

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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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