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Thousands enjoy Rehoboth Hometown Christmas Parade

Annual event features dozens of fire apparatus, more than 120 floats, high school marching bands
The Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company hosted its annual Rehoboth Beach Hometown Christmas Parade Dec. 1. Members of the Strictly VWs Auto Club got their vehicles all dressed up for the occasion. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTOS
Chris Flood
December 2, 2025

Temperatures may have dipped to near freezing after the sun set, but thousands of people still lined Rehoboth Avenue from end to end for the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company’s annual Rehoboth Beach Hometown Christmas Parade.

The Dec. 1 parade featured dozens of apparatus from several local volunteer fire departments and more than 120 floats from businesses and local civic organizations.

During the parade, RBVFC volunteers and auxiliary members handed out cookies and hot chocolate. They also filled an ambulance with toys that will be donated to Toys for Tots.

Following the parade, Santa and Mrs. Claus set up shop in the fire hall to hear what all the good boys and girls want for Christmas.

 

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive at the fire hall after making their way up and back on Rehoboth Avenue.
Joyce Bowden dresses up as Dolly Parton on the float from the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company.
Santa presents Sparky, the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company’s mascot, with a doll of his likeness.
Zoey Marshall chats with Santa and Mrs. Claus after the parade.
This member of the Lowered Habits Auto Club look especially festive.
Ethan Chozzo and Maria Gonzalez take part in one of several floats featuring living nativity scenes.
The Cape Henlopen High School marching band energizes the crowd.
Turnstone Custom Homes’ Branden Cottingham and Mike Fenton dress as Slinky Dog in “Toy Story.”
A large contingent from Special Olympics Delaware reminds parade watchers of the annual Polar Bear Plunge in a few months.
The Blakeslee family of Jerry, Alexis, Corbin and Ellis didn’t participate in the parade, but they dressed up to watch.
Atlantic Refrigeration & Air Conditioning’s Coolie was made for the cold weather.
Students from the Indian River High School marching band play instruments decorated for the parade.
State Farm agent Billy Reese and a bunch of other Billy Reeses greet parade watchers.
Members of the Cape Henlopen High School JRTOC are all business from the neck down, but from the neck up, they’re fired up with holiday spirit.
All Saints’ Parish Thrift Shop’s Kevin Morris enjoys the parade from the back of the thrift shop’s moving truck.
The Delaware Department of Transportation plow is ready for the snowy season.
The Cape Gazette gets into the parade action this year.
Rehoboth in Bloom’s Ching Hsia smiles as he passes by the announcer’s table.
Milton-area pilot John Chirtea rides in his decorated plane at the parade.
Lexi Tarr waves from the Little Creek Fire Company’s Tanker 54.
Erika Caldwell pushes her dog Jesse James down the parade route.
Lisa Travis, left, and Jim Burke are the little elves for Goolee’s Grille.
Santa and Mrs. Claus take a ride down Rehoboth Avenue in a vintage fire truck.
Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company’s Arnie Edelman mans the Toys for Tots ambulance.
Rehoboth Beach’s holiday tree stands tall as ATVs from Dewey Beach make their way around Rehoboth Avenue.
The Sussex County EMS Honor Guard presents the colors for the parade.
Rehoboth Beach Main Street volunteer Sandra Skidmore always knows how to dress for the occasion.
Miss Delaware USA Tetra Shockley is one of about a half dozen beauty queens to participate in the parade.
The ladder truck for the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company escorts the fire truck with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

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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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