Traditional Fall Festivals Return to Delaware’s Coastal Region This Weekend, But in Scaled Down Form
The theme of this week’s Oldfather Group “Weekender Blog” is the continuation of traditional fall festivals and events that are held every year in the coastal region. But in keeping with the cautious outlook of 2020, most of these events are being held in scaled down forms compared to previous years.
From the biennial Return Day festivities in Georgetown, to a scaled down Punkin Chunkin themed event, the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival, a yearly favorite held by our friends at the Dogfish Head Brewery and several others, this weekend’s calendar is a true cornucopia of annual events being held in 2020 under difficult conditions.
Keep scrolling below for much more about these great happenings at and near the beaches, then make plans this weekend for a fun family time in the area.
We begin in Milton and a fun, off-centered event organized by the folks at Dogfish Head Brewery…
Virtual-A-Go-Go Event at Dogfish Head (November 7). The popular Dogfish Head Virtual-A-Go-Go event will be a virtual affair for 2020, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had.
Scheduled for 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., on Saturday, November 7, this annual event is billed as “a celebration of all things craft, from beers and spirits to music and art.” This year marks the 10th anniversary of this popular local event.
Scheduled activities and events for this year’s event include a live chat with Dogfish Head Founder Sam Calagione and local designer Ryan Besch, as well as a live streamed musical performance by Mt. Joy, a virtual vendor fair and a lineup of limited edition Dogfish Head beers and ales.
To learn more about this year’s Virtual-A-Go-Go event, visit www.dogfish.com/events.
Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival (November 5-15). This year’s 23rd annual Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival will be held over 11 days, from November 5th to the 15th.
Many of this year’s featured films will be shown online, while others can be viewed with social distancing rules in place at the Cinema Art Theater in Lewes.
Passes won’t be needed this year, as all films are available to anyone who would like to view them. Keep in mind, however, that films at the Cinema Art Theater will be shown with limited capacity, due to health mandated restrictions.
The festival in 2020, as in previous years, will include a variety of American and international films, as well as engaging documentaries. Zoom discussions are also scheduled for viewers to talk about and share perspectives about their favorite films.
To learn more about the 2020 Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival, visit www.rehobothfilm.com.
Scaled Down Return Day Events (November 5). The Return Day festivities for 2020 have officially been cancelled for this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. There will still be a few events for the public on The Circle, however, in the spirit of the biennial Sussex County celebration.
Georgetown Mayor Bill West, along with State Senator Brian Pettyjohn and State Representative Ruth Briggs King, have organized a reading of the election returns and the ceremonial burying of the hatchet on The Circle.
These festivities are scheduled for Thursday, November 5, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. The returns will be read by Sussex County Sheriff Robert Lee at 12 p.m.
The historic fire station in Georgetown will also be open from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., on November 5.
