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Lewes Christmas parade ushers in holiday season

City lights tree in Zwaanendael Park, Lewes Lights kicks off
A big crowd sings carols after the Lewes tree is lit. NICK ROTH PHOTOS
Nick Roth
December 4, 2022

After a day of rain, the skies cleared just in time for the 90th annual Lewes Christmas parade Dec. 3. Those who stuck around Zwaanendael Park after the parade got a three-for-one deal, as they could also participate in the annual tree lighting and sing-along as well as help kick off the annual Lewes Lights citywide light show. 

This year’s city Christmas tree was donated by Pat and Pat Henry. Entertainment at the tree lighting was provided by Christy Taylor and her music students.  

Most original entry - McAleer-Paulson School of Irish Dance

Classic car - 1. Dennis Pergola, 1951 L85 MACK Fire Truck; 2. Straight Eights Car Club; 3. British Car Club of Delaware

Recent vintage (1968 or newer) -  1. Dan Fiorio, 1991 Corvette; 2. Alicia Purdy, Mark and Luke Riley/Griswold Family, 1983 Country Ford Squire Wagon; 3. Lowered Habits Car & Truck Club

Band - Cape Henlopen and Indian River high schools’ marching bands 

Fire company - 1. Memorial Volunteer Fire Company Station 89; 2. Little Creek Volunteer Fire Company; 3. Milton Fire Department

Commercial float - 1. Lee Ann Wilkinson Group and Lewes Lights; 2. Wharton’s Landscaping & Garden Center; 3. PEDEGO Lewes Electric Bikes

Community float - 1. Clothing Our Kids; 2. Lewes in Bloom; 3. New Hope Canoe Club

Youth organization float - 1. Girl Scout Troop 499; 2. Cape Vikings Pop Warner; 3. Lewes Presbyterian Church Youth

Marching group - 1. Lewes Superheroes, Jennifer Moyer and Darica Ward; 2. Literacy Education Assistance Pups; 3. Cape Henlopen Leo Club

Equestrian - 1. Pairadice Equestrian; 2. JWR Performance Horses 

Honorable mention awards - Aquamarine Boutique; River Soccer Club travel team in Jolly Trolley; Pack 1 Lewes Cub Scout; Anna’s Daycare; Cape Henlopen High School Army JROTC Color Guard and Drill Team.

The parade organizing committee is co-chaired by Craig Beebe of NextHome Tomorrow Realty and G.W. Thompson of Canary Point Consulting. Mike DiPaolo of Delaware Community Foundation served as this year’s announcer. Judges were Heath Gehrke of Delaware River & Bay Authority, W. Joseph Stewart of the Greater Lewes Foundation and Randy Voith of the Lewes Junction Railroad & Bridge Association. The judges’ reviewing stand was provided by Double E Lawn Care’s owner Tom Engle and the lighting and decorations were provided by the Lewes Lions Club.

 

Santa Claus came to town on a Lewes Fire Department ladder truck at the 90th annual Lewes Christmas parade Dec. 3.
Former Mayor Ted Becker served as this year’s grand marshal.
Buddy the Elf rides a Pedego e-bike down Savannah Road.
Looks like the Grinch found someone bigger than Max to pull his sleigh.
The Griswold family Christmas tree sits atop the family truckster. This entry was a favorite among parade attendees.
Representing Lewes Mayor and City Council in the parade are (l-r) Councilman Tim Ritzert, Mayor Andrew Williams and Councilwoman Candace Vessella.
District 20 Representative-elect Stell Parker Selby, D-Milton, waves to the crowd.
Dogs and volunteers from Literacy Education Assistance Pups walk down Savannah Road.
Kids from Lewes Presbyterian Church remind of the reason for the season.
Beebe Healthcare employees walk in front of the Savannah Road campus.
The Cape Vikings Pop Warner football team has fun on the back of a trailer.
The Preserve Our Park Coalition continues its campaign to stop a restaurant in Cape Henlopen State Park.
The University of Delaware’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment decorated this boat.
It’s Maui from Moana. Be sure to say thank you.
An antique Delaware State Police cruiser.
Atlantic Refrigeration lights up Savannah Road.
The parade had plenty of horses.
This antique engine is from the North Pole Fire Department.
Car clubs featuring old and new cars participated in the parade. These entries fall under the latter category.
No Lewes Christmas parade would be complete without the Cape Henlopen High School marching band. This year, they included members of the Indian River High School band.
The big man says Merry Christmas to the thousands of people on Second Street.
Pivot Physical Therapy always throws one of the biggest parade parties every year.
Saying hello to the crowd are Pat and Pat Henry, who donated this year’s Lewes Christmas tree.
Mayor Andrew Williams welcomes everyone to the tree lighting.
Lewes Lights chairs (l-r) Christian Mullins and Paul and Debra Evalds flip the switch to light the Lewes tree. The switch didn’t work, but the lights eventually came on.
Singing carols are (l-r) Ellie Tantiangco, Eduard Tantiangco, Alec Villar and Christy Taylor.
Pat and Pat Henry stand in front of the tree with Lewes Mayor Andrew Williams.
Keenan Williams performs Christmas tunes during the tree lighting and sing-along in Zwaanendael Park.

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Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and handling page layout, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams. 

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