I was right – I’ve had to do at least two posts to spotlight so many wonderful holiday happenings all over Delaware! Here are a few that I think are especially exciting.
Deck the Night in Wilmington and Lewes
The Riverfront in Wilmington has become a four-season destination thanks to its architecture, dining and entertainment venues. This year, from now through January 7th, it’s brilliantly lit every night with special holiday themes. Visit https://riverfrontwilm.com/holiday-magic/ to find out when you can take your grandkids to visit Santa, have some fun petting animals and face-painting, and celebrate the New Year.
Down here in Sussex County, we’ll soon be in the midst of our annual Lewes Lights festivities – a month-long event featuring astonishing displays of holiday illuminations https://www.leweslights.org/. Throughout the historic district and well beyond you’ll find homes and businesses decked out to the max – or with simple good taste. At the web site you can get a map for every location so you can see it all by walking and driving.
Experience Yesteryear Magic with House Tours and Special Events
Delaware is full of historic homes and buildings, and many are especially enchanting during the winter holidays. Some of the most popular can be found on the campus of the Lewes Historical Society on Friday, December 1st from 4 to 7 p.m. https://www.leweschamber.com/event/holiday-village-market-0, where you can shop at the Village Market for greenery and decorations and tour the Sussex Tavern, which will be decorated for the season. It happens the day before the ever-popular Christmas Parade on Saturday beginning at 5 p.m. https://www.leweschamber.com/news/chamber/91st-annual-lewes-christmas-parade-takes-place-december-2-2023-5-pm.
Once again historic Old New Castle will brim with holiday cheer all month, with its beautiful old homes and businesses decked out in colonial style. Visit https://www.newcastlehistory.org/events to learn about Christmas-themed special events at the Amstel House and Dutch House throughout December and a special Spirit of Christmas event with tours through private homes and music and street theater on December 9th from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. And if you love comfort food in a fabulous historical setting, reserve a table for lunch or dinner at Jessop’s Tavern https://jessops-tavern.com/, a beloved country-inn style restaurant with fabulous comfort food.
Longwood Gardens will also roll out its holiday cheer with a winter wonderland decked out in Victorian and Colonial style. The decorations will be up through January 7th. Learn all about the scheduled tours, peruse holiday recipes and take a look at some of the lovely gifts available at the Garden Shop at https://longwoodgardens.org/.
Experience Christmas on Stage with Holiday Favorites
You might know Frank L. Baum as the author of The Wizard of Oz, but he also wrote The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, which is now a festive play written by Pat Cook and directed by Logan Hunter Lynch. You can enjoy the Possum Point Players production of it in Georgetown on Friday, December 1st and 8th and Saturdays, December 2nd and 9th, at 7:30 p.m. and on Sundays, December 3rd and 10th at 2 p.m. Visit http://www.possumpointplayers.org/ for tickets and more information.
In Rehoboth, Clear Space Theatre will stage Estella Scrooge, a modern retelling of A Christmas Carol featuring Ebenezer’s great great granddaughter. She’s a tough broad who’s made a fortune on Wall Street, often through the misfortunes of others, and faces a crisis and magical transformation on Christmas Eve. Learn more at https://www.clearspacetheatre.org/shows/estella-scrooge/.
In Wilmington on December 10th at 4 p.m. the Christina Cultural Arts Center will present Carols in Color, telling the story of Christ’s birth with music, dance and narration featuring Eleone Dance Theatre and the Eleone Connection of Philadelphia. Learn more at https://tickets.thegrandwilmington.org/7996/7997.
You can celebrate an elegant Christmas in the Gold Ballroom at the Hotel du Pont at 7:30 on December 12th when the Delaware Symphony Orchestra will perform Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 and Aria: Grosse Herr from the Christmas Cantata, among other pieces, with baritone Grant Youngblood at the Holidays at the Hotel event.
You can also celebrate the iconic Christmas tradition of The Nutcracker with the First State Ballet’s production at Copland Hall on December 16th and 17th and 22nd and 23rd. Learn more about the matinee and evening performances at https://www.thegrandwilmington.org/productions/7806-the-nutcracker/.
Take the Grandkids to Schellville for Active Holiday Fun
Visit toy-filled holiday playhouses, skate around a super-sized rink, or tube down a hill – snow or shine – before meeting up with Santa and Mrs. Claus and shopping at artisan boutiques, with a visit to the Beer Garden in between, at Schellville in Rehoboth. Learn more at www.schellbrothers.com.