ACT NOW TO ENJOY THE HISTORY BOOK FESTIVAL AND FALL JAZZ FESTS
Three of the most popular early fall events that take place at the beach are already selling out! For those reasons and more I’m spotlighting the History Book Festival, taking place in Lewes, and the Rehoboth and True Blue Jazz Festivals, which take place at various venues around Lewes and Rehoboth.
These events offer some of the most insightful and vibrant entertainment of the year, so you should book tickets now if you’re a big fan of the authors or musicians who will headline the events.
History Book Festival – September 27, 28 and 29, with a final public event on September 30th
Now in its 8th year, the History Book Festival brings more than a dozen authors to Lewes for three days of storytelling about people and events that have shaped the society we live in today. There are non-fiction works that employ an engaging narrative to reveal largely unknown aspects of historical happenings and the people who were involved. And there are novels built around real-life events. Each featured author is interviewed by someone with extensive knowledge about the eras in which their stories take place, and attendees can engage in the discussions as well.
The keynote presentation featuring Jodi Picoult is sold out – which isn’t surprising given the author’s fame as an author of suspenseful fiction. Her newest tale – By Any Other Name – is especially timely as a fictional account of two brilliant women writers who are forced to allow men to be the “authors” of their work. One woman, featured in chapters that take place in the present, has written a play about a distant ancestor but doesn’t believe it will be produced unless she cedes it to a male pseudonym. The other woman, who is her ancestor, is the real author of William Shakespeare’s plays. It’s an intriguing premise for a novel that’s well worth reading even if you can’t attend.
There are 20 more sessions that you can attend. Take a look at the full program at https://www.historybookfestival.org/ and make plans to attend any that appeal to you. Also, you should act now to reserve your spot if you want to attend the closing session, featuring Tiya Miles, author of Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People.
There’s also a community event at Cape Henlopen High School Theatre at 7 p.m. on Monday, September 30th with Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of The Leadership Journey: How Four Kids Became President, describing the childhoods of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson.
True Blue Jazz Festival – October 16th – 20th
Conceived and produced by Eddie Sherman and Peggy Raley, the True Blue Jazz Festival is celebrating its 12th year and takes place in various venues around Lewes Rehoboth. It focuses on mainstream jazz dating back from 1900 and the Great American Standards Songbook. I know none of us are old enough to remember these tunes from their heyday, but the festival is a fine way to experience musical history with songs from American stage plays, radio, television and films from various time periods.
Every venue, from The Pines and Boardwalk Plaza Hotel to the Rehoboth Firehouse to Nassau Vineyards, offers unique ambiance that complements the artists and their work. Check out the full schedule here and GET TICKETS SOON for your favorite events before they sell out https://www.truebluejazz.org/festival/.
Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival – October 17th – 20th
Sponsored by the Delaware Celebration of Jazz, this festival returns to Rehoboth for its 35th year, with proceeds going to the Beebe Medical Foundation and the Tunnell Cancer Center. This is a big event with serious talent from some of the foremost headliners of the jazz world, and is further distinguished by:
- Multiple performance venues, including indoor and outdoor shows at the Rusty Rudder, Cape Henlopen Performing Arts Center, the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, Epworth Memorial Church, the Historic Lewes Farmers Market and Lewes Elementary School.
- A variety of experiences, from seated shows in auditorium settings, to table seating with drinks, to the free outdoor event at the Lewes Farmer’s Market on October 19th, to a Sunday brunch event at the Rusty Rudder on October 20th and a buffet dinner performance at the Rudder closing out the festival on the 20th.
- The opportunity to experience all kinds of music, including Yacht Rock from the Yacht Lobsters, Christian music from Tasha Layton, fusions of R & B, jazz, hip-hop and danceable grooves from Damien Escobar and Eric Darius and Jazz, Funk, Soul, electrifying instrumentals from Acoustic Alchemy, Four 80 East, Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday standards from Billie and Blue Eyes, soft and new age jazz from Keiko Matsui and Norman Brown and lots more. Check out the full schedule and ticket information at https://www.rehobothjazz.com/index.php/tickets.