DELMARVA- Christmas is quickly approaching and there are a lot of ways to celebrate on the Coast. Below is a breakdown of what holiday festivities are happening in many coastal towns.
BETHANY BEACH
Bethany Beach will begin its holiday festivities Dec. 2 with a story time and local authors signing books at the Bethany Beach Nature Center at 10:30 a.m. Then there will be pony rides on the beach from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Following that will be a party with Santa as well as trolley, train and tractor rides. Then at 5 p.m. will be the tree lighting and performance from the SDSA Choir at the bandstand.
Dec. 9 the nature center will also have Christmas at the Cottages where you can meet alpacas and experience an old-fashioned Christmas at the Dinker-Irvin Museum. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. there will be Victorian Carolers, gingerbread house making and museum tours.
BRIDGEVILLE
The Town of Bridgeville will host its tree lighting ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m. The tree is located between the Town Hall and Police Department on Main Street. A parade will be held on Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. This year’s theme is “…And a partridge in a pear tree!". A rain date of December 10 is set if necessary. The deadline to submit a form to participate in the parade is Dec. 1.
CAMDEN-WYOMING
In the Camden-Wyoming area, the Christmas parade is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 9, at 6 p.m. The route will start at Caesar Rodney High School and turn right onto Main Street, then another right onto Camden Wyoming Avenue. The parade will end at the railroad tracks in Wyoming. Parade applications are available online until Nov. 30.
Santa will be at Wyoming Town Hall immediately after the event.
DAGSBORO
The Dagsboro Christmas parade will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. The parade route continues down Main Street towards town. It turns left onto Clayton Street and ends at the new Dagsboro Fire Hall. The Town of Dagsboro will also have Santa in the Park again this year for children to share their wish lists. This will be at Katie Helm Park on Mondays and Wednesdays in Dec. on: Monday 12/4, Wednesday 12/6, Monday 12/11, Wednesday 12/13, Tuesday 12/19, and Wednesday 12/20 all from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., weather permitting.
DELMAR
The Greater Delmar Chamber of Commerce is holding its Christmas Parade on Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. The Rain date will be Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. Applications are available at Delmar Town Hall or online. Applications must be received prior to Monday, Nov. 27.
FELTON
Felton's Second Annual Christmas Parade will be Friday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. If you wish to participate in the parade, a sign up sheet can be found here. The deadline to register is
GEORGETOWN
The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce will be holding the Christmas in Toyland Caroling on the Circle event at 6 p.m. followed by the Georgetown Christmas Parade which starts at 7 p.m. and goes until 9 p.m.
GREENWOOD
The Town of Greenwood will have a Christmas Parade on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m.
GUMBORO
The Gumboro Volunteer Fire Company will host its Second Annual Christmas Parade. The parade will begin on Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. The theme for this year is "The Magic of Christmas". GVFC Ladies Auxiliary will be selling food along the parade route and trophies will be handed out for first, second, and third place entries. Parade entry forms are due no later than Dec. 8.
HARRINGTON
The City of Harrington's Annual Christmas Parade will be held on Friday, Dec. 1, beginning at 7 p.m. This year's theme for the parade is "Christmas around the world".
LAUREL
The Town of Laurel's Christmas Parade is set for Friday, Dec. 1. This year's theme is "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree." The parade will start at 7 p.m. Entry forms to be a part of the parade need to be submitted by Nov. 27. Applications are available at Laurel Town Hall or online at www.townoflaurel.net under 'Forms'.
LEWES
Lewes' 91st Annual Christmas Parade takes place on Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. A rain date for the parade will be Dec. 9. The parade's theme will be "Celebrating an Old Fashioned Christmas in Lewes". This year's Honorary Grand Marshal is Wally Evans. Evans will have been a member of the Lewes Volunteer Fire Department for 50-years.
Parade entrants have until Nov. 17 to register. Registration can be completed through the Lewes Chamber of Commerce.
Prizes are awarded in a number of categories: Exceptional Sound, Marching Group, Band, Clown, Equestrian, Decorated Classic Car (vintage 1967 or older), Decorated Vehicle (after 1967 or more recent), Fire Company, Commercial Float, Community Organization Float and Youth Organization Float.
MILFORD
Nov. 25 at 10 a.m. the Elf Parade will gather at Bridging the Gap Thrift Store where Elves will parade along the Riverwalk to the Riverfront Theater to welcome Santa Claus to Milford. You can register to be part of the Elf Parade at https://forms.gle/hA9bp9eiXdhGAdSg9 and be entered in a drawing. Later that day, the city will hold its annual City Hall tree lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. on Nov. 25. The following day, Nov. 26, the Carlisle Fire Company's Annual Holiday Craft Show will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Santa will be available for visits with children from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Santa will continue to be available for visits throughout the holiday season on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. until Dec. 23 when he must depart to prepare for his world-wide sleigh ride.
The 18th Annual Holiday Stroll will offer a chance to shop locally for the upcoming holidays as well as the 4th Annual Christmas Market. Those two events will happen from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 2. There will be a lot of entertainment, food and activities along Walnut Street and surrounding areas: including a live Nativity, Strolling Choirs, Gymnastic Tumblers, Irish Dancers and a Leprechaun, Ornament Crafts, S’mores Fire Pit, Hot Cocoa Stations, Raffles and of course Elves mingling with the community.
MILLSBORO
Nov. 18, Millsboro will host its Holiday Market from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Millsboro Holiday Parade will be on Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. and the tree lighting ceremony will follow the parade at the Millsboro Town Center.
MILTON
The Milton Christmas Parade will take place on Dec. 6 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
MILLVILLE
The Town of Millville will kick off the holiday season with the annual Yuletide Festival and Tree Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 2. First there will be an indoor Artisan Craft Show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The outdoor festivities start at 3 p.m. with children’s games, craft making projects, and smores’ stations. Santa will be there for photos and the annual Tree Lighting ceremony with holiday caroling and music is at dusk. The rain date for these events will be the following day, Dec. 3.
OCEAN CITY
The Ocean City Christmas Parade will begin at 11 a.m. and go till 1 p.m. on Dec. 2.
REHOBOTH BEACH
The Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company Hometown Christmas Parade will be on Monday, Dec. 4, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Our very own Madeline Overturf will be the emcee. All parade participants and attendees are invited to the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company on Rehoboth Avenue after the Parade for Santa’s Christmas party, which will include refreshments and an opportunity for children to visit Santa Claus. There is no rain date for this parade and will post to rehobothbeachfire.com or be on the CoastTV News broadcast if cancelled. People or groups who wish to participate in the parade can also sign up on the fire department's website.
SELBYVILLE
The 62nd Annual Selbyville Christmas Parade will be on Dec. 1 on Church Street. The parade starts at 7 p.m. and will include festive floats, marching bands, fire trucks, antique cars, Santa Claus and food. People who wish to participate can sign up at thequietresorts.com.