REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. - Whether your house has been decorated for weeks or you think it's still too soon, holiday festivities are set to kick off in Rehoboth Beach over Thanksgiving weekend. Events include the downtown Christmas tree lighting, holiday sing-along and Santa's return to Rehoboth.
Rehoboth's tree lighting and holiday sing-along are set for Friday, Nov. 24, at the bandstand. Festivities start at 6 p.m. with the Cape Brass Ensemble, which will perform holiday music. At 6:30 p.m., members from the Clear Space Theatre will perform holiday classics as part of a sing-along. The countdown to the official lighting of Rehoboth's Christmas tree is set for 7 p.m.
Huge crowds flooded Rehoboth Avenue in 2022 for the Christmas tree lighting and music performances.
Dean and Debbie Smith, who donated last year's tree, are once again the donors for 2023. This year's tree is a large 21-year-old arborvitae. Dean, a retired firefighter, and Debbie, a dental hygienist, have lived in the Rehoboth area since 2002 and were regular visitors for two decades before that.
The tree will arrive at the bandstand with assistance from Delmarva Power, Harry Caswell, Inc., and George Plummer & Sons.
The Rehoboth Beach tree lighting countdown in 2022.
Santa's house is also back on the boardwalk, and he will be in town over Thanksgiving weekend. On Friday, Nov. 24, Santa will welcome visitors into his home from 4 to 6:30 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, he will be there from 1 to 3 p.m. His full beach house schedule is available at beach-fun.com.