(DEWEY BEACH, Del.) - Highway One Companies sponsors Winter WonderFEST and the Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club with a weekend of Christmas-themed festivities known as the Dewey Claus Crawl.
An outdoor roller rink popped up at Jimmy's Grill in Dewey Beach as part of that Claus Crawl. It was made to look like an ice rink, mimicking the Winter WonderFEST that it supports.
Winter WonderFEST rink director, Peter Briccotto, says: "Winter WonderFEST was founded in 2016. We celebrated our second season last year and we brought a brand new open-air ice rink in for the first time ever during our 2017 season. Right now we're raising money to purchase that so we can lower our operating budget and give out more money and grants to the community."
That rink can be found annually at the Lewes Ferry Terminal from mid-November through the end of December. Funds made from this pop-up roller rink go towards Winter WonderFEST's capital campaign to purchase their very own ice rink.
All weekend long, families, groups of friends, and bachelorette parties could be found celebrating on the plastic surface. With a $5 admission fee, they could grab a pair of skates and roll around the rink for as long as they wished. The pop-up rink gave business to all the Highway One Company restaurants throughout Dewey Beach. It was a huge success and event organizers say we can expect to see it back next year.
The roller rink benefits Winter WonderFEST in the short terrm, and by doing so it also supports all of the non-profit organizations in Sussex County that the winter festival gives back to.
Winter WonderFEST kicks off on Saturday, November 17th with activities and events including that ice rink at the Lewes Ferry Terminal and a drive-through light show in the Cape Henlopen State Park.