As summer winds down, festival season is just getting started in coastal Delaware. From lively parades and seafood feasts to art showcases and jazz concerts, the region comes alive with events that highlight its vibrant culture and community. 

Whether you're a local or just visiting, there's something exciting happening almost every weekend!

Check out the highlights you won’t want to miss:

August

Outdoor Fine Art & Fine Craft Show

More than 100 artists and artisans from around the country will display and sell their fine art and fine crafts amidst the Rehoboth Art League's campus.

The annual Outdoor Show is a juried event yielding exceptional work, and many of the artists actively enjoy demonstrating their creativity during each day of the show.

This is an event full of activities, including great food, live music, artist demonstrations, gallery exhibits, beautiful gardens, the historic Peter Marsh Homestead, and a Dogfish Head Beer Garden.

• Dates and Times: August 2nd-3rd & August 9th-10th; Saturdays 10am-5pm, Sundays 10am-4pm, Rain or Shine!!!
• Location: 12 Dodds Lane, Rehoboth Beach
• Cost: $5 (Kids under 12 are free)

Image Generated by AI

September

Bethany Beach Boardwalk Arts Festival

Over 100 juried artists display their works, ranging from ceramics and jewelry to fine art, along the Bethany Beach boardwalk. 

The day also includes live music, a silent auction on the bandstand, artist meet-and-greets, and a wine tasting, all set against the picturesque coastal backdrop.

• Date and Time: September 6th; 10am-5pm
• Location: Bethany Beach boardwalk

Indian River Marina Autumn Art Festival

This scenic, free-admission arts festival showcases over 50 artists, including painters and sculptors, along the Delaware Seashore State Park waterfront. 

Attendees enjoy art demos, music, food trucks, and interactive children’s art stations with pumpkin fun for the whole family  in a relaxed marina atmosphere.

• Date and Time: September 13th; 10am-5pm
• Location: 39415 Inlet Road, Rehoboth Beach

Delaware Seafood Festival

This festival is a lively celebration of coastal cuisine and community spirit, featuring a Vendor Village brimming with fresh crab cakes, shrimp tacos, lobster rolls, oyster shooters, and their signature crab cake over scrapple in lemon‑butter cream sauce.

Attendees can join in the fun with competitive events like oyster shucking, shrimp‑eating, and the fan‑favorite 5‑pound Crab Pretzel challenge, while cooking demos and beer‑and‑seafood tastings highlight regional flavors. You can find the full schedule for their day at their event website linked above. 

The festival supports the nonprofit Stevenson Foundation and benefits local charities.

• Date and Time: September 20th; 10am-5pm (rain date, September 21st)
• Location: 36470 Seaside Outlet Drive, Rehoboth Beach
• Cost: $10 advanced, $12 at the door (Kids under 12 are free)

Image Generated by AI

Alpaca Festival

The 5th Annual Alpaca Festival at Four Acres Living celebrates alpacas with live music, farm tours, fleece demos, alpaca yoga, vendors, food trucks, and petting interactions. There will even be pony rides & hungry alpacas waiting to be fed by hand!

The event combines education with a charming rural farm experience, and admission is granted with the arrival of a non-perishable food item to donate, benefiting the Food Bank of Delaware.

• Date and Time: September 21st; 10am-2pm
• Location: 32236 Omar Road, Frankford

Festival Hispano

An energetic celebration of Hispanic culture in Downtown Georgetown featuring live music, traditional dances and artisan crafts.

More than 100 booths showcase authentic Latin American cuisine—from tacos and pupusas to elotes and aguas frescas.

Proceeds support local nonprofits serving the Hispanic community, and admission ($20, free for under-11) helps fund vital services like health care, legal support, and education. 

• Date and Time: September 21st; 11am-7pm
• Location: North Race Street, Georgetown

History Book Festival

A premier festival for lovers of historical fiction and narrative nonfiction at the Delaware beaches in Lewes. 

The three-day event offers a ticketed Friday keynote, Saturday daytime author presentations (mostly free), and a closing Sunday address, featuring award-winning historians and classroom outreach. 

The schedule of Saturday’s free author presentations will be available in early August.

It’s a rich mix of scholarly discussion, book signings, and community engagement that any book lover would thoroughly enjoy!

• Dates: September 26th-28th
• Location: Delaware beaches in Historic Lewes, more info TBD

86 Hook & Ladder BrewFest

A lively celebration of local craft beer held at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center in support of the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company.

The afternoon event features tastings from around 15 Delaware-area breweries, with music, food vendors, and artisan booths adding to the festive atmosphere.

Guests can sample and vote on their favorite brews while enjoying a relaxed, indoor setting.

• Date: September 27th, 12pm-4pm
• Ticket Link here
• Location: 229 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach

Image Generated by AI

October

Boast the Coast Maritime Festival

An educational and festive weekend in Lewes celebrating maritime heritage with free boat tours, face painting, children’s crafts, seafood tastings, music, and craft vendors.

Activities span parks and docks, topped off by a lighted boat parade and historic vessel tours. 

Families gain hands-on insight into coastal life through strolls, storytelling, and nautical flair.

• Dates and Times: October 3rd-5th; 10am-5pm
• Location: Various Venues, more info TBD 

True Blue Jazz Festival 

A highly curated jazz festival in Downtown Rehoboth Beach and Historic Lewes showcasing “Straight Ahead” jazz from the Great American Songbook. 

The multi-day event features regional, national, and international artists (including headline acts like Wycliffe Gordon) at venues from the Boardwalk Plaza to the Firehouse.

It also offers workshops, vendor experiences, and a big‑band marathon supporting local causes. Any music lovers out there? This is a must to add to your calendar!

• Dates: October 15th-19th
• Location: Venues across Rehoboth Beach & Lewes
• Cost: Prices go from $30 to $80

Image Generated by AI

Sea Witch® Festival

A beloved local favorite, this popular fall tradition in Rehoboth Beach blends Halloween enchantment with lively fiddle music and energetic clog dancing.

Visitors enjoy costume parades for both people and pets, a dog parade, magic shows, a Sea Witch 5K classic run, jack-o’-lantern hunts, and beach games. 

Dozens of indoor/outdoor artisan and vendor booths offer crafts, snacks, and souvenirs, while live performances create a lively, family-friendly ambiance.

• Dates: October 24th-26th
• Location: Rehoboth Beach

November

Rehoboth Beach International Film Festival

Now celebrating its 27th year, this acclaimed festival brings world-class films to the coastal towns of the Delaware beaches. 

The Rehoboth Beach International Film Festival showcases a curated lineup of 75 in-person screenings across seven days, featuring documentaries, foreign films, Oscar-worthy narratives, and award-winning shorts.

Alongside films, attendees can enjoy panels, Q&As, special tributes, and dynamic networking at this year’s festival hub! 

• Dates: November 3rd–9th
• Location: Cinema Art Theater, Rehoboth Beach

Plan Your Fall Fun Now

From petting alpacas to tasting world-class seafood, these festivals offer something for everyone. Bookmark your favorites, invite friends, and make it a season to remember.

Want more Coastal Delaware events and updates? Follow our blog and stay connected to all things Coastal Delaware!