West Side Creative Market has become one of those Coastal Delaware events that feels like more than a market.
It brings together local artists, live music, food trucks, craft cocktails, wine, beer, games, and the kind of easy outdoor energy that makes a summer night in Rehoboth Beach feel a little more special.
A Summer Market Built Around Local Creativity
West Side Creative Market takes place in Rehoboth on Monday and Friday nights from Memorial Day weekend through September.
Each event features more than 20 local artists, with a different lineup throughout the season.
You can find handmade pieces like ceramics, paintings, jewelry, textiles, and other original work created by artists from the community.
The market is also free to attend, with free parking available, which makes it easy to stop by for a quick look around or spend the evening hanging out.
What You Can Expect
No two Creative Market nights are the same!
A typical evening can include:
- 20+ local artists
- Live local music
- Rotating food trucks
- Craft cocktails, wine, and beer
- Family-friendly games
You can shop, eat, listen to music, grab a drink, bring the family, or just walk around and see what catches your eye.
Image: West Side Creative Market
It All Started as an Empty Parking Lot
Before West Side Creative Market became a regular summer gathering spot, it started with an empty parking lot and a simple idea: give local artists a consistent place to show and sell their work while bringing the community together around creativity.
What you see today was built slowly, one step at a time.
Improvements to the space, including infrastructure, lighting, and gathering areas, were funded through DAC’s own programming, program revenue, and a few carefully taken loans, with money reinvested back into the market as it grew.
The space developed alongside the artists and community members who kept showing up week after week.
DAC received its first grant support for the space in 2024 through the Creative Market awning project, with support from the Delaware Community Foundation and the Welfare Foundation.
General operating support from the Delaware Division of Tourism, Delaware Division of the Arts, and Longwood Foundation has also helped support DAC programming.
Today, West Side Creative Market is a good reminder of what can happen when artists, neighbors, and a small team with a clear vision keep building something together.
More Than $1.3 Million in Artist Sales
Creative Market has become one of the most vibrant creative events in Coastal Delaware, and the numbers show it.
The market has generated more than $1.3 million in artist sales and supports more than 130 artists each season, giving local creatives a steady place to meet people, sell their work, and be part of a regular community event.
The support also goes beyond what visitors buy from artist booths.
Since 2021, DAC’s beverage partners have helped generate more than $250,000 for local artists, creative workforce programs, and community events.
Every drink purchased at Creative Market helps create more opportunities for artists while keeping the market active, accessible, and community-focused.
Visitors can also join the DAC Cup Club with a $25 donation at the next market.
Members receive a collectible Support Local Artists cup, a complimentary first drink, $1 off refills all season, access to a guided art walk, and the satisfaction of knowing their support is going directly back into the local creative scene.
You are not just browsing handmade pieces or grabbing a drink. You are helping support the artists, programs, and community events that keep the local creative scene growing.
Image: West Side Creative Market
Something New Each Visit
One of the best parts of West Side Creative Market is that you do not have to treat it like a one-time event.
Because the artists, food trucks, music, and creative features rotate throughout the season, each visit can feel different from the last.
One visit might bring Taco Reho, Shore Island, and music by Positively Toni Marie, while another could mean handmade jewelry, ceramics, La Pinkeria, Cup R Cone, Julie Derrick, Magic Jack, and a completely different crowd.
It is the kind of event that works well for a casual Monday night plan, a Friday night with friends, or an easy stop before or after dinner in Rehoboth Beach.
Creative Market Tours
West Side Creative Market also offers guided creative market tours for groups, friends, and coworkers who want a more complete experience.
The tour takes you through the market, down the street to the Fresh Art Pop-Up show at the Artpothecary, and into the history of West Rehoboth.
Along the way, you can meet local artists, explore the neighborhood, and get a fuller look at the creative scene beyond the main market setup.
The tour also includes unlimited drinks, which adds a fun extra piece for groups planning a night out together.
Image: West Side Creative Market
West Side Creative Market Details
West Side Creative Market runs every Monday and Friday from 5pm to 9pm, starting Memorial Day weekend and continuing through September.
You can find it at 19826 Central Street in Rehoboth Beach.
Keep following the blog for more local events, creative spots, and things to do around Coastal Delaware.
Have any questions about our blog(s), the Coastal Delaware real estate market, or local life in our beautiful beach towns? Do you think there is something we should write about? Did you see an event coming up that we should know about? Shoot us an email at [email protected] or give us a call at (302) 212-0074. We would love to hear from you!
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