Lewes Celebrates 4th of July and America’s 250th Birthday
Lewes Celebrates 4th of July and America’s 250th Birthday
Historic Lewes Farmers Market 8 a.m. – Noon
Old-Fashioned Games for Children on Second Street 9 a.m.
St. Peter’s Art Show 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Independence Day Lewes Boat Parade 2 p.m.
Doo-Dah Parade at 5 p.m.
FIREWORKS at Dusk
This year’s 4th of July activities include many Lewes groups incorporating the nation’s 250th Celebration of Independence into their own events. There are also new events taking place on July 3rd. Additional events on the 4th this year include the annual St. Peter’s Art Show and the weekly
The City of Lewes continues its long tradition of hosting old-fashioned games for children on Second Street beginning at 9 am on Saturday, the 4th of July. The games are open to children of all ages and include an egg toss, hula hoop contest, a barrel roll and spoon, sack and three-legged races. No advance or day-of registrations are required.
Second Street will be closed to vehicular traffic in advance of the Second Street games beginning and will reopen just prior to the Doo-Day parade. While Second Street is closed, the sidewalks and Second Street will be available for pedestrians to access the shops and restaurants. Additionally, musical entertainment is scheduled between events prior to the Doo-Dah parade.
Following the games, the Lewes Independence Day Boat Parade will wind its way down the Lewes – Rehoboth Canal from the Roosevelt Inlet to Fisherman’s Wharf as part of the City of Lewes’ 4th of July holiday festivities. The parade entrants will leave from Roosevelt Inlet across from the Coast Guard Station at 1:30 pm and at approximately 2 pm they will pass in front of the judges’ reviewing stand at Fisherman’s Wharf and turn before reaching the Savannah Road Drawbridge. The parade judges are members of City Council, Lightship Overfalls Foundation and the
Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club. This is the 20th year that the Overfalls Foundation has co-hosted the Independence Day Boat Parade and the ninth
year of their collaboration with the Lewes-Rehoboth Beach Rotary Club. This year’s parade is sponsored by the Freedom Boat Club of Delaware.
All pre-registered boat entrants will be eligible for prizes. First, Second and Third Place plaques will be awarded. Boats will be judged on the best use of patriotic decorations. At the conclusion of the parade, all boat entrants are invited to attend the Awards Ceremony on the deck of the Lightship Overfalls at 3:30 pm. To be eligible for a prize, the vessel must be registered no later than 3 p.m. on July 3rd.
Registration forms are available at the Lewes Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center in the Fisher-Martin House in Zwaanendael Park and the Lewes Harbour Marina Bait and Tackle at the end of Anglers Road. For more information, call the Lewes Chamber of Commerce (302) 645-8073. Late, unregistered entries are invited to join the parade by arriving at the Roosevelt Inlet at 1:30 p.m. but will not be eligible for prizes.
There is no charge to participate as an entrant in the boat parade or to be a spectator. Good viewing spots line the canal on both sides and are on a first come basis.
The fun continues with the unique and quirky Doo-Dah Parade that forms in the vicinity of Lloyd’s Market on Savannah Road and winds its way down Kings Highway to Second Street and ends on Savannah Road, heading back towards Lloyds. No preregistration is required and everyone is invited to participate. The parade kicks off at approximately 5 p.m.!
Finally, the day caps off with the annual, fully sanctioned fireworks that will be launched from a barge off Savannah Beach at dusk. The fireworks are funded by donations from the City of Lewes, Lewes-area business community, local residents and out-of-town donors. The “Go Fourth” Committee, chaired by Russ Palmer, co-chaired by Debra and Paul Evalds, and Betsy Reamer, secretary, coordinates the fundraising and promotion.
Other committee members that provide logistical support for the fireworks include representation from the City of Lewes and Lewes Police Department, Lewes Fire Department, Sussex County Emergency Operations, DelDOT, Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) Police, Tiki Adventures, Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes Yacht Club and other community volunteers. Information about the fireworks event is on the committee’s website (www.GoFourthLewes.org). with links from the City of Lewes website (www.ci.lewes.de.us) or the Lewes Chamber of Commerce website (www.LewesChamber.com).