94 th ANNUAL LEWES CHRISTMAS PARADE
TAKES PLACE ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2026 AT 5 PM
HONORARY GRAND MARSHAL – MARY ALICE “Mak” KELLY,
LEWES 250 COMMITTEE CHAIR

This year’s annual Lewes Christmas parade, presented by the City of Lewes and the
Lewes Chamber of Commerce, takes place on December 5, 2026 at 5 p.m. (Rain/Snow Date:
Sunday, December 6, 2026 at the same time.) The parade’s theme is “Celebrating an Old-
Fashioned Christmas in Lewes.” The parade organizing committee is co-chaired by Craig
Beebe, NextHome Tomorrow Realty and G.W. Thompson, Nerds to Go.

The committee has selected Mary Alice “Mak” Kelly as this year’s Honorary Grand Marshal
in recognition of her service as the chair of the Lewes 250 Committee. Designating Mak
as the Grand Marshal also recognizes the efforts of the full organizing committee. Committee
members are Trina Brown-Hicks, Ron Collins, Ray Daminger, Susan Hyde, Andrew Lyter, The
Hon. Amy L. Marasco, Michael J. Rawl, Betsy Reamer, Stephanie Ripper and Terri Smith. They
began meeting the winter of 2025 with other community groups, businesses, individuals and the
Greater Lewes Foundation to plan a full year of activities in 2026 to celebrate and share the full
legacy of the American Revolution. Mak noted that “One single celebration on July 4 was
completely inadequate to wholly represent how Lewes should celebrate the wonders of our
community and its history. We know how important it was to represent ALL who helped shape
Lewes over the past 250 years.”

Jim Smith, Lewes Chamber Board of Directors and Mike DiPaolo, Delaware Community
Foundation will reprise their roles as parade co-announcers. Prizes are awarded in a
number of categories. The other prize categories are: Marching Group, Band, Clown,
Equestrian, Decorated Classic Car (vintage 1967 or older), Decorated Vehicle (after 1967
or more recent), Fire Company, Commercial Float, Community Organization Float and
Youth Organization Float. Deadline for parade entrants’ registrations forms is Nov. 20.

Call the Lewes Chamber of Commerce to register an entry – 302-645-8073.
After the parade, everyone is invited to join Mayor Amy Marasco as she officially
illuminates the Christmas tree in Zwaanendael Park followed by candlelight caroling
in the park, led by Christy Taylor with some of her music students. The tree lighting
ceremony will commence shortly after the last parade entry passes by the Judges’
Reviewing Stand in Zwaanendael Park.

The Christmas Parade is the culmination of a number of special events and activities
associated with the celebration of the Christmas Weekend in Historic Lewes. The festivities kick
off on Thursday, December 3 with the Lewes Merchants’ 39 th annual Hospitality Night from 5-8
p.m. in the historic commercial district. Second Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from 3 –
8 p.m. on Thursday night. Santa will make a brief visit that evening to his Lewes house at the
corner of Second and Bank Streets.

There are numerous other activities throughout the Lewes area associated with the
holiday weekend celebrations. Visit the chamber’s website: www.leweschamber.com/events.
The chamber’s visitor center is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and will be open from
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 5.