92nd ANNUAL LEWES CHRISTMAS PARADE
TAKES PLACE ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024 AT 5 PM
HONORARY GRAND MARSHAL – THE GREATER LEWES FOUNDATION 

This year’s annual Lewes Christmas parade, presented by the City of Lewes and the Lewes Chamber of Commerce, takes place on December 7, 2024 at 5 p.m. (Rain/Snow Date: Sunday, December 8, 2024 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 parade organizing committee has selected The Greater Lewes Foundation (GLF) as this year’s Honorary Grand Marshal in recognition of their numerous projects that have maintained and enhanced the quality of life in the Greater Lewes Region for 25 years. Their first project was in 2000 when they saved the Lewes’ downtown waterfront and created the Lewes Canalfront Park. Next, the GLF negotiated the purchase for the land and helped raise $12 million to construct the Lewes Public Library at its current site. Their current projects include saving the Fourth Street Preserve-Lewes’s last remaining forest, working with the state to fully restore and expand the historic Nassau School and assisting the state in the re-design of the deVries Monument in time for both the 250th anniversary of independence and in 2031, the 400th anniversary of the original Dutch colony that led to the founding of Lewes.

Jim Smith, Delmarva Power and on the 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 including a prize that was introduced four years ago recognizing entrants that add an exceptional sound component to their entry. 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.

After the parade, everyone is invited to join Mayor Andrew Williams as he 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 5 with the Lewes Merchants’ 37 th annual Hospitality Night from 5-8 p.m. in the historic commercial district. Second Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from 4 – 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 7.