Art Festivals Across Southern Delaware

By Mary Jo Tarallo

Who doesn’t like an art festival? The people are friendly, the displays are colorful, and it’s a good excuse to savor the outdoors.

The Lewes Historical Society (LHS) plays host to a dazzling display of jewelry and other creations at the Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass and Coastal Arts Festival, set for Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2 from 9am-4 pm. Coastal artists, live music, food and historical/educational activities will mix at this family-oriented event taking place at the Historical Society’s campus on Shipcarpenter Street in Lewes.

Next up is the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Art Show set for Saturday, July 6 from 9 am-3 pm. It’s the parish’s major outreach activity with proceeds benefiting multiple community organizations.

The Lewes Historical Society is back on center stage Saturday and Sunday, July 15th and 16th from 9am-4pm with its Summer Crafts Fair. More than 60 artists will be showing works at the Society’s campus. The $10 admission includes entrance to all LHS properties.

August brings with it the “Big Kahuna” of art shows – the Rehoboth Art League’s 49th annual Outdoor Fine Art and Fine Craft Show. Tents dot RAL’s 3.5-acre campus showcasing artists from up and down the East

Coast and offering food, live music, children’s activities, artist demonstrations, gallery exhibits, well-tended gardens, the historic Peter Marsh Homestead, and a Dogfish Head Beer Garden.

Dates for this juried show are August 3-4 and August 10-11. Saturday hours are 10am-5pm and Sunday hours are 10am4pm. There is a $5 entrance fee, but a ticket bought on Saturday includes a return visit the next day.

The Bethany Beach Boardwalk Arts Festival wraps up the coastal beach town schedule on Saturday, September 7th from 10 am-5pm. So mark your calendars! There’s plenty to enjoy with Arts Festivals across our coastal communities this summer!

For those who want to get creative with some local classes, we have a plethora of options:

• Rehoboth Art League Classes

• Mispillion Art League Classes

• Milton Arts Guild Classes

• Sussex County Library ART Classes