Beach adventures, Arden Fair, bluegrass, Tall Ship & more Labor Day weekend fun

Delaware News Journal
·4 min read
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Hey, hang on, wasn't it JUST Memorial Day weekend. Oh, well, time waits for no beach lover ...

Like it or not, we're here.

Here is how you can enjoy it in between kicking back and doing whatever you like.

Get your Vitamin D

Not only is the sun sticking around, but it will work overtime in Delaware next week as temperatures heat up.

The National Weather Service reports that record heat is expected to build across the Midwest and into the Mid-Atlantic region, starting this weekend and continuing into early next week.

With that in mind, here’s the forecast for each Delaware county over the next week (and a gentle reminder to remember your sunscreen and hydrate, folks!):

Grab your boogie board!

The Rehoboth Beach Patrol hosted approximately 300 lifeguards for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Lifesaving Championships on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. During the event, lifeguards competed against each other in different physical challenges and activities, forcing them to get sandy and wet.
The Rehoboth Beach Patrol hosted approximately 300 lifeguards for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Lifesaving Championships on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. During the event, lifeguards competed against each other in different physical challenges and activities, forcing them to get sandy and wet.

Though the season doesn't officially end until Sept. 23, the tourist season ends this weekend. Visitors and locals alike will be out soaking up the last of the summer ambiance on the beaches and boardwalks.

They'll all be back in droves on the weekends in the coming months, but this is the final weekly guide to the Delaware beaches for the summer. Read on for everything you need to know if you'll be there this weekend.

Get crafty at a Delaware brewery

Crooked Hammock Brewery has Delaware locations in Lewes and Middletown and allows patrons to bring their dogs.
Crooked Hammock Brewery has Delaware locations in Lewes and Middletown and allows patrons to bring their dogs.

With 29 craft breweries operating across Delaware, it's sometimes hard to wrap your head (or lips) around which ones are best to visit.

Sure, there's a lot that goes into a brewery beyond the beer: staff, ambiance, live music, food, games and more.

But if you're strictly talking about the brews, raiding the ratings of First State breweries on the popular beer-rating Untappd app is a great way to start.

We rounded up what beer drinkers love best for you here.

Take your own Hollywood tour in Philly

2006 Delancey St., Philadelphia, is the location of Bruce Willis' house in the M. Night Shyamalan movie "The Sixth Sense." The 2000 block of Delancey is often called the most filmed residential street in Philadelphia. At least six major studio movies and a number of TV series were shot there.
2006 Delancey St., Philadelphia, is the location of Bruce Willis' house in the M. Night Shyamalan movie "The Sixth Sense." The 2000 block of Delancey is often called the most filmed residential street in Philadelphia. At least six major studio movies and a number of TV series were shot there.

There’s more to Philly movie and TV history than just the Rocky steps — and the Rocky statue by the Rocky steps. Weirder things. Goofier things. Easter eggs that even many of the city’s residents don’t know.

You can visit all of them, in an underground daytrip that connects the oddball parts of Philadelphia film history.

Arden Fair turns 115

This classic event is busier than the Netflix landing page. The 115th annual Arden Fair is back with a diverse offering of handcrafted items from over 100 vendors. There's an Antiques Market, used books (in the Gild Hall), food, beverages, live music (at Shady Grove), games and more festivities.

Arden Gild Hall (2126 The Highway, Arden) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2. Free admission. Visit ardenclub.org/arden-fair or (302) 475-3126.

Delaware Valley Bluegrass on tap

Dailey & Vincent will play the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival in Woodstown, New Jersey on Friday, Sept. 1.
Dailey & Vincent will play the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival in Woodstown, New Jersey on Friday, Sept. 1.

There's a longstanding tradition for people in the tri-state area to hit up the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival. The three-day festival, which offers free camping (a weekend pass is required), will feature favorites like Dailey & Vincent (Friday), Dan Tyminski Band (Saturday) and Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers (Sunday). 

Over a dozen bands will play at the festival. Off stage, there are workshops to teach bluegrass fans how to jam, write songs, and other cool skills. 

Salem County Fairgrounds (735 Harding Highway, Pilesgrove, New Jersey) on Friday, Sept. 1, through Sunday, Sept. 3. General day passes on Friday and Saturday each are $70 adult; $65 senior; $40 student; Sunday pass only is $60 adult; $55 senior; $30 student. Free for kids age 17 or younger (with adult ticket holder). Visit delawarevalleybluegrass.org or (302) 321-6466.

Soulja Boy on frontlines in Wilmington

Kid Capri (top center) and Soulja Boy (bottom middle) grace the stage during the BET Awards 2023 at Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Kid Capri (top center) and Soulja Boy (bottom middle) grace the stage during the BET Awards 2023 at Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

He's best known for dropping the mega-hit "Crank That" in 2007, which took the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. 

The rapper Soulja Boy's song included a dance that broke the internet at the time, inspiring a bunch of copycats to create offshoot dances. The rapper has since cemented himself as one of the most influential rappers of the YouTube era, racking up a bunch of other hits like "BTBT," "Pretty Boy Swag" and "Kiss Me Thru the Phone."

The Queen (500 N. Market St., Wilmington) at 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3. Tickets start at $27. Visit thequeenwilmington.com or (302) 400-7020.

Ride the Tall Ship of Delaware

Workers clean the Kalmar Nyckel, the Tall Ship of Delaware, as seen from the Copeland Maritime Center on Friday, March 24, 2023.
Workers clean the Kalmar Nyckel, the Tall Ship of Delaware, as seen from the Copeland Maritime Center on Friday, March 24, 2023.

Put on your favorite frilly shirt and a bandana and go on a sailing tour of the First State's most popular ship: the Kalmar Nyckel. Two time slots already are sold out this Labor Day weekend. But three more remain, for now.

The sails are two hours and 30 minutes. Folks will get a chance to learn history and other cool details about the Tall Ship of Delaware. Keep in mind, you'll need to show up 30 minutes early for check-in. 

The ship isn't wheelchair-accessible, so you'll need to call (below) to see how they can accommodate your needs.  

Kalmar Nyckel will depart from historic New Castle (1 Delaware St., New Castle) at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 3, and 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 4. Tickets are $40-$60. Visit kalmarnyckel.org or (302) 429-7447.

Andre Lamar, Ryan Cormier, Shannon Marvel McNaught, Matthew Korfhage and Krys'tal Griffin contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware Labor Day fun: Breweries, beach, concerts, festivals & more