Festivals feature ice cream, jazz, Chinese and Black cultures: Your weekend guide

Welcome to your Weekend Guide for the first official weekend of summer!

Today we've got some fun things to do including a bunch of Delaware festivals and, of course, some live music.

We've also got your weekly beach guide and more.

So let's crank up the Jimmy Buffett (we are not apologetic), slather on that mineral-based SPF and get this thing started.

But first, a word of warning to be sure we keep the good times rolling and the Urgent Care visits at bay:

Before you fire up that grill ...

Whip out those spatulas and get your cookout aprons on; it’s grilling season.

But before you do, make sure you’re caught up on grilling safety and fire hazards to be aware of. The last thing your Fourth of July celebration or graduation party needs is a charred patio umbrella.

As Krys'tal Griffin reports, July is the peak month for grill fires, followed by June, May and August. Between 2017 to 2021, an average of 22,155 patients per year went to emergency rooms because of grilling-related injuries, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Lap it up

A staple food item for the summer is ice cream. So, it only makes sense that Delaware created a festival that pays tribute to this tasty treat, while also surrounding it with other goodies like live music, food trucks and a beer garden.  Additionally, festivalgoers will enjoy carnival games, museum tours, fireworks, a family train, over 35 vendors and more. 

The music lineup features Ty Mathis (1:30 to 2:20 p.m.), Nic Snow (2:40 to 3:30 p.m.), Aziza Nailah (3:50 to 4:40 p.m.), Fuzaholics (5 to 5:50 p.m.), Howl Train (6:10 to 7 p.m.) and What the Funk (7:30 to 9 p.m.).  

Rockwood Park & Museum (501 Carr Road, near Wilmington) from 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 24. Tickets are $5 and free for kids age 12 or younger with a paying adult. Visit newcastlede.gov or call (302) 395-5555.

Listen to the music

Delaware's strong ties to jazz music take center stage in the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival. The festival, named after the late-great Wilmington trumpeter Clifford Brown, features some of the best performers in jazz and soul. 

The festival, which began Wednesday, continues Saturday with Firefly Music Festival alum Kamasi Washington, a supreme saxophonist nominated for two Grammys. Also playing that day is Jason Moran – The Harlem Hellfighters, Hiromi's Sonicwonder, Mark Guiliana and The Clifford Brown Festival Orchestra under the direction of Gerald Chavis.

Late Night Jams will feature Tony “Big Cat” Smith Quartet at the Wilmington Public Library from 10 p.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday.

The Jazz Festival is going down at Rodney Square (1000 N. Market St., Wilmington), starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 24. Visit cliffordbrownjazzfest.org.

Celebrate Chinese culture

Folks seeking to discover more about East Asian culture can hit up the annual CACC Chinese Festival.

The three-day event continues Saturday and Sunday with dragon and lion dances, as well as authentic cuisine, martial arts, performances, children's activities, Chinese yo-yo and folk dances. Special exhibits this year focus on oracle bone inscriptions, tea culture and calligraphy.

Chinese American Community Center (1313 Little Baltimore Road, North Star) from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 24, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 25. Visit facebook.com/CACCdelaware or call (302) 239-0432.

Tradition continues with 'Positively Dover'

Long before Juneteenth became a federal holiday, the Inner City Cultural League's "Positively Dover" African American Festival has been a staple event that's paid homage to Black heritage, since the event was founded in 1991.

Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy delightful dishes and a variety of vendors, which usually include African-themed clothing, wares and more, all in an atmosphere that reflects African outdoor marketplaces. 

Legislative Mall (410 Legislative Ave., Dover) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 24. Visit icclarts.org or call (302) 883-2180.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Your weekend guide: Grilling tips, plus ice cream and jazz festivals