Celebrate history and family fun at Dover Days with parade, music, fireworks

Ben Mace, Delaware News Journal
·3 min read

The 91st Dover Days festival will blend history with family fun beginning Friday evening, May 3, and continuing all day Saturday, May 4, on State Street, The Green and Legislative Mall.

Admission is free both days, but there are fees for some activities provided by vendors. Food and refreshments will be on sale.

The setting around The Green was part of the foundation of Delaware and the nation. The park was created in 1717 in accordance with William Penn's 1683 orders. Delaware leaders voted to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1787 near The Green at Battell’s Tavern, also known as the Golden Fleece Tavern, according to the Delaware.gov website.

Nearby, the Old State House was the first permanent capitol building in Dover, completed in 1791, originally home to both state and Kent County governments.

What is Dover Days?

Dover Days is “a celebration of all that is good in the community, a celebration of history, a celebration of families doing things together,” said Ron Barisano, event and sponsor coordinator.

The event includes a parade, historic reenactors, street performers, music, dancing, vendors, food, games, hot air balloon rides, a car show and fireworks.

Students at the 81st Dover Days Festival perform a maypole dance in 2015.
Students at the 81st Dover Days Festival perform a maypole dance in 2015.

After a three-year hiatus because of COVID-19 restrictions and then terrible weather, the event was finally held again in 2023, and Barisano said interest has bounced back.

“I am overwhelmed with the response,” he said. “We closed registration for vendors two weeks early because we were sold out.”

Vendors grew from 146 last year to 155 this year, and more sponsors have joined in support.

Barisano said the Dover Days committee responded to suggestions in the survey sent to vendors last year.

“And this year’s parade is bigger,” he said. “We have 99 groups. I’m just excited about everything that is happening.”

Schedule Friday, May 3

  • Food trucks on The Green on South State Street, 6-8:30 p.m.

  • Lantern tour of The Green, 7 p.m.

  • Concert by Milford Community Band on The Green, 7-8:30 p.m.

  • Fireworks, dusk.

Schedule Saturday, May 4

  • Parade, 9 a.m., with bands, floats, organizations, businesses, schools, veterans, churches, elected officials and candidates, starting at Pennsylvania Avenue near Lakeside Cemetery and heading south on State Street, across Division Street with the reviewing stand in front of PNC Bank at Loockerman Street and ending just after turning east (left) on Loockerman near City Hall.

A Revolutionary War reenactment group marches in a previous Dover Days parade. This year's parade will be Saturday, May 4 at 9 a.m. on State Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Loockerman Street.
A Revolutionary War reenactment group marches in a previous Dover Days parade. This year's parade will be Saturday, May 4 at 9 a.m. on State Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Loockerman Street.

  • Displays and demonstrations, mainly on Legislative Mall, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., but some will start after the parade, including The Wheelmen with historic big wheel bikes, woodworking, trapping demonstrations, Dover area World War II historical heroes, Diamond State Lacemaker Artisan Crafts, Lenape Tribe demonstrations on Native American culture.

  • Activities, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., but some will start after the parade, on Legislative Mall, including inflatable bounce houses, hot air balloon rides up and down on a tethered balloon, sandcastle building, balloon animal makers, street performers, jugglers, balancing acts, water gun fun, games and mini-train rides.

  • Vendors, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., on State Street and around The Green with more than 150 booths featuring arts, crafts, food and refreshments.

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  • Car show on Legislative Mall, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Some cars will be in the parade and will join the show after the parade.

  • Maypole dancing by middle school students, after the parade, from about 11 a.m. to about 1 p.m., on The Green.

  • Historical reenactors, after the parade from about 11:15 a.m. at The Green, with a formal introduction on the stage at 1 p.m., wearing banners identifying the person they represent, telling visitors about their role in Delaware history.

Road closings

State Street will be closed from Loockerman Street to Water Street.

Some side streets around Legislative Mall will be closed, but Legislative Avenue will be open.

For more information, see the Dover Days Facebook page or email DoverDaysFestivalDE@gmail.com.

Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Dover Days will feature parade, music, food, games, fireworks