12 fun spots and activities on Wilmington's Riverfront for this summer

The temperature is up, birds are chirping and the need for sunblock is here.

While that means many residents of northern Delaware start leaving for the state's beaches or summer vacations, there's still plenty of us looking for fun at home.

And over the years, Wilmington's Riverfront has emerged as a favorite summer destination with outdoor beer gardens, mini golf, boat tours, music festivals, food festivals, museums and more along the Christina River ― all within a few blocks.

Here are 13 fun spots to check out and what they have planned for this summer.

Constitution Yards Beer Garden

Constitution Yards Beer Garden (308 Justison St.) – the Riverfront's biggest playground for singles and families alike – has reopened for the season. Even dogs are allowed to get in on the action! It's filled with picnic tables, fire pits, ax throwing, cornhole and other yard games along the Christina. You'll find live music Friday and Saturday nights, including the return of last year's popular country nights with Kickback Country (July 13, Aug. 10, Oct. 5). New drinks on the menu include Cape May Always Ready (6.2% ABV, $8) along with Cutwater Margarita (12-10% ABV, $13), High Noon (5.5% ABV, $10) and Truly (4.5% ABV, $9) canned tequilas. The food menu also got a boost, now offering cheesesteaks ($13), cheeseburgers ($12), veggie burgers ($11) and chicken quesadillas ($10) along with pulled pork ($12), meatball ($11) and chicken parmesan ($12) sandwiches. Here's the catch: The beer garden will be replaced by a luxury apartment building after this season and will be relocated to a still-unannounced location for next summer, officials have said.

Riverwalk Mini Golf

Riverwalk Mini Golf (550 Justison St.) offers 18-hole rounds of mini golf for $10 per person (free for 3 and younger). The course, designed by designed by Harris Miniature Golf of Wildwood, New Jersey, is located along the Riverwalk on the Christina near the Delaware Children's Museum. The golf shack also offers nine flavors of soft serve ice cream ($3-$5), Italian water ice ($3-$4) and milkshakes ($5.95). You can also rent a Surrey bike with four wheels to tour the Riverfront on wheels ($25-$40) with helmets, locks and baskets included.

Fin Outdoor Recreation bike rentals/Jack A. Markell Trail

Fin Outdoor Recreation bike rentals, located near Riverwalk Mini Golf (550 Justison St.), allows you to rent a bike through the Fin app. Just scan the QR code on the bike, pay through the app and pedal away. It's perfect for biking the nearly 2-mile Riverwalk or the nearby Jack A. Markell Trail, which connects Wilmington and New Castle, totaling a 7.9-mile round trip. The bike rentals are available every day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. It costs $10 to unlock the bike and 17 cents per minute (or $10.20 per hour). Bring your own helmet.

Wilmington Blue Rocks at Frawley Stadium

The Wilmington Blue Rocks season started in early April and runs through early September with the High-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals hosting rivals all summer at Frawley Stadium (801 Shipyard Drive). Tickets are $13-$18 for home games with a busy promotional schedule of theme nights, fireworks, giveaways and $2 hot dog nights on Wednesdays. On Sundays, the Blue Rocks will transform into the Rocas Azules de Wilmington, taking part in Copa de la Diversión, or "Fun Cup," a major Minor League Baseball Hispanic fan engagement initiative. Even Mr. Celery will get into the act as Se?or Apio.

Blue Rocks special events: Wilmington Blue Rocks get new look as Mr. Celery transforms into Se?or Apio this season

Penn Cinema Riverfront 14 + IMAX

Unfortunately, it does rain some days during the summer and that's when Penn Cinema Riverfront 14 + IMAX is hoppin'. This rare non-chain, independently owned multiplex boasts 14 screens, including its expansive 72-by-50 IMAX theater, which will host films such as "Civil War," "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," "Inside Out 2," "A Quiet Place: Day One" and "Twisters" this summer.

Peoples Festival

The 30th annual Peoples Festival in tribute to former Wilmington resident Bob Marley will be held Tuesday, Aug. 31, at the Riverfront's Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park (Rosa Parks Drive). A lineup has not yet been announced for the anniversary show, but early bird tickets are on sale now for only $15. The festival should get a boost from the success of the "Bob Marley: One Love" feature film, co-written by Wilmington native Zach Baylin, which was released in February and has raked in nearly $180 million worldwide. The festival was created after Marley's mother, Cedella Booker, announced it and put Wilmington's Genoveva "Genny” Pitts and her late husband Ibis in charge.

Paradise Tiki Tours

Paradise Tiki Tours, with its thatched roof Pau Hana boat, runs weekends through the end of September with their fun-loving river tours. Customers can choose between evening cruises ($30, 21 and older), family and friends tours ($12-$22, all ages), happy hour "Aloha Hour" tours ($30, 21 and older), mimosa Tiki cruise ($20-$30, all ages) and its rum and reggae cruise ($50, 21 and older). The boat has a cash bar for those wanting an alcoholic drink, along with soda, water, chips and pretzels for sale.

Delaware Children's Museum

Another favorite for summer rainy days, the Delaware Children's Museum (550 Justison St.) is open Wednesdays through Sundays. Admission is $12. The museum has an array of exhibits: farm-to-table, stratosphere, S.T.E.M., ECOnnect and more. Plus, it has a 19-foot Earth balloon, a speedway and events daily.

Brandywine Tour Boat

The sister vessel of Paradise Tiki Tours, The Brandywine, features a full bar and restroom and can host up to 49 passengers. It runs scenic river tours ($12-$22, all ages); evening skyline cruises ($20 to $30, all ages); and specialty-themed events such as a Frank Sinatra cruise June 20, July 31 and Aug. 29 with Bud Falls singing onboard ($40, 21 and older).

The Delaware Contemporary

The state's only contemporary arts museum, The Delaware Contemporary (200 S Madison St.), is two blocks from the river, offering admission for $12 ($6 for children 13 and younger). Art-making programs will be held throughout the summer including open figure drawing sessions, clay-making workshops and glassing sessions.

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Kalmar Nyckel

The Kalmar Nyckel (1124 E. Seventh St.), one of the city's greatest (and largest) gems, is a summertime favorite. The 141-foot tall ship replica hosts river cruises ($25 to $45) and sails ($40 to $65) when the ship is docked at the Copeland Maritime Center at the Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard. There are also free deck tours available. The ship will also be in historic New Castle in mid- to late July.

Docklands

Docklands Riverfront (110 West St.) may not be the biggest party spot on the Riverfront since the opening of Constitution Yards, but it's still super popular. With a large outdoor deck along the river, the spots hosts everything from cover bands and DJs to drag shows while slinging drinks and a menu that features stone oven pizzas.

Have a story idea? Contact Ryan Cormier of Delaware Online/The News Journal at [email protected] or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier) and X (@ryancormier).

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Wilmington Riverfront heats up with summer fun