Looking for nightlife fun at Delaware beaches? Summer options for adults & for kids
Sure, summertime at Delaware's beaches means fried Boardwalk comfort foods, fine dining and plenty of ice cream.
But it also means beach bars, concerts under the stars and movies in the sand.
With crowds returning to Delaware's coast with fun on their mind, here are some of the nightlife (or sunset) offerings for the summer of '24.
Freeman Arts Pavilion, Selbyville
Over the years, the Freeman Arts Pavilion (31806 Lake View Drive, near Selbyville) has grown into the premier concert space for national acts at the beach. The venue is located five miles west of Fenwick Island and nine miles from Bethany Beach.
This season has a packed schedule for the 4,000-person Freeman with comedian Jerry Seinfeld leading the way as the summer's biggest name.
His July 25 show was a late addition to the summer schedule, creating major buzz for fans of his '90s sitcom and his new Netflix film "Unfrosted" about the invention of the Pop Tart.
His is the rare comedy show on the Freeman summer '24 schedule, which is heavily weighted towards nighttime concerts ranging from rock and country to R&B and tribute acts.
Among the most eye-catching names: country singer Cole Swindell (Aug. 15), Delaware-born rocker George Thorogood & The Destroyers (June 22), high-energy New Orleans favorites Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue (July 15), R&B/soul legends Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight (June 6), '90s alternative rockers Gin Blossoms and Toad The Wet Sprocket (Aug. 22), Americana boot-stompers Old Crow Medicine Show (Aug. 18), the rock/folk double bill of Melissa Etheridge and Indigo Girls (Aug. 27), singer/songwriter Grace Potter (Aug. 7), award-winning singer/actor Leslie Odom Jr. (July 19) and jam band The Disco Biscuits (July 11).
Bottle & Cork, Dewey Beach
If you're looking for original national acts in Dewey Beach, the Bottle & Cork (1807 Coastal Highway) is still the go-to spot in between their traditional Jam Session Saturdays featuring a cavalcade of cover bands.
Among this year's biggest gets are emo/post-hardcore standouts Taking Back Sunday (Aug. 11), country singers Justin Moore (July 11 and 12) and Jake Owen (June 20) and Chris Carrabba's Dashboard Confessional (May 30).
Other shows sure to pull in fans this summer: Taylor Swift dance party "The Taylor Party" (May 31), country singer/songwriter Sara Evans, country singer Chris Lane (June 28), EDM act White Panda (July 19), '80s Philadelphia rockers Tommy Conwell & The Young Rumblers (July 21) and returning British rock act The Struts (July 30).
Movies on the Beach, Dewey Beach
The pandemic brought back outdoor movies for many of us, but a makeshift drive-in is nothing compared to the beauty of seeing a film with your feet planted in the sand as Atlantic Ocean waves lap behind you.
The town of Dewey Beach has hosted Movies on the Beach (Dagsworthy Avenue) family movie nights for years now, offering a free entertainment option for weekday crowds looking for something other than the tiny town's famous barrooms.
It's held at 8:30 p.m. every Monday from June 17 to Aug. 19.
This year's line-up includes "Minions: The Rise of Gru" (June 17), "Under The Boardwalk" (June 24), National Treasure (July 1), "Wish" (July 8), "Back To The Future" (July 15), "The Super Mario Bros Movie" (July 22), "The Little Mermaid" (2023 live action version, July 29), Turning Red (Aug. 5), Elemental (Aug. 12) and "Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken" (Aug. 19).
Watersport rentals, Dewey Beach
While we all spend plenty of time on the actual beach while visiting Delaware's sandy summertime playgrounds, Rehoboth Bay is a sometimes-forgotten spot for fun on the water.
Dewey Beach Water Sports (113 Dickinson St.) offers an array of rentals to help get you out on the bay.
If you're looking to get a little wet, try a one-hour Jet Ski rental ($120), one-hour guided Jet Ski tour ($130), kayak rental (single $35; double $50) or stand-up paddleboard rental ($35).
For a more casual trip with friends, pontoons that can handle up to 10 passengers cost $475 (four hours) and $775 (eight hours) to rent or you can charter a pontoon for two hours costing $400 with a maximum of six passengers.
Also available, 90-minute sunset cruises (six people for $350) at 7 p.m. and 20-minute banana boat tube rides for little ones ages 6 and older, along with adults ($35).
Rocking the Docks, Lewes
In recent years, Lewes has been welcoming national, regional and local acts with its Rocking the Docks (43 Cape Henlopen Drive) music series held near the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal and the Grain On The Rocks restaurant.
This year's series runs June 12 to Aug. 14, led by the return of pedal steel guitar whiz Robert Randolph and his Family Band on Aug. 3.
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Other stand-out national shows include one-man jam band Keller Williams's Grateful Grass (Aug. 14), Americana singer/songwriter Amy Helm (July 10) and Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel (July 11).
If you want to see some local favorites on the big stage, Lower Case Blues will be there August 1 and Fitzkee Brothers open for Betts on July 11. For fans of cover acts and tribute bands, The Amish Outlaws will churn tunes June 26, Tusk (Fleetwood Mac) comes July 3, Classic Stones Live (The Rolling Stones) starts fans up June 12 and Yacht Rock Schooner will bring its yacht rock dance party to the coast July 24.
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: Delaware beaches offer nightlife fun: Bars, concerts, movies on beach
