Sweet Delaware festivals & events in August you shouldn't ignore
Back-to-school photos haven't started taking over your timeline yet, which means the summer still hasn’t ended.
But those days are numbered.
As the summer winds down, here are some of Delaware's top festivals and events in August that you won't want to sleep on in the coming weeks; and there's a bonus event in Ocean City, Maryland, that you won't want to miss either.
Outdoor Fine Art & Fine Craft Festival, Rehoboth Beach
More than 100 artists and artisans from around the country will display and sell their work, which also features music and food and drink at Rehoboth Art League's 51st annual Outdoor Fine Art & Fine Craft Festival.
Rehoboth Beach Art League (12 Dodds Lane, Rehoboth Beach) from Saturday, Aug. 3, and Sunday, Aug. 4; and Saturday, Aug. 10, and Sunday, Aug. 11; Saturdays are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entry is $5 per weekend, with children under age 12 free. Visit rehobothartleague.org.
Delaware Seafood Festival, Millsboro
Lovers of crustaceans will be in paradise when they sink their teeth into everything from crab cakes, steamed crabs, shrimp, oysters and more at the Delaware Seaford Festival. The event features food trucks, beer tents, a shrimp-eating competition, a steamed seafood to-go tent, raffles, giveaways, kids zone, cornhole tournament, live music and other festivities.
A portion of the proceeds benefit American Legion Post 28.
American Legion Post 28 (31767 Legion Road, Millsboro) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10. Tickets for General Admission start at $5; free for ages under 12. Visit delawareseafoodfestival.com or call (302) 382-7489 or (302) 943-4675.
Dirty Popcorn Black Film Festival, Wilmington
The Dirty Popcorn Black Film Festival will be drenched in buttery fun as this year's fest debuts "Delawood," a world created entirely with artificial intelligence. The event is free and registration is required.
Delawood merges Delaware with Hollywood and features Black creatives bursting with raw talent and boundless imagination. The audience will discover this fresh AI exhibit alongside compelling short films from some of the best creators around the globe. The Dirty Popcorn Black Film Festival is presented by Wilmington native Jet Phynx in partnership with Delaware Art Museum.
Delaware Art Museum (2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10. Free event. Visit delart.org or call (302) 571-9590.
Mondegreen Festival, The Woodlands of Dover
What's the most anticipated Delaware festival of the year? It's without a doubt Phish's Mondegreen Festival. Drawing fans from around the country, the iconic jam band Phish will debut its new four-day festival in The Woodlands of Dover Motor Speedway (the stomping grounds of Firefly Music Festival).
If you're interested in going to the festival for free, you still might have a chance if you can volunteer to help with the construction of a massive new art installation at Mondegreen.
Participants can help build an 82-foot structure inspired by Baltimore’s City Hall with only cardboard boxes and adhesive tape in one of seven pre-event workshops at Dover Motor Speedway inside the NASCAR Cup Series garage. This experience is open to participants of all ages. Lunch will be provided.
Workshops are held Wednesday, Aug. 7, to Sunday, Aug. 11, and Tuesday, Aug. 13, and Wednesday, Aug. 14.
The Morning Session is 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch is provided from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The Afternoon Session is 2:30 to 6 p.m.
The pre-event workshops are only one phase of the project. Construction (Thursday, Aug. 15) and Deconstruction (Sunday, Aug. 18) efforts are also planned.
Volunteering for one workshop day will earn participants a single-day Mondegreen General Admission Pass ($150 value). Volunteering for two or more workshop days will earn participants a four-day weekend General Admission Pass ($450 value), according to organizers.
Folks interested in volunteering for the cardboard art workshop can register here.
Mondegreen's general admission starts at $150 per day; $450 covers access for all four days. If you're bringing a vehicle, you must also buy a camping or parking vehicle pass (1 per car or RV). Single-day parking passes start at $20.
Mondegreen is located in The Woodlands of Dover Motor Speedway (1131 N. Dupont Highway, Dover) from Thursday, Aug. 15, to Sunday, Aug. 18. For more info, visit mondegreen.phish.com.
Delaware Carnival, Dover
The new Delaware Carnival is a Caribbean-themed event that's aiming to spice up Dover. The carnival, presented by Caribbean Culture Awareness, offers a parade of bands, food vendors, craft vendors, international and local artists.
Legislative Mall (410 Legislative Ave., Dover) from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17. For more info, visit usacca.org/events or call (888) 595-1259.
Hippie Fest, Milford
Tree huggers will feel at home at the fifth annual Hippie Fest, a BYOB event for ages 21 or older. Feel free to wear your favorite '60s-era clothing and join fellow flower children as you groove to tunes performed by The Funsters and DJ Dana McDonald Food with Forever Media. Food, vendors and contests will be available. Guests are welcome to bring a chair or blanket to better enjoy this festival.
Causey Mansion Bed & Breakfast (2 Causey Ave., Milford) from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17. Tickets are $35 before Aug. 1; Then $45 from Aug. 1 to Aug. 16; or $50 at the gate. Visit milforddemuseum.org/events or call (302) 424-1080.
Middletown Old-Tyme Peach Festival
There's a fuzzy fruit that's king in Middletown. The 31st annual Old-Tyme Peach Festival is on tap downtown to give folks a juicy time with a parade, car show, food court, pie eating contest, live music, vendors and more. Many activities are around Main Street.
Broad Street, Middletown, from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 17. Visit middletownpeachfestival.com or (302) 378-7466.
Mike Epps at Bally's Dover Casino Resort
Heavy hitter comedian Mike Epps has had anything but a quiet year. He recently dropped his Netflix comedy special, "Mike Epps: Ready to Sell Out" where he keeps it real as he jokes about bad personal hygiene, waging war against work husbands, and failing at infidelity.
Starring in the sitcom "The Upshaws" — Epps' most notable acting role is arguably the silly character Day-Day from the "Friday" franchise.
At the top of this year Epps was buzzing extra loud after getting into an online beef with Shannon Sharpe, host of the "Club Shay Shay" podcast. The internet drama quickly resolved a couple days later with Sharpe tweeting a photo of both men smiling and shaking hands.
Bally’s Dover Casino Resort (1131 N. Dupont Highway, Dover) from 9 tp 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23. Tickets are $75. For more info, visit casinos.ballys.com/dover or call (800) 711-5882.
OC Air Show — Ocean City, Maryland
This festival is just over the southern Delaware border in Ocean City, Maryland, but it's a spectacular event in which all sorts of aerial performers wow spectators on the beach and boardwalk below.
Beachfront, Ocean City, Maryland and gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, and Sunday, Aug. 25. Tickets start at $29.75. Visit ocairshow.com.
Arden Fair, Arden
How many events in Delaware can boast a history longer than the invention of Band-Aid? That's where the 116th annual Arden Fair comes into play. This gem of an event is back with handcrafted items from over 100 vendors. There's an Antiques Market, used books (in the Gild Hall), food, beverages, live music (at Shady Grove), backstage gallery, children's games and more fun.
Arden Gild Hall (2126 The Highway, Arden) at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 31. Free admission. Visit ardenclub.org/arden-fair or call (302) 475-3126.
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Peoples Festival: Tribute to Bob Marley, Wilmington
Considering the late great Bob Marley lived in Wilmington, it only makes sense that the city hosts one of the premier events in the tristate area that pays homage to the reggae icon.
The 30th annual Peoples Festival: Tribute to Bob Marley will deliver a summer extravaganza with a music lineup, headlined by iconic dancehall queen and DJ Sister Nancy. Other acts include Junior Toots, Reemah, Indigenous hip-hop star Supaman, Josh David Barrett, DJ Prez and local rising stars Lena Aura and Gwapstarr, plus other artists.
In addition to lots of music, the beloved festival offers a variety of vendors too.
Garrett Riverfront Park (Rosa Parks Drive, Wilmington) from 2-10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31. Tickets are $25-$65. Visit peoplesfestival.com.
Delaware Online/The News Journal reporter Shannon Marvel McNaught contributed to this report.
If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at [email protected]. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Top Delaware events in August from Mondegreen Festival to Mike Epps
