The Delaware beaches may be summer resort towns, but that doesn't stop them from celebrating the holidays to the max.
From Lewes to Bethany Beach, there are parades, tree lightings and Santa sightings. There are holiday markets, Christmas home tours, kid's events and more. The Delaware beaches may have more holiday activities than Santa's bag has toys.
If it's all too much for your Google Calendar, here's a list of what's happening in each town this year.
Lewes
On Thursday, Dec. 5, downtown Lewes businesses will host a hospitality night, with evening shopping, musical entertainment and holiday cheer.
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Starting Friday, Dec. 6, from 4 to 7 p.m., the Lewes Historical Society's Holiday Village and Market will take place at the Shipcarpenter Street campus. It will continue Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Holiday House Tour also takes place Saturday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and featuring homes historic and modern throughout Lewes. Tickets are $40 at historiclewes.org.
That Saturday evening, the 92nd annual Lewes Christmas Parade will traverse Savannah Road and Second Street starting at 5 p.m. This year's theme is “Celebrating an Old-Fashioned Christmas in Lewes.” Afterward, head to Zwaanendael Park for a tree lighting and caroling.
Santa's house in Lewes is located at the corner of Second and Bank streets. He'll be there:
In addition, the Lewes Lights map will be available at leweslights.org throughout December. When the sun goes down, load up the family and put on some Christmas carols for your self-guided tour.
Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Beach will light its community tree at the bandstand Friday, Nov. 29. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with the Cape Henlopen Holiday Band, followed by a sing-along with Clear Space Theatre Company.
The Rehoboth Beach Hometown Christmas Parade is set for Monday, Dec. 2, at 6:30 p.m. It travels up and down Rehoboth Avenue, from State Street to the boardwalk to the fire department.
After the parade, head to the fire department for refreshments.
Santa's house is right on the boardwalk at Rehoboth Avenue in The Nation's Summer Capital. Here's the schedule.
Santa's house likely will close in inclement weather, so check beach-fun.com or the Rehoboth Beach - Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce's Facebook for updates.
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Bethany Beach
Downtown Bethany Beach's Holiday Happenings event takes place on two Saturdays, Dec. 7 and 14.
On Dec. 7, there's a party with Santa at Town Hall from 1 to 3 p.m., featuring hot cocoa, cookies, a station to write letters to Santa and photos with Santa himself. From 1 to 4 p.m., there will be trolley, train and tractor rides downtown.
The annual tree lighting will take place at the bandstand at 5 p.m., featuring a concert by the Southern Delaware School of the Arts Show Choir.
On Dec. 14, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., the Bethany Beach Nature Center will host a live Alpaca Christmas Adventure. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Dinker-Irvin Museum will feature Victorian carolers, a gingerbread house activity and museum tours.
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And on Saturdays from Nov. 30 to Dec. 21, you can take a trolley tour to see homes decorated for the holidays in the Coastal Christmas Showdown.
Get more info about all of the above at townofbethanybeach.com.
Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught.