Break out your pumpkin spice lattes and grab a friend or family member, fall festivities are underway! Here’s our top picks of things to do in Delaware this weekend, September 9th through the 11th.
For many, many more events in Delaware and beyond, make sure to check out our event calendar. You can filter by cost, venue and time of day.
Things to Do in Delaware,
September 9th-11th
Back to School Sales
Got kids? You need to get yourself to a Just Between Friends event. Over 100,000 children’s and maternity items will be in stock, and on the last day of the sale nearly everything gets marked down 50%. Check it out in Glen Mills or in Middletown.
Get kids reading with a bunch of new books! Newark Natural Foods is holding a Children’s Book Fair to raise funds for the Homeless Children’s Backpack Drive. All books are priced between $2 and $5, and there will be food and games as well.
Free Museum Admissions
The first weekend of the month is usually the sweet spot for free museum admissions, but this week the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is offering free admission on September 9th and 10th to welcome the Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest. There will be special programming, after hours movies and over 300 artworks on display.
College students can visit a number of Philly museums (including Eastern State Penitentiary and the Franklin Institute) for free as part of CollegeFest. Others can participate in the day, but only students who first check in at the Campus Philly tent at Dilworth Park with their student ID receive a wristband for free PHLASH rides and museum admission.
From 11am to 3pm admission is free at the Bellanca Airfield service hangar and Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame Museum in New Castle.
Admission is free every Sunday at the Delaware Art Museum. The exhibition of cartoonist Edward Koren‘s works ends September 18th, and the Dark Humor exhibition leaves the following week. There’s also a Family Art Studio event happening from noon to 3pm.
Get Festive
Fall festivals are in full swing! Don’t miss out on these:
The Wilmington Hispanic Festival is in its 40th year! Family Fun Night is Friday, the parade is Sunday and there’s lot of food, music and pride in between.
Celebrate everybody’s favorite fungus in the mushroom capital of the world. The Kennett Square Mushroom Festival includes a Fried Mushroom Eating Championship, an Antique and Classic Car Show, culinary events, growing exhibits, children’s entertainment, and 200 vendors.
There’s gonna be fireworks, a Pokémon all ages ‘fishing tournament’ (with prizes!) Patriotic Boat Parade, petting zoo and more at Milford’s Riverwalk “Freedom” Festival.
The annual Brandywine Festival of the Arts boasts up to 20,000 visitors and over 250 artists, along with live music performances, children’s activities, and a selection of local food vendors. Your $5 admission is good for both days, and gets you $1 off admission to the Brandywine Zoo.
For the Kids
They’re arguably the best part of the movie: watch Pixar Shorts in the Copeland Sculpture Garden at the Delaware Art Museum! This free event will also include artmaking for all.
This Friday is Water Wise Parent’s Night Out at the DuPont Environmental Education Center. Drop the kids off at the DEEC; their dinner will be provided and they’ll get to have fun with water (so dress them appropriately).
LABYRINTH is in theaters for its 30th anniversary. It plays at 2 and 7 at select area theaters (and luckily will do so again on the 17th, because really there’s already a whole lot happening this weekend).
A Little Friendly Competition
Anybody can compete in the Rehoboth Beach Sandcastle Contest: it’s free, and categories are divided into Business, Adult (15 and older), Children (7-14) and Child (6 and under). If you’re not into building castles in the sand, it’s certain to be a fun day of spectating while you sunbathe with a ton of unique photo-ops.
Every watched a roller derby bout? It’s awesome. Jams Bond: Licence to Skate takes place at the Christiana Skate Center, and kids under 10 get in free.
A Little Bit of History
“Powwows are a time to preserve traditions, to sing to the Creator, and to dance to the heartbeat of the drum.” Join the Nanticoke Indian Tribe for their 39th annual powwow. Museum tours, authentic Native American singing, dancing and drumming as well as arts and crafts.
Chadds Ford Days commemorate the Battle of the Brandywine with cannon fire and Revolutionary War reenactors, over 60 of the region’s finest craftsmen and Colonial demonstrators, fare from local restaurants, brewers and vintners along with antique cars, children’s activities and more.
You can travel with troops to the site of a skirmish between Union and Confederate forces during the Wilmington & Western’s Civil War Skirmish Weekend.
Take in a historically accurate nineteenth-century “Base Ball” game at All American Day at Hagley– it’s free if you come for the game only (as opposed to visiting the museum and gardens). Before the game, there will be batting practice and traditional nineteenth-century games like hoop-and-stick and tug of war.
A Little Night Music
The Save The Valley Music Fest is an all-ages show at the Queen with six bands in the lineup. It benefits Save the Valley, which works to protect and preserve the remaining open spaces in Beaver Valley located along the Brandywine River in Pennsylvania and Delaware.
It’s opening weekend for High School Musical at the Wilmington Drama League. Take the kids to see the stage performance, then watch a little Zac Efron on Netflix, then sing “Bop to the Top” in your head for the foreseeable future.
Food Food Food
Where food trucks gather, happiness follows. Check out Food Truck Friday at Epworth Methodist Church in Rehoboth.
I wouldn’t normally suggest a last minute 5K, but the descriptions of the free sandwiches you have to choose from after running the Mac & Cheesesteak 5k has me seriously considering lacing up my sneaks.
What time is it? It’s apple picking time. Here’s all the local orchards offering pick your own apples in Delaware (and surrounding areas), along with prices and some tips. Most farms have hayrides to the field and other fall festivities going on for the whole family.
Dranks Dranks Dranks
Brews By The Bay Craft Beer Festival: drink your way from New Jersey to Delaware via the Cape May ferry.
Odessa Brewfest: over 50 breweries; food and live music; spirit, wine and local craft vendors; alcohol infused cigars and much more.
Liquid Alchemy Beverages grand opening party: Bang Bang BBQ will be there with Brisket tacos, Brisket sandwiches, Pulled Pork sandwiches and more.
Date Night Ideas
Looking for something fun and low-key to do with your special somebody, or with the gang, without the kids? Spaceboy Clothing in downtown Wilmington hosts a Friday Night Comedy Series. Wilmington native Jon DelCollo of Golden Thrones (a YouTube series featuring the very best in public bathrooms) will be performing.
This weekend is the first Starry Night Hike of the season at Brandywine Creek State Park. Hike the trails and keep your eyes on the skies for constellations and maybe even a shooting star. You’ll be able to try the telescope at Hawk Watch.
Free Events in Philly
The Kimmel Center is holding an Open House, with free performances, activities, behind-the-scenes tours, insider chats, dance lessons, giveaways, and more. You’ll also be able to buy tickets for upcoming shows fee-free.
There are a lot of free things to do for Pennsylvania Coast Day at Penn’s Landing: boat rides and tours, row boating or swan pedal boating, face painting and a round-trip shuttle to the Fairmount Water Works where you can compete in the Philly Fun Fishing Fest (it’s early in the morning).
Get out there!
No complaining you’re bored this weekend!
