October already? Here’s what’s going on in Delaware and surrounding area for this weekend, September 30th through October 2nd.
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 30th- October 2nd
The weather means a lot of things scheduled for this weekend may very well be a washout, so check on ANY outdoor event before you go. But at least cloudy skies won’t mean you’ll miss out on this month’s relatively rare Black Moon! A Black Moon is like a Blue Moon, where you have two full moons in one month— only it’s two new moons in one month. So even if the skies were crystal clear: there’d be nothing to see anyway. We learn something new every day, eh?
Free Museum Admissions
- Museums on Us: Bank of America cardholders can take advantage of this program to visit numerous local museums every first weekend of the month.
- The Grand Opening Block Party for the Delaware History Museum and the Center for African American Heritage will include family-friendly fun, tours of the new museum, performances, food trucks, music, and much more!
- Rockwood Museum
- Delaware Art Museum
- The Brandywine River Museum will have creative art activities with teaching artists, storytelling with Lisa Oster of Dance Me a Story and a performance by the Academy of International Ballet in addition to free admission Sunday as part of their Arts Alive program.
- Barnes Foundation
- The Philadelphia Museum of Art is pay-what-you-wish.
NASCAR
It’s race weekend at Dover International Speedway! You can buy tickets here. If you’re a NASCAR fan you already know all about it… and if you’re not, consider this your warning to avoid the area unless you love sitting in traffic.
Brews or Boos at Area Zoos
- Brew at the Zoo (and Wine, Too) takes place rain or shine at the Brandywine Zoo.
- Boo! at the Zoo! is spooky, NOT scary, at 3 Palms Zoo in Clayton. This is a great best opportunity to see the Zoo’s nocturnal animals awake and active. Warm cider and marshmallows for roasting will be provided!
For the Kids
Kid Workshops at Home Depot: build a toy fire truck with real wheels so you can race it to the rescue! All kids get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last.
Truck and Tractor Day: discover tractors and other pieces of Winterthur estate equipment— see how a modern backhoe and crane work, put on a safety harness and climb a tree, meet Winterthur Fire Company firefighters, try out their gear and equipment and put out a “fire.” Also, hayrides!
The Little Mermaid will be performed Saturdays and Sundays in October at the Delaware Children’s Theatre. Come in costume for the Princess and Prince Parade.
For the Love of Animals
Giant Yard Sale for the Birds: all proceeds from the yard sale benefit Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research and help save birds’ lives. Get there early and buy an Early Bird Raffle ticket— 10 winners will be able to shop 20 minutes before the doors open to the public.
Halloween Pet Photo Shoot: Bring your pet in costume for a professional photo shoot with ckrPhoto! Edited photos will be released to each owner via email in high-resolution format for unlimited personal printing. There will also be a Pet Costume Contest at 1 pm.
Rubber Duck Race: “Adopt” a rubber duck for a chance to win prizes and raise money to support DHA’s mission of helping homeless companion animals in Delaware and a four state area. The duck race takes place at the Brandywine Town Center fountain; adopt your ducks here.
For the History Buff
- Murder By Mail: The True Story of the Poison Candy Murders: participate in the trial of the century, starting at the scene of the crime and travel to the Kent County Courthouse.
- Sickness and Health…And the Occasional Poisoning: highlighting stories of medical curiosities of Dover’s past.
- Preserving Documents, Photographs and Digital Memories: how to with cost-effective steps every home archivist can take.
- Tours of the Johnson Victrola Museum, Governor’s House, Schwartz Center for the Arts, Legislative Hall and the State House
- Biggs Kids: Spooky Craft
Festivals
Harvest Moon Festival: two days filled with artisans, hayrides, children’s activities and food trucks at Coverdale Farm, rain or shine.
River Towns Ride & Festival: held between New Castle and Delaware City, with free shuttle bus service between the two towns. A bicycling component will have competitive and recreational riders of all ability levels cycling between the two destinations. Meanwhile, festivals will be held in each town’s main square (The Green in Historic New Castle and Battery Park in Historic Delaware City) with rides, games, pony rides and hayrides, a craft beer festival, free pumpkin decorating and exhibitions with free pumpkins to the first 350 kids.
Wilmington Chili Challenge: Sample traditional, gourmet and vegetarian chilies plus contenders in the cornbread cook-off. At Kelly’s Logan House. $25 to taste and vote, benefits the Compassionate Care Hospice Foundation.
Date Night (or just a night out)
Timothy’s country line dance party: take a lesson and dance dance dance on the huge wooden floor upstairs. $5 cover.
Gable Music Blues Night: Amazing blues music provided by The Blues Reincarnation Project, Venom Blues and Kitty Mayo & the Emperess Band at World Cafe Live at the Queen.
After Party at Price Lanes: Unlimited bowling every Friday night for$10.89 after 10pm (shoes not included).
Finding Hope for those with Depression and Mental Illness
Meet Jamie Tworkowski: meet the founder of To Write Love On Her Arms., a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people dealing with depression, addiction, self-injury and thoughts of suicide. Jamie will be discussing and signing the newly expanded edition of If You Feel Too Much— a celebration of hope, wonder, and what it means to be human— at the Barnes & Noble in the Christiana Mall.
Delaware Out of the Darkness walks: Held in hundreds of cities across the country, these community walks give people the courage to open up about their own struggle or loss, and the platform to change our culture’s approach to mental health. The New Castle County Walk is October 1st at Glasgow Regional Park and another will be held October 8th 10:30am at Milford Middle School. Online registration ends the Friday before, but you can register onsite before the walk begins.
Auditions
Yo Ho Ho! A Pirate Christmas: The Wilmington Drama League is seeking youth ages 7-18 for this fun musical one-act. Singers are encouraged to audition. Auditions take place Sunday, October 2nd and Wednesday, October 5th.
Happy October!
What are you up to this weekend?