These 9 Delaware Towns Have The Most Unique Festivals

Delaware likes being the first. It was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1787, earning it the proud nickname of “The First State.” Not content to just be first in the history books, when it comes to unique festivals, Delaware is also first to kick off the fun and often the last to call it a night. From colonial-inspired celebrations to quirky small-town gatherings that showcase scrapple, peaches, and everything in between, Delaware’s events blend rich history and culture with local charm. These festivals reflect the spirit of a state that’s small in size but big on character, and always ready for a good time.

Peach Festival, Wyoming

Peach orchards first began appearing in the Delaware countryside in 1832, and by the time the railroad was introduced in the state in the mid-1850s, there were over 800,000 peach trees. Later, on May 9, 1895, the Peach Blossom was designated the state flower, officially confirming the importance of the peach to the First State. At the center of this peach-growing region is the small town of Wyoming (nicknamed “Peach Center”), located about 3 miles southwest of the state capital of Dover, and the main point of transporting the stone fruit across the country by rail.

Today, Wyoming-based Fifer Orchards is still a peach-growing powerhouse, where you can pick your own peaches, blueberries, strawberries, sunflowers, apples, and pumpkins depending on the season. The peach producer, as well as a dozen others, will be on hand at the annual Peach Festival, held on the first Saturday of August every year. This year’s juicy fest takes place on Saturday, August 2, 2025, featuring food trucks, activities for kids, live entertainment, a peach dessert contest, and a Peachy raffle.

Bug and Bud Festival, Milford

For twenty-two years, downtown Milford has played host to entomologists, botanists, and bug-and-bud lovers all over the country who swarm the small town for its annual outdoor Bug and Bud Festival. Celebrating two of the town’s beloved symbols, the ladybug and nature, the ladybug is particularly important to the community of Milford, which was instrumental in the designation of the ladybug as the official State Bug of Delaware in 1973. The event takes place on the last Saturday of April every year, with a People and Pet Parade, 100+ craft vendors, food trucks, and awards for creative costumes like “best bug,” “best tree,” and “best flower.”

Separation Day, New Castle

Separation Day stands out as particularly unique among festivals, celebrations, and parties of any kind, and there’s no better place to celebrate Separation Day than the cool colonial town of New Castle, which once served as the capital of Delaware during the colonial era. It specifically marks the day, June 15, 1776, when Delaware separated from both British rule and Pennsylvania, making Delaware the only state that formally separated from another American colony just weeks before the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

As the one-time colonial capital, the town of New Castle almost exclusively celebrates Separation Day annually on or around June 15 with a two-day party. On Friday evenings, there is usually a kickoff party featuring a parade, live music, food, and drinks. On Saturdays, a Colonial-inspired parade featuring re-enactors, classic cars, and marching bands takes place. Battery Park hosts a festival filled with live music, kids’ rides, games, an artisan and vintage market, and more. The festival is capped off with a fireworks display over the Delaware River. This year’s 249th celebration took place on June 6 and 7, 2025, which gives you almost an entire year to look forward to next year’s party, marking the 250th anniversary of one of the First State’s longest-running traditions.

Sea Witch Festival, Rehoboth Beach

The cool beach town of Rehoboth Beach is always in the mood to party, with its iconic mile-long boardwalk full of family-friendly spots, including go-karts and mini-golf adventures at Midway Speedway Park; slides, lazy rivers, and wave pools at Jungle Jims River Safari Water Park; arcade games, and even a haunted house at Funland. During the warm summer months, Rehoboth Beach is a popular tourist destination for families looking to kick back, body surf in the salty Atlantic Ocean, and indulge in funnel cakes and curly fries from Thrasher’s French Fries, but once the air turns crisp and the leaves start to turn, the crowds thin out.

Enter the Sea Witch Festival, which began in 1989 as a way to attract tourists during the slower fall months. In the early days of the festival, it attracted about 5,000 people. Today, 36 years later, it draws over 150,000 visitors to the free annual three-day event. The festival kicks off with the Sea Witch Balloon and Clipper Ship float, followed by thousands of people dressed in costume, and more motorized floats. There’s live music all weekend, vendors on site, a Kid’s Corner, a 5K Run and One Mile Fright Walk, and a separate parade for costumed dogs. This year’s event will take place from October 24 to 26, 2025.

Saengerbund Oktoberfest, Newark

The Delaware Saengerbund and Library Association (DSB) is a German-American culture organization based in Newark that celebrates the relationship between German-American heritage and traditional German culture. It was founded in 1853, and is one of the oldest and most active German clubs in the U.S. Originally established to preserve German culture, language, and music (Saengerbund” translates to “Singers’ Federation” or “Singing Society”), today it continues to promote German heritage through choral performances, folk dancing, language classes, and cultural celebrations, like Saengerbund Oktoberfest.

Like the Munich Oktoberfest, the DSB’s Oktoberfest is held annually on the third weekend in September. This year’s Oktoberfest runs from September 19 through 21, 2025, with authentic Bavarian musicians, German beer, and traditional German food prepared by the Ladies of the DSB, including a much-loved German potato salad. Past Saengerbund Oktoberfests have attracted approximately 20,000 visitors, who consume 1,200 Bratwurst, 600 Weisswurst, and 3,500 pounds of the popular potato salad over the three-day event. Proceeds from the Oktoberfest fund projects for the Saengerbund, including all-age language classes, scholarships, and upkeep of the Delaware Saengerbund Clubhouse.

Fire & Ice Festival, Bethany Beach

While most beach towns tend to slow down during the colder winter months, a few Delaware towns like Bethany Beach are bucking the trend with winter festivals that celebrate chilly beachside fun and welcome the return of tourists to their iconic, old-timey boardwalks. The Fire & Ice Festival in Bethany Beach began in 2018, the brainchild of a member of the Bethany-Fenwick area Chamber of Commerce, whose hometown of Lititz, Pennsylvania, had its own Fire & Ice Festival.

This year’s festival, which took place in January 2025, included a large skating rink with a live DJ, over 75 ice sculptures, a chili cookoff, live music, bonfires, and more. Seasonal businesses, some typically closed around that time of year, also opened their doors for festival goers, including local favorites like Mango’s, Ropewalk, and Fins Ale House & Raw Bar.

Cold-weather planning is already underway for the next Fire & Ice Festival in Bethany Beach, scheduled for January 30-February 1, 2026—the same year the First State celebrates its 250th anniversary.

Chinese Festival, Hockessin

The Chinese American Community Center (CACC) was founded in 1982 in Hockessin to promote Chinese-American culture in the Greater Wilmington area, which encompasses Delaware, southeastern Pennsylvania, and southern New Jersey. The CACC sponsors workshops, classes, seminars, holiday celebrations, concerts, the Chinese Culture Camp, and the annual Chinese Festival, which has been held for over 20 years. This year’s free three-day event took place from June 20 to June 23 and included traditional Chinese food, face painting, games for kids, performances by the Dragon and Lion Dance, as well as the Yo-Yo and First State Folk Dance Clubs.

Apple Scrapple Festival, Bridgeville

Bridgeville is a small, historic farming town about 30 miles south of Dover, known for its rural charm, agricultural roots, and its quirky, unique Apple Scrapple Festival. Created as a way to promote the community and its farming industry, the event celebrates two regional staples: apples and scrapple, which is a pork-based breakfast loaf. The two-day festival is celebrating its 33rd anniversary this fall, from October 10 to 11, 2025, with a variety of activities for the whole family, including a Little Miss Pageant, food trucks, carnival rides, a ladies' skillet toss, an invitational scrapple sling, and of course, the stars of the show, apple dumplings and scrapple sandwiches.

Delaware State Fair, Harrington

Originally known as the “Kent and Sussex County Fair,” the Delaware State Fair was incorporated in January 1920 with the idea of promoting agriculture and providing an outlet for the hardworking residents of small rural communities. After its inaugural fair, promoters promised to return “Bigger and Better Than Ever,” a tradition that continues. Today, the Delaware State Fair boasts an attendance of over 307,000 on nearly 300 acres, encompassing several businesses, including the Harrington Raceway & Casino.

This year’s fair “kicks up some fun” from July 17 to 26, 2025, and is a massive tourism boost for the First State, drawing hundreds of thousands of fair-goers from across the country. The State Fair offers a vibrant mix of attractions, including live concerts and carnival rides on the Super Cyclone Coaster, Zipper, and old-school Tea Cups. Enjoy demolition derbies, harness racing, livestock shows, and agricultural exhibits. You can also indulge in a variety of activities, from deep-fried fair food and antique tractors to 4-H competitions and headline performances by Riley Green, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, and CeCe Winans.

From spooky beach parades in Rehoboth and peach-filled celebrations in tiny Wyoming, to quirky bug-and-bud costumes in Milford and bratwurst by the pound in Newark, Delaware knows how to throw a good bash in any season. Whether it’s honoring colonial history in New Castle, eating caramel corn on a frozen boardwalk in Bethany Beach, or slinging scrapple in Bridgeville, these nine Delaware towns have the most unique festivals that pack plenty of charm, history, and good old-fashioned fun in a weekend.