HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS 2025

December 26, 2025/Mari Lou

LONG TERM EVENTS

  • GEORGETOWN: November 1 through December 31- PACK THE POD on the Circle in Georgetown – bring donations of canned or non-perishable foods thru the end of December to help feed Sussex County’s hungry with help from the Food Bank of Delaware. Items can also be dropped at Home Depot in Lewes, Bridgeville, Georgetown & Laurel public libraries or make a dollar contribution to https://give.fbd.org/caroling

  • OCEAN CITY: November 20 through December 31, 2025 – Ocean City’s Winterfest of Lights – Hours – Wednesday thru Sunday – 5:30-9:30pm then 12/23 – 12/31 – open nightly 5:30-9:30pm/ Outdoor walking tour and Santa will be in residence. PETS welcome on Wednesdays! $6 (11 and younger free) 410-289-280

  • RIDGELY, MD – Winterfest of Lights – Nov 26 – Jan 2, 2026 begin at 5pm nightly

  • LEWES LIGHTS – Dec 5-31, 2025 5-9pm – self-guided tour of holiday decorations (https://leweslights.org)

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NEW YEAR’S EVE & DAY

  • Wednesday, Dec 31, 2025 – Rehoboth – Race into the New Year 5K & Kids Dash 12p register: https://runsignup.com/Race/DE/RehobothBeach/RaceintotheNewYear5k14MileFunDash

  • Wednesday, Dec 31, 2025 – Berlin – Ball Drop at 6pm – Pitts & Main Streets

  • Wednesday, Dec 31, 2025 – Salisbury – New Year’s Eve Ball Drop – Downtown Salisbury – 9pm-12:30am. Road closures will begin around noon. Plan ahead – use the Downtown parking garage at Circle Ave.

  • Wednesday, Dec 31, 2025 – Princess Anne – Midnight Muskrat Dive – 9pm-Midnight in downtown Princess Anne – music, food & fun

  • Wednesday, Dec 31, 2025 – Chincoteague – Pony Island Horseshoe Drop & Costume Promenade at Robert Reed Downtown Park – 11pm – 12:05am

  • Wednesday, Dec 31, 2025 – Dewey “Crush” Drop – 11:30pm at Rt 1 & New Orleans Avenue

  • Wednesday, Dec 31, 2025 – Lewes – 2 Anchor Drop celebrations – Family-friendly drop from 5 to 7pm and the traditional midnight countdown starting around 11:30pm – both at the Lightship Overfalls at Lewes Canalfront Park

 

  • Thursday, Jan 1, 2026 – Bethany Beach Annual Hair of the Dog 5K/1 Mile Walk – 10am / registration – https://raceroster.com/events/2026/109374/15th-annual-hair-of-the-dog-5k-1-mile-walk-and-29th-annual-leo-brady-ocean-plunge

  • Thursday, Jan 1, 2026 – 21st Annual Fenwick Freeze – Bayard Street Beach – 10:30am – registration begins at 9am

  • Thursday, Jan 1, 2026 – Ellendale New Year’s Day Parade – 12pm

  • Thursday, Jan 1, 2026 – Bethany Beach – Leo Brady New Year’s Day Plunge – 12pm / to register – https://raceroster.com/events/2026/109374/15th-annual-hair-of-the-dog-5k-1-mile-walk-and-29th-annual-leo-brady-ocean-plunge

  • Thursday, Jan 1, 2026 – Dewey Dunk on the Beach at Dagsworthy Street, oceanside – 11:30am

  • Thursday, Jan 1. 2026 – Ocean City / AGH 32nd Annual Penguin Swim at Princess Royale 91st Street & Beach – Day of registration/ check-in 9 to 11:30am / Swim – 12pm / register – https://secure.qgiv.com/event/penguinswim2026/

  • Thursday, Jan 1, 2026 – New Year’s Day Oyster Dip at Crisfield’s Wellington Beach 12-1pm

  • Thursday, Jan 1, 2026 – Salisbury – New Year’s Day 5K Hot Chocolate run and 1 mile Fun Run – 1pm South Park Drive

https://runsignup.com/Race/MD/Salisbury/NewYearsDay5kHotChocolateRun

SANTA IN RESIDENCE

2025 Rehoboth Beach Santa House – Santa will be in residence – bring your list for Santa – and your camera!:

  • Saturdays & Sundays – Nov 29 – Dec 21 1 – 3pm 
  • Monday, Dec 22 1- 3pm 
  • Tuesday, Dec 23 1 – 3pm

Santa’s reindeer aren’t fond of wet weather – check RBDB Chamber’s Facebook for updates on Santa House Hours       https://www.facebook.com/RehobothDeweyChamber

 

2025 Lewes Santa House – Santa will be at his home on Second Street in Lewes on Small Business Saturday, Nov 29 from 1 – 3pm and on Hospitality Night, Thursday, December 4 from 5 to 6:30pm. Santa will also be in residence during the days below – pictures with Santa will be available – and children can drop their letters in the mailbox next to the house anytime. He will be in residence:

  • Sat, Dec 6 in residence for short time after parade  
  • Thu, Dec 11 & 18  – 5 – 7pm 
  • Sat, Dec 13 & 20  – 1 – 3pm 
  • Tue, Dec 23  – 5 – 7pm

 

2025 Milford Santa House – Santa will be in residence at his Milford House weekends through December 21st 

  • Fridays & Saturdays – 5 – 8pm 
  • Sundays – 11 – 2pm

 

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