Delaware fall festivals you must hit up in 2024, for kids and adults (2024)

Believe it or not, sweater weather is coming to Delaware, and with it will come lots of can't-miss festivals you can check out this fall.

Whether you're a kid or an adult, here's a mix of festivals folks can dive into around the First State in the coming weeks.

Nanticoke Indian Powwow, Milton

Delaware fall festivals you must hit up in 2024, for kids and adults (1)

From traditional dances and music to cool cultural-themed wares from vendors, Native American heritage will be celebrated over two full days. Car lovers also will have a chance to see a street-rod car show during both days. The 46th annual Nanticoke Indian Powwow includes a church service before the festival starts on Sunday (8:30 to 9:30 a.m.).

Hudson Fields (30045 Eagle Crest Road, Milton) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, and Sunday, Sept. 8. Admission is $5-$10. Free for ages 10 or younger. Visit nanticokeindians.org (302) 945-7022 or call (302) 945-3400.

Brandywine Festival of the Arts, Wilmington

Delaware fall festivals you must hit up in 2024, for kids and adults (2)

Forget Halloween, it's not too early to start thinking about Christmas right now. You can begin your holiday shopping with the 15,000 guests who are estimated to visit the Brandywine Festival of the Arts.

This year's event will host about 250 artisans representing multiple mediums. This includes woodwork, painting, jewelry, sculpture, pottery and photography, plus 14 food vendors, OperaDelaware and more.

One of the food vendors is In Jest Events & Catering run by Delaware celebrity chef Robbie Jester, known for besting chefson Netflix and Food Network shows "Chopped," "Pressure Cooker" and "Beat Bobby Flay."

This year's featured artist is Newark's Sue Ann Cox, a ceramic artist and creator of The Fairy Potter’s exclusive Enchanted Flower Cottages. She makes 19th-century-inspired cottages that a fairy would die for.

Brandywine Park (1001 N. Park Drive, Wilmington) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8. Admission is $5 per day. Visit brandywinearts.com.

MickeyFest, New Castle

Delaware fall festivals you must hit up in 2024, for kids and adults (3)

To help support two siblings diagnosed with "children’s Alzheimer’s," their parents have created the fifth annual MickeyFest to fight for their young lives.

The event will feature a petting zoo, mermaids, Colene's epic Kids' Corner, live music, full bar, food vendors, and other festivities.

MickeyFest is a free event intended to help his young daughter Michaela "Mickey" Merrill and her baby brother, Declan, fight Sanfilippo syndrome, a degenerative disease, which some have nicknamed "children’s Alzheimer's."

Proceeds will benefit Sanfilippo syndrome research.

MickeyFest Battery Park (1 Delaware St., New Castle) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7. Visit savemickey.com.

Historic Odessa Brewfest

Delaware fall festivals you must hit up in 2024, for kids and adults (4)

Over 50 national and regional breweries are on pace to serve you cold drinks at the 11th annual Historic Odessa Brewfest. This includes breweries like Dogfish Head, Twisted Irons, Revelation, Heavy Seas and plenty of others.

Historic Odessa ­(202 Main St., Odessa) from noon to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7. General admission is $60 ($70 at the gate); designated driver $15. Visit odessabrewfest.com or call (302) 378-4119.

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Weedstock, Townsend

Delaware fall festivals you must hit up in 2024, for kids and adults (5)

Three days of smoking weed, live music, arts vendors and munchies will be on tap at the seventh annual Weedstock.

The tagline for the event is "bring your own bud," which is mentioned on the festival’s Brown Paper Tickets’ page. That’s another form of "BYOB" that gives folks the green light to spark up. But guests can't bring their young kids to the festival, as this event is strictly for ages 21 or older.

Fire Base Lloyd (474 Fleming Landing Road, Townsend) at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13; and noon Saturday, Sept. 14; and at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 15. Tickets start at $40 per day (plus fees). Camping starts at $30 (plus fees). Visit weedstock.org or call (302) 497-3833.

Wilmington Hispanic Festival

Delaware fall festivals you must hit up in 2024, for kids and adults (6)

This parade and street festival is a celebration that aims to unite all Hispanic communities across the state to hang out, and share resources in the heart of Delaware's largest city.

The festival is located in Wilmington (1200 W. Fourth St., Wilmington) at noon Saturday, Sept. 14. For more info, visit facebook.com/NRDELAWARE/.

Maxima Hispanic Fest, Georgetown

An estimated 20,000 revelers came out to celebrate the Maxima Hispanic Fest in Georgetown in 2023, and the party returns this fall. Folks will get to enjoy Hispanic heritage through traditional food, arts and crafts, dancing and performances by international, national and local groups. Some of the music artists include Heider Gonzalez, Los Caminantes de Agustin Ramirez and La Maquinaria Norteña.

Downtown Georgetown (216 North Race St., Georgetown) from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15. Visit festivalhispano.org or (302) 858-5118.

Fairy Fest, near Wilmington

Delaware fall festivals you must hit up in 2024, for kids and adults (7)

There's a magical thing going on at the Fairy Fest, a charming event full of activities, games, vendors and entertainment. The mobile stage will feature performances by First State Ballet, Wilmington Drama League, Pieces of a Dream, Delaware Arts Conservatory, Pieces of a Dream, Melodic Movements, Delaware Children's Theatre, and Drama Kids Wilmington.

Rockwood Museum & Park (501 Carr Road, near Wilmington) from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15. Visit newcastlede.gov or call (302) 395-5652.

Fall Fest at Fifer Orchards, Camden-Wyoming

Delaware fall festivals you must hit up in 2024, for kids and adults (8)

Will the Force be with you when you brave the new "Star Wars"-themed corn maze at Fifer Orchards?

Fifer's Fall Fest hosts its many options of cool activities including zip swings, farmer foosball, an apple cannon (Saturday), harvest hoops (basketball), jumping pillows, duck races, apple picking (Friday and Saturday), a pumpkin patch, and much more.

Fall Fest is held at Fifer Orchards (1919 Allabands Mill Road, Camden-Wyoming) starting on Saturday, Sept. 21, until Saturday, Nov. 9. Hours are Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (exit by 5 p.m.). For more info, visit fiferorchards.com or call (302) 697-2141.

Ladybug Micro Music Fest in Middletown

Delaware fall festivals you must hit up in 2024, for kids and adults (9)

Fans of the Ladybug Festival will get a dose of its new and free Micro Music Fest in Middletown with Hockessin headliner Olivia Rubini, who recently starred on season 25 of NBC's "The Voice."

The micro-fest also features 100% women-led acts that include Kosser, Roberta Faceplant, The Side Chicks and Alyssa Garcia.

The event will be held in downtown Middletown (Main Street, Middletown) from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21. Visit theladybugfestival.com.

Wags & Whiskers Fall Festival, Milton

Bring your fur babies for a good time at the dog-friendly gathering Wag & Whiskers Fall Festival. The event offers photo opportunities, games, vendors, food trucks, cool demonstrations and more.

Hudson Fields (29763 Eagle Crest Road, Milton) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28. For more info, visit facebook.com/yarnandbone or call (302) 423-8889.

Apple Scrapple, Bridgeville

Delaware fall festivals you must hit up in 2024, for kids and adults (10)

Eating rectangle-shaped pieces of pork is a tradition in Bridgeville, and so is watching people throw it as far as they can at the annual Scrapple Festival. The festival turns 32 this year and normally attracts about 20,000 guests.

The two-day event includes the Little Miss Apple Scrapple Pageant, food and artisan vendors, live music and more. The Invitational Scrapple Sling (or scrapple toss) will be held at the stage area behind the fire hall at 2 p.m. Saturday.

The festival is held at multiple places in Bridgeville (including Union Street) starting at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, and at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12. Visit applescrapple.com.

Punkin Ale Fest, Milton

Delaware fall festivals you must hit up in 2024, for kids and adults (11)

'Tis the season for all things "Punkin Ale" at Dogfish Head Brewery. Hence, the brewery's Punkin Ale Fest is rolling out this family-friendly event that features vendors, food trucks, Dogfish ales and spirits, live music, and other fun. This event will benefit the Brandywine Valley SPCA as part of Beer & Benevolence.

Dogfish Head Brewery (6 Cannery Village Center, Milton) at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12. Visit dogfish.com.

Family Fest, Hockessin

This family-friendly environment will be full of free candy, prizes and activities. Guests can register online for time slots between 2 to 4 p.m. or 4 to 6 p.m.

Trinity Community Church (6580 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin) from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. Visit trinitychurchde.com or call (302) 234-8007.

Sea Witch Festival, Rehoboth

Delaware fall festivals you must hit up in 2024, for kids and adults (12)

The biggest family-friendly Halloween event in Delaware is the Sea Witch Festival, which attracts thousands to Rehoboth Beach over an October weekend. Festivities for the 34th annual event run all three days with activities like live music, a kids' corner, artisan vendors and oodles more.

The main attraction is the costume parade on Saturday in downtown Rehoboth.

Sea Witch festivities are in multiple locations in Rehoboth (including at 305 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach) from Friday, Oct. 27 to Sunday, Oct. 29. The full schedule is TBA. For more info, visit beach-fun.com or call (302) 227-2233 or (800) 441-1329.

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Delaware Renaissance Faire, Townsend

Delaware fall festivals you must hit up in 2024, for kids and adults (13)

More sword fighting, belly dancing and lots of mead is going down at the Delaware Renaissance Faire, an affair that will run for three weeks this fall.

This popular event is known to sell out, so you might want to get your tickets in advance. There are over 100 craft and food vendors, plus nine unique entertainers.

Earlybird tickets are available through 12:05 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Those tickets start at $10 per day.

Fire Base Lloyd (446 Fleming Landing Road, Townsend) on Saturday, Oct. 26; Sunday, Oct. 27; Saturday, Nov. 2; Sunday, Nov. 3; Saturday, Nov. 9; Sunday, Nov. 10. Each day is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. For tickets and more info, visit delafaire.com.

If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporterAndre Lamaratalamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, atdelawareonline.com/newsletters.

Delaware fall festivals you must hit up in 2024, for kids and adults (2024)

FAQs

Delaware fall festivals you must hit up in 2024, for kids and adults? ›

Tết Trung Thu or Mid-autumn Festival, is also known in Vietnam as the “Children's Festival”.

How do you start a fall festival? ›

6 Steps to Planning a Memorable Fall Festival
  1. Decide On A Location For Your Fall Festival. ...
  2. Secure The Location And Decide On A Date. ...
  3. Start Making Plans For Attractions. ...
  4. Make Plans For Food. ...
  5. Decide How You're Going To Invite Guests/Advertise. ...
  6. Plan For Sanitary Restroom Facilities For Your Guests.

How many years has the fall festival been in Evansville Indiana? ›

West Side Nut Club Fall Festival
FrequencyAnnually (first full week of October)
Location(s)Evansville, Indiana
Inaugurated1921
Attendance~150,000 - 200,000+
5 more rows

What is the festival for children in the fall? ›

Tết Trung Thu or Mid-autumn Festival, is also known in Vietnam as the “Children's Festival”.

What happens in a fall festival? ›

Autumn festivals are traditionally held to express appreciation for the harvest as well as wish for a good crop in the coming year. For schools and community centers, a fall festival is a way of ringing in the new season and enjoying traditions like hay rides, corn mazes, and apple cider.

What is the largest fall festival in the US? ›

The West Side Nut Club Fall Festival attracts more than 200,000 people to Franklin Street each year, making it one of the largest street festivals in the United States. The October event includes free live entertainment, carnival rides, over 130 food booths, talent competitions, and a huge fall parade.

How many people attended Falls Festival? ›

Approximately 13,000 people attend every year.

What is the history of the fall festivals? ›

Fall festivals have been celebrated for centuries, dating back to ancient times when people would gather to give thanks for the year's harvest. In the United States, the tradition of fall festivals can be traced back to the early settlers who held harvest celebrations to give thanks for a successful growing season.

How can I start my own festival? ›

We'll cover these steps:
  1. Set concrete goals for your festival.
  2. Determine your festival's budget.
  3. Secure a festival venue.
  4. Book your festival's lineup and vendors.
  5. Build your festival marketing plan.
  6. Coordinate volunteers and on-site staff for your festival.
  7. Plan your festival's schedule.
  8. Prep for last-minute tasks on event day.

How to make money at school fall festival? ›

Choose a primary activity like pumpkin or apple picking or a hay bale maze. Adding a bunch of booths for games, treats, and fresh apples can help you raise more funds. Entertainment, even when it's not the main event activity, can help create a specific environment for your event that can also help you raise money.

How to plan a fall festival on a budget? ›

Planning Your Fall Festival on a Budget

Start by outlining all the necessary components of your festival, such as the venue, decorations, activities, food, and entertainment. Once you have this list, allocate your funds based on what will make the most impact.

How do you make a festival profitable? ›

Upsell Tickets To Special Events

To increase dollars brought into the event consider having special events that require an additional fee for entry. Tasting rooms, VIP areas, front row seating, meet and greet sessions, and behind-the-scene tours can be great revenue makers, even with tickets going for $10 or $20.

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