October is not arriving quite as we would like; after all, consecutive days of rain with no end in sight is not exactly how we envisioned the autumnal month’s return. Nonetheless, we are confident there will be plenty of crisp, sun-filled October days to enjoy as we gear up for all of the fall- and Halloween-themed festivities. Full disclaimer: the first string of events listed here (for the first weekend of October) are still up in the air as we keep an eye on the hurricane looming off the coast. We will be sure to update the list as any dates change. As for the rest of the month, we can’t seem to decide which festival we are the most excited about: Good Beer Festival, Apple Scrapple, Oktoberfest celebrations in Berlin and OC, Sea Witch, the inaugural Shore Craft Beer Fest…you see our current dilemma. Take a look at what’s popping up in October!
Chesapeake Celtic Festival
When: Saturday, October 3 & Sunday, October 4
Where: Furnace Town Living Heritage Museum, Snow Hill
What: Celtic pride runs deep on Delmarva, and is celebrated in kind each year at Furnace Town with the Chesapeake Celtic Festival. The two-day event features fun for all ages, with sheep herding for border collies, Celtic dancing and bands, re-enactment camps, bagpipes and drums, whiskey and wine tastings, storytelling, historic martial arts, costumed artisans, ethnic food, and historic ales and specialty beers. There’s also the costumed dog parade to consider, as well as the Celtic Church Service and wedding. Or test your luck with the Luck ‘O the Irish Sweepstakes. Be sure to don your best kilt! Opening ceremonies are at noon both days. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for children ages 4 to 18, and $5 for military.
Lower Shore Land Trust Conservation Day
When: Saturday, October 3, 2-5pm
Where: Ayers Creek Adventures, Berlin (moved indoors to the Berlin Lions Club)
What: Our friends at the LSLT are hosting their 5th Annual Conservation Day, an event that aims to honor the Lower Shore Land Trust’s volunteers and land protection efforts. Tickets are $25 and include a crab feast with fried chicken, guided kayak tours, water themed scavenger hunt, SUP, and outdoor fun for the whole family. We nabbed our tickets a few weeks ago, you can purchase your own at www.lowershorelandtrust.org. Hope to see you all there!
Pooch Palooza
When: Saturday, October 3, 9am-4pm
Where: Frontier Town Western Theme Park & Campground
What: You know we never miss a chance to include our four-legged companions. Presented by Delmarva Unleashed, Pooch Palooza is an annual fall festival for our loyal pups, with a full day of events such as the costume contest, pie eating contest, tennis ball lotto, cover model search, and the Delmarva DockDogs, to name a few. Look for plenty of vendors as well. Of course, leashed dogs are most welcome!
Ironfest
When: Saturday, October 3 (postponed to October 17 due to weather)
Where: Downtown Cambridge, 5-10pm
What: As the IronMan Maryland rolls into town, Cambridge Main Street gears up to celebrate with the spectators and racers for the 2nd Annual IronFest. The last finishers of the IronMan Maryland are expected to cross the finish line up until midnight, which is why downtown restaurants and bars are happily providing a place to cheer on the runners at the turnaround located at the intersection of Gay and Poplar Streets. “There will be something for everyone, and it will all be provided by the people and businesses in this community,” said Hesson. “We aren’t creating a mirage. This is Cambridge, and we know that if we give people the best of what our town is about, they will love it.” Expect plenty of live entertainment, local eats, eclectic vendors, and plenty of Eastern Shore pride.
Lewes’ 20th Annual Boast the Coast Maritime Festival
When: Saturday, October 3, 8:30am-4pm
Where: Downtown Lewes
What: Boast the Coast returns for its 20th year this weekend, with maritime-themed activities scheduled throughout Lewes all day long. The hub of operations will be at the 1812 Park and the City Dock starting at 11am, but there’s also the Historic Lewes Farmers Market from 9am until noon at Shields Elementary School, the Lewes Historical Craft Show from 9am until 4pm, the Lewes in Bloom Fall Plant Sale on Second Street from 8:30am until 4pm, and the Historic District Merchants’ Fall Sidewalk Sale from 10am until 5pm. On the water, look for New Jersey’s Tall Ship, AJ Meerwald, along with the annual boat parade!
Wine on the Beach
When: Friday, October 2 & Saturday, October 3 (postponed to October 30 & 31)
Where: Inlet Parking Lot, OCMD
What: Wine enthusiasts will flock to the Inlet Parking Lot in Ocean City this Friday and Saturday for the 19th Annual Wine on the Beach celebration. Featuring the wineries from the East Coast, the event is the perfect chance to sample new wines or to re-discover old favorites. The event will also include micro-brews, Delmarva cuisine, arts and crafts vendors, and live music. Tickets are $35 and include one-day admission, a commemorative wine glass, and wine tasting sample coupons.
Endless Summer Cruisin’
When: October 8-October 11
Where: Ocean City
What: The 18th Annual Endless Summer Cruisin’ event will roll through Ocean City this month, bringing over 2000 hot rods, crazy customs, cool classics, muscle cars, street machines, trick trucks, and more. Head to the boardwalk in the early morning hours to see them all in the Boardwalk parade, or enjoy strolling through the display of parked cars at the Inlet and Convention Center parking lots. Of course, grabbing a chair and setting up along Coastal Highway is another viable option for viewing the classic cars as the cruise around town.
Jammin’ Out Cancer
When: Friday, October 9, 5pm
Where: Seacrets, OCMD
What: One of our favorite parts about the month of October is the fact that it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which means there are so many fantastic fundraisers happening across Delmarva. Jammin’ Out Cancer will take place at Seacrets and will include a silent auction and 50/50 cash raffle, all to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Also included in the fun is the “Taste of OC,” which will feature foods from all over town. Food, fun and fundraising…sign us up!
Parsons Fall Festival
When: Saturday, October 10, 9am-4pm
Where: Parson Farm Produce, Dagsboro DE
What: For those of you looking for a family-oriented, kid-friendly day of fall-themed fun, head to Parsons Farm for their 8th Annual Fall Festival. What to expect? Pedal tractor racing, hay wagon rides, petting zoo, pumpkin bowling, rubber duck water pump races, youth & adult pie eating and bobbing for apples contests, cow pie bingo, and much, much more.
Apple Scrapple Festival
When: Friday, October 9 & Saturday, October 10
Where: Bridgeville, DE
What: Anything with the word ‘scrapple’ in it immediately piques our interests. As born and bred Eastern Shore natives, we love any meal that tacks scrapple onto it. Held each year in Bridgeville, DE, the annual Apple Scrapple Festival started out as a small festival celebrating Sussex County’s finest – apples and scrapple. Now in its 24th year, the festival brings over 25,000 visitors each year! The two day event features food, food, and more food, but there’s also contests, the 5K Hogg Jogg, a craft show, Little Miss Apple Scrapple, live entertainment, children’s activities, over 500 vendors, and even a Scrapple Chunkin contest. We plan on attending this event with big appetites and our stretchiest pants.
Fall Restaurant Week
When: October 11-October 25
Where: Ocean City, MD
What: The off-season marks the return of fantastic dining deals throughout OCMD, which is typically kicked off with Ocean City Restaurant Week. Two weeks technically, restaurant week provides diners with specials at participating restaurants. Simply head to the site to find out who’s in this year and what to expect.
Good Beer Festival
When: Saturday, October 10 & Sunday, October 11
Where: Pemberton Park, Salisbury
What: The Good Beer Festival returns to Salisbury the second weekend in October, with unlimited tastings of over 100 different American craft brews, including the Local Beer Garden. Also returning this year is the Xtreme Brewing Pro Brewer Beer Talks, which features master brewers speaking about their craft. Football fans, fear not, the games will be aired in the Sports Zone tent. Look for us there!
Taste of the Town
When: Thursday, October 15, 6pm-8:30pm
Where: DelMarvalous Occasions Inc., Salisbury
What: The Young Professionals of SACC invite you to join them for their biggest networking event of the year, the 8th Annual Taste of the Town. Tickets are $15 at the door and include food samples, desserts, and two drinks. A cash bar will also be available. We’re looking forward to the Chef Competition, which will include some of your favorite Salisbury restaurants such as Roadie Joe’s, The Brick Room, Sushi de Kanpai, Evolution Public House, and Brew River, to name a few.
Autumn Wine Fest
When: Saturday, October 17 & Sunday, October 18 (11am-5pm)
Where: Pemberton Park, Salisbury
What: Live entertainment, a delicious array of wine, gorgeous scenery…we look forward to the Autumn Wine Fest in Salisbury each year, and for good reason. The two-day wine festival offers samplings from over 20 Maryland wineries, along with live music and local food vendors.
Southern Delaware Wine, Food, and Music Festival
When: Saturday, October 17, noon-4:30pm
Where: Millsboro, DE
What: Our inner foodie, wino, and music lover is amped up and ready to hit this inaugural event. Over 40 wineries from Teller Wines will be on the scene, pairing pours with a fantastic lineup of Delaware restaurants. Local music will accompany the wine and food tastings, including Erin Dickins, Lower Case Blues, Vinyl Shockley, Bryan Russo, and Bruce Anthony. We’ve got our eye on the Touch of Italy gourmet cheese demo…
5th Annual Bark on the Boards
When: Saturday, October 17 (walk starts at 11am)
Where: Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk
What: Grab your pups and head to Rehoboth for the Delaware SPCA’s 5th Annual Bark on the Boards! Hundreds of pet lovers will march along the boardwalk to help the homeless animals of Delaware’s SPCA’s Georgetown shelter. The event will also include refreshments, children’s activities, and vendors.
Berlin Octoberfest
When: Saturday, October 17, 11am-7pm
Where: Downtown Berlin
What: Berlin celebrates Oktoberfest with its own version of the German-themed events, including plenty of food, fun, entertainment and libations. It’s fun for the entire family, with polka and live music, authentic German food and the Rosenfeld’s Jewish Deli food truck, the annual corn hole tournament, a pirate slide and pumpkin painting for kids, and the 1st annual hobby horse steeplechase race.
O.C.Toberfest Howl-O-Ween Pet Parade
When: Saturday, October 17, 1pm
Where: Boardwalk in OCMD
What: We love a good pet parade, especially when it’s on the Boardwalk in OCMD! The parade of pets will include owners and their pooches dressed up for the occasion, with prizes given for best dressed. Feel free to bring pet food or other pet-friendly items as a donation for the Worcester County Humane Society.
American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Run/Walk
When: Sunday, October 18, 9am
Where: Boardwalk in OCMD
What: We love this community-based event that invites all ages to join together for a 5K run and non-competitive walk to raise funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer. For more information, click here.
O.C.Toberfest Drive in Disguise and Halloween Parade
When: Saturday, October 24, 3pm
Where: Boardwalk in OCMD
What: Residents and visitors will take their cars to the boards for the annual Drive in Disguise event. Simply decorate your car and join in the fun. Vehicles will drive from 27th Street, down the Boardwalk, and to the Inlet Parking Lot where prizes will be awarded.
O.C.Toberfest Great Pumpkin Race
When: Saturday, October 24, 1pm
Where: Boardwalk in OCMD
What: Who doesn’t enjoy watching pumpkins race down the boardwalk in OCMD? The event features pumpkin racecars designed by all ages, with plenty of spectators gathered to watch the fun unfold.
Shore Craft Beer Fest
When: Saturday, October 24, 1pm-6pm
Where: Sunset Park, South Division Street, OCMD
What: It’s the Town of Ocean City’s first major craft beer festival, featuring unlimited samples from 10 local breweries, along with an assortment of food trucks, live music, and cans and growlers to go. Also, be on the lookout for two beer that are being collaboratively brewed for the event.
The Annual Halloween Festival of Bethany Beach: Wags, Witches and Warlocks
When: Saturday, October 24, Parades Starts at 10am
Where: Bethany Beach
What: Bethany Beach is gearing up for their Halloween celebration, which is set to include costume contests, parade, pumpkin painting, mask making, live music, and much, much more! Costumes are encouraged for the whole family – pets included – with a welcomed $5 pet donation for parade participation. All proceeds will benefit the Sussex County SPCA.
Sea Witch Festival
When: October 23-25
Where: Rehoboth Beach, DE
What: Each year the annual Sea Witch Festival of Rehoboth serves as our go-to event for getting into the Halloween spirit. The parade is massive, with over 3,000 costumed participants! Vendors are lined up and the stores are open and hopping as the town transforms itself for the celebration. There’s also hayrides, old fashioned beach games, local food, and the hunt for the Sea Witch. And don’t forget about the fiddler’s festival! If you love Halloween, fall, festivals, and/or Rehoboth, you’ll quickly make this event an annual tradition.
Halloween Spook-Out Party
When: Sunday, October 25, 1pm-3pm
Where: Northside Park, OCMD
What: Costume contests, carnival games, face painting, Halloween arts and crafts, hayrides, snacks and refreshments are all included in the lineup for this year’s Halloween Spook-Out Party at Northside Park in OCMD. Admission is a single, wrapped bag of candy per child.
St. Michaels OysterFest
When: Saturday, October 31, 10am-4pm
Where: Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum celebrates one of our beloved local delicacies with a full day of oysters, oysters and more oysters. The lineup includes live music on two stages, an oyster stew competition, boat rides, retriever demonstrations, oysters (duh), and cooking demonstrations. And since it’s Halloween, enjoy a costume contest as well.
Phew, we told you there was a lot of October events to look forward to! And that’s not even including our full round-up of Halloween events. Coming up this month, be on the lookout for more articles highlighting area trick-or-treating and costume contests, the shore’s best pumpkin patches, and Breast Cancer Awareness Month events. All that and more, in your ‘daily slice of coastal life!’
