New Castle County, Delaware
Tiny Weekends — a Delaware family guide
What to do this weekend.
A short, honest shortlist for New Castle County families, — picked by local parents and checked every week. Here's this weekend:
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One countywide shortlist every Friday morning, with ages, cost and logistics on each pick. Free.
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All guides →The big moments worth planning around — book the sitter, grab the tickets, pack the wagon.
Holiday markets & tree lightings in New Castle County
Tree lightings, holiday markets and town winter festivals are the easy side of the season: an hour outside, some cocoa, something to look at, often free to walk in. This list comes straight from our calendar, soonest first, and fills in as dates are announced. Organizers post dates on their own schedules, so more turn up as the season gets closer. For light displays, see the holiday lights guide. For Santa visits and Nutcrackers, see holiday shows.
See the guide → Coming upThanksgiving weekend with kids in New Castle County
Thanksgiving weekend is four days of kids at home, relatives in town, and a lot of places closed on Thursday. This list pulls the dated events from our calendar — turkey trots, tree lightings, the first Santa appearances, Black Friday alternatives — grouped by area. It fills in during November; before then, the live calendar and the indoor-activities guide are the better bets.
See the guide → Coming upHoliday lights, parades & tree lightings at the Delaware beaches
Beach-town tree lightings and parades can make a short holiday outing. The dated 2026 plans verified from towns and organizers are below; other events will appear as their dates are confirmed. We separate those from annual attractions whose new-season details are still unverified. Our take: choose one evening event with little kids and bring warm layers for the wind off the water.
See the guide →More from Tiny Weekends
The same honest, parent-tested approach, for the rest of family life in Delaware.
Summer Camps
Decision-first camp guide — filter by age, week, town, day length, and care.
Explore →Childcare Guide
Every licensed child care center in New Castle County — ages, hours, capacity, and subsidy.
Explore →School Choice Guide
Delaware school choice, explained — deadlines, charter lotteries, kindergarten, and the gotchas.
Explore →Places We Love
Honest first-timer guides to family spots — parking, strollers, bathrooms, food, and what kids actually love.
Explore →Family Guides
Situational picks — rainy days, free outings, the spots worth the drive — pulled from our place guides.
Explore →Birthday Party Finder
Compare verified party options by age, group size, setting, starting price, and who actually runs the activity.
Explore →This Tiny Weekend
One countywide shortlist every Friday morning, with ages, cost and logistics on each pick. Free.
Checked every week and re-verified through the weekend — we drop what's sold out or cancelled, so you don't show up to a locked door.
Filtered for your family
Set your kids' ages and ZIP on the site to filter events for your family.
Parking & logistics included
Stroller access, parking tips, and local-parent guides for top NCC venues.