Holiday 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.
Want the short version every Friday?
One countywide shortlist every Friday morning, with ages, cost and logistics on each pick. Free.
4 events, Nov 28 – Dec 17, grouped by area.
Close by (1)
Registration required
The evening timing may align well with a child’s nap window, making it a manageable outing for younger families.
Worth the drive (over the state line) (3)
Santa’s Lewes house open
Sat, Nov 28 · 12:00 PM–2:00 PM + 1 more date through Dec 3
Second Street Players (Riverfront Theater) · Milford
Santa Story Time presented by Roots Literacy and Language
Thu, Dec 17 · 5:30 PM–7:00 PM
Milford Public Library · Milford
See everything on the full calendar →
Good to know
- • Rehoboth Beach's Christmas Tree Lighting is Friday, Nov. 27, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Bandstand (1 Rehoboth Ave.). The city holds it every year on the Friday evening after Thanksgiving, with a holiday sing-along before the countdown to lighting the community tree. source
- • The Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company's Hometown Christmas Parade runs down Rehoboth Avenue on Monday, Dec. 7, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. Yes, a Monday: it's a weeknight parade, so plan dinner and bedtime around it. source
- • Rehoboth Beach's city calendar lists a public Hanukkah menorah lighting at the Bandstand on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2026, 5 to 6:30 p.m. source
- • The Rehoboth Beach Farmers Holiday Market is Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, noon to 3 p.m. at Grove Park, a chance to shop farmers market vendors for gifts. source
- • On Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2026, Harvest Church gathers at the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand from 5 to 6 p.m. to sing carols and tell the Christmas story. source
- • Lewes' 94th Old Fashioned Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, at 5 p.m. It starts at Savannah Road and Sussex Drive and runs down Savannah Road, left on Second Street, to Market Street. source
- • The Lewes Chamber calendar lists Lewes Merchants' Hospitality Night on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026, 5 to 8 p.m. in the Lewes Historic District, the start of its Christmas Weekend in Lewes (Dec. 3 to 6). source
- • Lewes Lights is a free, self-guided holiday light tour of decorated homes and businesses in Lewes. Its site lists Dec. 5–31, 5–9 p.m. nightly (without naming the year), and the tour map is posted there in December. source
- • Bethany Beach has posted its 2026 Holiday Happenings plans: trolley light tours on Saturdays, Nov. 28 and Dec. 5, 12 and 19 (6, 7 and 8 p.m.; register online, no wait list), and an event day with pony and train rides (noon–2 p.m.), a Town Hall party with Santa (1–4 p.m.) and a 5 p.m. tree lighting at the bandstand. The town's map doesn't say which day that is, so check its page before you go. source
Questions parents ask
Which beach-town holiday dates are confirmed for 2026?
Rehoboth lights its tree November 27 at 6:30 PM; the fire company parade is December 7 at 6:30 PM. Lewes has Hospitality Night December 3, 5–8 PM, and its Christmas parade December 5 at 5 PM. Follow the official source links for each event’s latest details.
Can we do more than one in a weekend?
The Lewes events span December 3–6. Our take: pick one evening event per night with little kids, rather than making an ambitious driving circuit.
Are the holiday-light tour maps ready?
Not all of them. Lewes Lights still had a 2025 registration label when checked November 1. An annual event’s old page is not confirmation of this season’s dates.
Get the good ones before they fill up
One countywide shortlist every Friday morning, with ages, cost and logistics on each pick. Free.
More guides
Dates refresh from each organizer’s listing twice a day.
Event dates come straight from our live calendar and refresh automatically. Last reviewed November 1, 2026. Confirm anything dated on the source before you go.