Memorial Day guide 2024 for Delawareans

The unofficial start of summer is around the corner, which means plenty of beach travel, lots of outdoor events and – most importantly – ways to honor American heroes whose legacy is what  Memorial Day is about. 

Throughout the First State, there’s a plethora of family-fun festivities and ceremonies being held to pay respect to the nation’s fallen soldiers. 

Weather

Be sure to pack an umbrella to travel destinations. The National Weather Service is predicting showers throughout Memorial Day Weekend. 

Friday will be sunny with a high of 78 degrees, but a 30% chance of showers heading into the night, where temperatures will drop to 58. 

Saturday will have sunshine with a 30% chance of showers throughout the day. The high is 76 and the low is 57.

The rain will go away for Sunday, with mostly sunny skies and a high of 76 degrees. It will cool off to 61 degrees at night with a 20% chance of rain.

Memorial Day on Monday will be overcast, a high of 74 degrees, with the temperature dropping to 61 and rain likely in the evening.  

Gas prices

The average price for a gallon of gas in the First State is $3.45, 14 cents less than the national average, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic, a regional travel agency.

It’s also cheaper where the beaches are.

New Castle County has an average cost per gallon of $3.47, followed by Kent County at $3.46 and Sussex County at $3.43.

As always, make a plan with a designated driver or use public transportation or ride share apps like Uber or Lyft if drinking alcohol.

About 125,000 Delawareans will be traveling a distance of 50 miles or more this holiday weekend, representing a 4.3% percent increase over last year and it would make it the second busiest Memorial Day weekend in Delaware since AAA started tracking the holiday forecast in 2000.

The agency states these are the best and worst times to travel:

Beach parking

Rehoboth, Dewey and Bethany beaches are increasing parking rates this summer, with Rehoboth and Dewey officials citing increased health insurance costs and other expenses.

Paid parking lasts from May 15 to Sept. 15.

Rehoboth Beach:

• Hourly: Up $1, to $4.
• Daily: $25
• Three-day weekend: $60
• Weekly: $120
• Seasonal from Aug. 1 (non-transferable): $150
• Seasonal from Aug. 1 (transferable): $165
• Seasonal (non-transferable): $295
• Seasonal (transferable): $325
• Scooter (seasonal): $55

Dewey Beach:

• Hourly: Up 50 cents, to $3.50
• Daily: Up $5, to $30
• Weekend: Up $10, to $55
• Weekly (eight days): Up $20, to $100
• Seasonal parking permit: Up $50 to $300

Bethany Beach:

• Hourly: Up 50 cents, to $3
• Daily permits: Up $5, to $40
• Three-day permits: Up $15, to $90
• Weekly permits: Up $35, to $210

Parking in Fenwick Island and Lewes remained the same. 

Fenwick Island:

• Hourly: $3
• Daily: $25
• Weekly: $150
• Seasonal: $500
• Replace lost permit: $200
• Additional blue permits: $500

Lewes:

• Downtown hourly: $1.50
• Beach hourly: $2.50

Memorial Day events

Bethany Beach’s Poseidon Festival

All Memorial Day Weekend, from Friday to Monday, Bethany Beach’s Poseidon Festival will take over the town. 

The sea-themed event includes the Aloha Summer Luau Show at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. are the Pirates on the Plaza and the Mermaid Mania shows.

A costume parade and contest starts at 2 p.m. Saturday. 

A show with yacht rock classics takes place at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and a marine science educational session Sunday at 1 p.m.

There’s a few other fun activities on the itinerary leading to the Memorial Day Service Monday at 11 a.m. 

Everything is free and takes place in downtown Bethany Beach. Find more information here.

Ceremony for Veterans groups

The Office of Veterans Services and the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs will have two ceremonies.

The first is Saturday, May 25, starting at 10 a.m. at the New Castle County Cemetery (2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear).

The second is Thursday, May 30, starting at 10:30 a.m. at War Memorial Plaza (163 Cherry Lane, New Castle).

Both events will feature speeches from state politicians and leaders of Veterans groups.

Henlopen Springfest

The second annual Henlopen Springest takes place Saturday at 29763 Eagle Crest Road in Milton.

There’s a $10 entry fee, and children under 12 are free. However, activities add a cost. 

The highlight of the fest is a car and truck show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is $20 for pre-registration or $25 for day-of registration.

A cornhole tournament runs from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and costs $25 per person. 

There’s a free, hour-long magic show starting at 9:30 a.m. in which Charlie The Magician will entertain the crowd. 

The band Girl On the Moon will perform a free show at 10:55 a.m.

At noon, there’s a Memorial Day Presentation with a National Anthem rendition by the Jovon Newman Band, who will perform their hits after the anthem. 

There’s a slew of other musical performances and plenty of food vendors. Click here for more information and to register for an activity. 

Lewes Memorial Day Parade

Lewes will host several events on Memorial Day, including a wreath laying ceremony that starts at 10 a.m.

At 11 a.m., behind the Presbyterian Church, the Memorial Day Parade will begin on Schley Avenue and go through Savannah Road and end at Post 17.

At 1 p.m. following the parade, the town’s Memorial Day Ceremony will commence in the Pavilion

Milford Memorial Day Ceremony

Starting at 10:30 a.m. on Memorial Day – Monday, May 27 – the Milford High School’s Center for Performing Arts will host a community gathering.

Among all the other fallen veterans, the ceremony will honor Dr. Gerald W. Thompson, a long-time Milford resident who taught music in the district for decades and was very active in the area.

Thompson, a veteran of the U.S. Army, died in September 2021. 

Ellendale’s Memorial Day Service

The Town of Ellendale in Sussex County begins its ceremony at 1 p.m. on Memorial Day at the Ellendale War Memorial, located at 300 McCaulley Avenue.

Victory Baptist Church Memorial Day Picnic

Victory Baptist Church, located at 16219 Sussex Highway in Bridgeville, will host a picnic starting at 1 p.m. on Memorial Day. 

The event, on the church grounds, will have free hamburgers and hotdogs.

Attendees are asked to bring sides and desserts. 

New Castle’s Memorial Day Service

From 10:30 a.m. to noon, New Castle County’s Veterans Memorial Park will host its Memorial Day Service.

It will include music, a moment of silence and speeches from Delaware veterans.

Wilmington’s Memorial Day Parade

The city’s parade kicks off at Delaware and Woodlawn Avenue at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 30 and proceeds down Delaware Avenue to the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Broom Street.

There, a Memorial Observance will be held at the conclusion of the parade. 

The parade is always held on May 30.