Music, art and early holiday traditions pack Delaware’s weekend calendar

Delaware’s Weekend Calendar features music, early holiday shows and the last of fall.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest events happening Nov. 14-16.

WILMINGTON, Del. — From alternative rock downtown to a holiday dinner-theater in Ardentown and studio tours in Milford, Delaware’s weekend lineup is heavy on live music, local art and early-season festivities.

Alternative rock takes over The Queen

The Caulfields will headline the Crown Room at The Queen in Wilmington on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m., joined by singer-songwriter Olivia Rubini.

The show, billed as a quintessential alternative rock night, is sold out, according to the venue’s listing.

Fans can expect a set that mixes breakout hits, deep cuts and new interpretations from The Caulfields’ catalog, delivered with the band’s trademark melodic hooks and high-energy stage presence. Live shows by the group are known for feeling intimate even in larger rooms, something the smaller Crown Room space is likely to amplify.

Rock Orchestra opens ninth season with Paul Simon tribute

Just down Market Street, The Grand Opera House will host The Rock Orchestra’s tribute to Paul Simon on Saturday at 8 p.m. in Copeland Hall.

The concert marks the start of the ensemble’s ninth season and is being promoted as a one-night-only deep dive into Simon’s body of work, from the Simon & Garfunkel years through his Grammy-winning “Graceland” era and beyond.

The program is expected to include folk-era favorites, solo hits and world-music-influenced arrangements, with The Rock Orchestra blending faithful renditions and fresh treatments of Simon’s songs.

Festival of Trees opens holiday season at Brantwyn

North Wilmington will lean into the holidays as Delaware Hospice’s Wilmington Festival of Trees returns to Brantwyn Estate from Friday through Sunday, Nov. 14-16.

Now in its 38th year, the fundraiser fills the estate with decorated trees sponsored and designed by local businesses and individuals. The event includes a holiday marketplace, bake shop and live musical entertainment, along with specialty trees such as the Remembrance Tree, Memorial Tree and New Hope Tree that offer ways to honor loved ones.

Admission is free, making it a family-friendly option for those looking to kick off the season while supporting hospice programs.

Milford’s Mispillion Art League opens studio doors

In Kent and Sussex counties, the Mispillion Art League will host its MAST25 Artists Studio Tour on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The free, self-guided tour starts at the Mispillion Art League gallery at 5 N. Walnut St. in downtown Milford and extends to the personal studios of 10 member artists across Milford, Milton, Lewes, Harbeson and Rehoboth Beach.

Visitors can step inside working studios, meet artists, see works in progress and purchase pieces directly from the creators. Several artists are offering discounts for tour participants, organizers say, positioning the event as both an arts experience and a way to support the local creative economy.

‘Christmas by Candlelight’ returns to Ardentown barn

The Candlelight Theatre in Ardentown will launch its holiday production, “Christmas by Candlelight,” this weekend with a 6 p.m. performance Saturday and a 1 p.m. matinee Sunday. The musical runs through Dec. 21.

The show, which has repeatedly been voted Best Musical by subscribers, features a mix of seasonal and sacred songs along with new holiday surprises performed by the resident “Candlelighters” cast. All tickets include a full meal served at the table, continuing the theatre’s dinner-and-a-show tradition.

Candlelight describes the production as a heartwarming celebration of the yuletide season that welcomes audiences “home” to the historic barn for an evening of music, nostalgia, and community.

Last chance for Longwood’s Chrysanthemum Festival

Across the state line, Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, is in the final days of its Chrysanthemum Festival, which runs through Sunday, Nov. 16.

The fall display features chrysanthemums trained into 66 specialty forms — including spheres, columns and cloud-like shapes — along with behind-the-scenes exhibits on the art and science of chrysanthemum culture.

The festival is included with timed-ticket admission and is part of Longwood’s broader autumn programming, which also includes the Garden Railway and bonsai displays.

Looking ahead: Brandywine’s Holiday Critter Sale

While not a weekend event just yet, holiday planners may want to mark their calendars for the Brandywine River Museum of Art’s Holiday Critter Sale in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, running Nov. 20-23.

The long-running fundraiser features thousands of handcrafted ornaments and tabletop decorations made from natural materials such as pinecones, acorns and seed pods, with proceeds supporting the museum’s art education and public programming.

From Market Street stages to Milford studios and Brandywine-Valley gardens, Delaware and its neighbors are offering plenty of ways to spend the weekend out of the house — whether you’re chasing live music, getting an early start on the holidays or just looking for a scenic place to wander.