Nearly 150,000 Delawareans are expected to travel this Thanksgiving weekend Delaware. (Unsplash)
With almost 15% of First Staters expected to travel this weekend, here’s what to know about Thanksgiving in Delaware this year.
Travel
AAA Mid-Atlantic, a regional travel agency, predicts holiday travel will be comparable to pre-pandemic levels, with 149,504 Delawareans traveling.
More than 10,000 Delawareans will fly somewhere this weekend, which is 7% more than Thanksgiving weekend last year as COVID-19 restrictions on flights are lifted, AAA said.
Around 90% of travelers will drive to their destinations, the agency expects.
While inflation has caused gas prices to surge over the past year, the past few weeks have seen a drop in the average cost per gallon.
New Castle County’s average cost per gallon is $3.62. In Kent County, the cost is $3.57, and down in Sussex, the average gallon costs $3.59.
With so many travelers hitting the road, here’s when AAA says is the best and worst times to drive this weekend:
AAA Mid-Atlantics’s best and worst times to travel Thanksgiving and over the weekend.
Weather for Thanksgiving and the weekend
Thanksgiving is supposed to be a clear, sunny day, with temperatures reaching 60 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Thursday’s feast and family time will lead into cloudy skies Friday with rain likely and the temperature nearing 60 degrees again on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
While Saturday morning should be clear, light rain is expected after 1 p.m. and will continue into Sunday.
Safety on the road
Delaware has already matched its 2021 number for traffic fatalities, with 139 deaths so far in 2022.
The state’s Department of Transportation offers these tips for driving during the holiday:
- Always wear your seatbelt
- Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Obey posted speed limits
- Do not drive distracted
- Do not drive aggressively
“We strongly encourage everyone to slow down, avoid distractions behind the wheel and be on the lookout for people walking and biking,” said Safety and Homeland Security Secretary Nathaniel McQueen Jr. in a press release. “It is imperative we all take an active role to protect each other.”
Thanksgiving events
Wilmington’s MS Run
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is having its 44th Annual Thanksgiving Day MS Run in Wilmington.
The event includes 10K and 5K runs, a 5K walk and a kiddie fun run.
After the run, participants and their families can enjoy refreshments and take photos with Santa.
The organization’s goal is to raise $110,000 to go towards multiple sclerosis research and treatment. So far, the event has raised $27,259.
Register here.
Newark’s Thanksgiving Breakfast
The Parks and Recreation Department will host its 37th annual Thanksgiving breakfast Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the George Wilson Center in Newark.
This year’s menu will include pancakes, eggs, sausage, fruit, coffee, juice, and tea. Registration is required, and attendees are asked to bring a canned item including fruit, vegetables, meat or tuna to donate to the Food Bank of Delaware.
Bethany-Fenwick Turkey Trot
Bethany Beach will host a 2-mile run from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Thursday.
Attendees must register here, and pay $35 to participate. The course starts at Garfield Parkway and Atlantic Avenue.
All funds will go towards supporting the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company.
Pies will be awarded to the male and female winners, and runners are encouraged to wear Thanksgiving costumes to celebrate the holiday.
Community Thanksgiving Dinner
The House of David in Milford is hosting a community dinner Thursday from noon to 2 p.m.
A free, full-course Thanksgiving meal will be served to attendees.
The organization’s Clothing Closet will also be distributing coats, sweaters and winter items for those in need.
Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.
Jarek can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at (215) 450-9982. Follow him on Twitter @jarekrutz
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