SUMMER festivalsSink into steamy 2015 Summer fun! Celebrate, explore and relish in some of North Delaware’s most happening and infamous LOCAL summer festivals – rain or shine – in chronological order. * Peace. Music. Art. Food. Brews. Sweets. Cars. * #LoveLocal. Sounds like the ultimate summer mix. Mark your calendars. Circle back. The 2015 Summer Festival Guide is Presented by Brandywine Museum and Garden Alliance and the Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport to 11 of the Brandywine Valley’s distinctive attractions.

– 2015 Summer Festivals –

The Ladybug Music Festival | Wilmington

Thurs. July 16th

ladybug music festival 2015Join the fun in LOMA for The Ladybug Music Festival!  It’s an all female live music festival and block party!  (Of course, all are welcome.)  Performers such as Angela Sheik, Mary Arden Collins, Joy Ike, and Christina Havrilla will play in venues like Extreme Pizza, Film Brothers Studio, and LOMA Coffee as well as outdoor stages.  Food trucks include Mojo Loco and Cajun-Sno.  The event is FREE to the public thanks to the generous support of our presenting sponsors ShopRite, and the 2nd & LOMA neighborhood, and our partners Downtown Visions, and the City of Wilmington. See more at The Ladybug Music Festival | Wilmington

Delaware Shakespeare Festival ~ The Taming of the Shrew

Delaware Shakespeare FestivalFri. July 17th thru Sun. Aug 2nd

Delaware Shakespeare Festival presents Shakespeare under the stars on the lush grounds of Rockwood Park. Bring your own blankets or chairs, pack a picnic, come for the pre-show entertainment, and enjoy Shakespeare outdoors. See more at, visit Delaware Shakespeare Festival

Shady Grove Music Festival | Arden

Sat. July 18th

Shady Grove Music Festival Arden Delaware July 2015Enjoy the LOCAL sounds live, original, home-grown music under the canopy of the Arden woods. This rain or shine festival is family friendly, so bring the kids.  Shady Grove Music Festival. All proceeds benefit the Arden Club’s Gild Hall Restoration Fund.  Learn more, visit Shady Grove Music Festival | Arden

Delaware State Fair | Harrington

delaware state fair 2015 logoThurs July 23rd – Sat. Aug 1st

Enjoy the best people watching Delaware has to offer! The Delaware State Fair is rich in history, with over 90 years of fair memories. Summertime in Central Delaware can mean only one thing: A glorious mash-up of deep-fried treats, live music, rodeos and demolition derbies. The Midway Slots and Simulcast, Harrington Raceway and The Centre Ice Rink are nearby. See more, visit Delaware State Fair | Harrington

Dancing in the Park & Food Truck Festival

Sat. July 25thNew Castle County ‎Dancing in the Park & Food Truck Festival

Dancing in the Park is a FREE family-friendly event presented in conjunction with National Dance Day 2015. Individuals and dance groups will learn the National Dance Day routine and then perform as a large group flash mob style. The performance will be filmed. Dance along demonstrations will also be presented in Line Dancing, Contemporary Salsa, Disco, Mexican Ballet . After the dance, stay and rock the night away to a live family concert. Learn more, visit Dancing in the Park & Food Truck Festival

21st Annual Peoples Festival 4Peace & Tribute to Bob Marley | Wilmington

Sat. July 25thPeoples Festival

Since 1994, The Peoples’ Festival 4Peace & Tribute to Bob Marley has welcomed close to 100,000 families from around the country in Peace, Unity and ”One Love” to the first place, outside of Jamaica, Bob Marley called home: Wilmington, Delaware. This is a perfectly accessible venue for this family-friendly event. People of all ages can enjoy arts, literature, drum and dance, spoken word, face painting and other activities at our famed Children’s Village. – See more, visit 21st Annual Peoples Festival 4Peace & Tribute to Bob Marley | Wilmington

Newark Food & Brew Festival

Sat. July 25thNewark FoodBrew_Logo 2015

The 12th annual Newark Food & Brew Festival features craft and imported beers, creative cuisine, live music and sidewalk performers. This event showcases more than 40 craft and imported beers paired with food from 17 of downtown Newark’s finest restaurants. Walk from restaurant to restaurant as musicians and balloon decorations line the street, making this one of Delaware’s most beloved summer traditions. – See more at Newark Food & Brew Festival

Free Reign: Hip Hop Cultural Arts Festival

Sat July 25thFreeReignFlyer_Festival

Free Reign:  Hip Hop Cultural Arts Festival. Come out and enjoy a trip through the world of the hip hop culture and learn the origin of these arts. From the days of tribes dancing in rituals to the activities of today. This day is guaranteed to entertain with our live graffiti competition and exciting dance and rap cyphers all the while hearing some of the best hip hop, pop, house tracks ever. – See more, visit Free Reign: Hip Hop Cultural Arts Festival

Riverfront Blues Festival | Wilmington

Fri. July 31st – Sun. Aug 2nd

Riverfront Blues FestivalThe blues are back in Wilmington as the 2015 Riverfront Blues Festival is gearing up to take place at the Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park. The Riverfront Blues Festival is a 3-day, outdoor music festival held on the Wilmington waterfront. The longstanding blues festival has featured memorable performances from notable blues artists like Koko Taylor, Pinetop Perkins and Elvin Bishop. See more, visit Riverfront Blues Festival

Middletown Old-Tyme Peach Festival

Middletown Peach FestivalSat. Aug 15th

2015 Middletown Old-Tyme Peach Festival is host to activities for children, a local artist exhibits, historical exhibits, a peach pie contest, crafts, music, food, games, and of course – Peaches!  The Middletown Old-Tyme Peach Festival is a rain-or-shine event! See more, visit Middletown Old-Tyme Peach Festival

Delaware Burger Battle

delaware burger battleSat. Aug 29th

We’re firing up the grills for the Annual Delaware Burger Battle. This is year 4 of this foodie fundraiser: it’s just getting juicy.The DELAWARE BURGER BATTLE brings together the best burgermeisters from all corners of Delaware to challenge each other for burger supremacy inside our Burger Battle Arena. More than 30 restaurants have competed for six trophies and statewide glory. – See more, visit Delaware Burger Battle

Brandywine Festival of the Arts | Wilmington

brandywine-festival-of-the-artsSat. Sept 12th & Sun. Sept 13th

The Brandywine Festival of the Arts is an annual arts festival in Wilmington along the Brandywine Riverfront. Featuring hundreds of juried artists exhibiting one-of-a-kind art, the festival is a Delaware tradition spanning over half a century. Now regionally popular and nationally recognized, the Brandywine Festival of the Arts boasts participants from across the United States and perennially ranks in the top 100 shows in the country. The Brandywine Festival of the Arts will be a rain or shine event! – See more at Brandywine Festival of the Arts | Wilmington

Hagley Car Show

hagley-car-show-coupleSun. Sept 20th

Celebrate automotive innovation! Browse through more than 500 antique and restored cars that date from the early 1900s to 1980s. This year’s theme is “Fins, Chrome, and the Rocket Age.” The show features vehicle parades, motoring music, video and go-kart racing, and a festival food court. See more, visit Hagley Car Show

Newark Community Day

Community Day Logo - newSun. Sept 20th

The City of Newark’s Parks and Recreation Department, in cooperation with the University of Delaware, Christina School District, and the Downtown Newark Partnership, present the area’s premier fall festival, Newark Community Day, on Sunday, September 20. This exciting event features fun for the entire family. See more, visit Newark Community Day

Wine & Dinosaurs

Wine and DinosaursSun. Sept 20th

Wine & Dinosaurs, the signature fundraising event benefiting the Delaware Museum of Natural History, returns for a ninth year on September 20, and this year promises to be bigger and better than ever! Gather your friends for an afternoon enjoying premium wine and specialty beers, delicious hors d’oeuvres, spectacular live music, wine and beer talks by local experts, and a fantastic silent auction. See more, visit Wine & Dinosaurs

Faerie Fest 2015

Sun. Sept. 20th

faeriefest3It’s time to dust off your wings, shake out your tutu and grab your pouch of pixie dust~ we’re celebrating the transition from summer into fall at New Castle County’s 3rd Annual Faerie Fest at Rockwood! It’s a magical day that will excite the little ones~ plus, young or old we love an opportunity to play dress-up! See more, Faerie Fest 2015

– 2015 Summer Festivals –

ABOUT: THE BRANDYWINE TREASURE TRAIL PASSPORT

brandywine-treasures-300uw1Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley is a destination marked by sharp contrast. Town and Garden. Past and Present. Historic and Hip. It is these contrasts that make each experience more vibrant, each moment more distinct and each sight more authentic and beautiful. Whatever your mood, whatever your passion, we invite you to experience our perfect mix of history, culture and gardens. Grab a passport to enjoy 11 of the Brandywine Valley’s distinctive cultural attractions, gardens, art museums, and historical sites from Memorial Day through Labor Day with savings of more than $350 if all locations are visited.

Participating Locations:
Brandywine River Museum of Art
Delaware Art Museum
Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts
Delaware Historical Society & Read House*
Delaware Museum of Natural History
Hagley Museum & Library
Longwood Gardens
Mt. Cuba Center
Nemours Mansion & Garden
Rockwood Museum & Park
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library

Individual Passports $45
Family Passports $95 (covers admission for up to 2 adults and 3 children under age 18)
Valid dates:
Passports are valid for use Memorial Day, May 25, 2015 through Labor Day, September 7, 2015. Some Restrictions Apply. Please visit our website for full details and location restrictions in our FAQ.
How to purchase:
Passports may be purchased online at brandywinetreasures.org. Please contact the GWCVB by phone with any online sales questions at 800-489-6664 or email [email protected]. Passports are available for purchase at all 11 of the participating locations.