This is the labor day issue of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, and with its publication we start counting down the days remaining in the summer season. This time of year is always a little bittersweet; we’re sad to see the summer go, but looking forward to the beautiful fall shoulder season. Just because the high season is over, doesn’t mean that everything comes to a halt here, and for many of us autumn is the best time of year to enjoy all that Rehoboth has to offer.
Sundance has for many of us, for many years, been a ceremonial, end-of-the-summer event, and this year’s Sundance theme Rainbow Rites 23–Tribal Revival is a reminder of the many friends and beach house “clans” we have here at the beach. Sundance is the biggest single fundraising event for the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center and I encourage everyone to come to either one or to both nights of the event. The first night is the Sundance Live and Silent Auction, with over 500 items, food by Nourish, and an open bar all night. The second night is the huge Sundance itself, with music by Mark Thomas and Lights by Paul Turner—also with an open bar all night. In his CAMPmatters column, Murray writes about the Dance, the Auction, and a few of the secrets of the Sundance experience. Tickets for Sundance are available online at camprehoboth.com, or by calling the CAMP office. To volunteer for the event, call the CAMP office or fill out the volunteer sign-up form on our website.
Another Labor Day weekend tradition is the outrageously fun drag volleyball on Poodle Beach. With their carefully guarded secret themes, the two teams always delight the crowd that assembles to cheer them on to victory. Drag Volleyball takes place on Sunday, September 5 at 1 p.m. on Poodle Beach (south of Queen Street). Keep up with the teams at Rehoboth Beach Drag Volleyball on Facebook.
FromAugust 27-October 3, the CAMP Rehoboth artists’ group presents a figurative art exhibition titled Figuratively Speaking. Featuring the work of over 25 artists, the show takes a fresh look at the diversity of figurative art in our area and presents work in a variety of mediums. The exhibit is at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center, with a mid-run reception on September 11, from 5-8 p.m.
Looking ahead to September, make plans now to attend the 14th annual Delaware Pride Festival on Saturday, September 18 at Cape Henlopen State Park. For Pride members the admission is free; general admission is $5. This year’s Pride Festival features entertainment by American Idol’s Kimberley Locke, Frenchie Davis, Brendan Velasquez, and more. For information on Delaware Pride, go to Delawarepride.org.
This summer, the CAMP Rehoboth 2010 Long Range Planning Team began the process that will develop our goals and strategies for the next five years. The work of the team will culminate with the publication of The CAMP Report 2010 in the spring of 2011. In preparation, a preliminary report on the successes and/or failures of our goals and strategies from the previous five year plan (2005) will be completed and published before the end of this year. Many thanks to the LRP team and especially to Mary Helms of Coachwise for her help in focusing our planning process.
I mentioned earlier that the off season is a great time to be in Rehoboth Beach. Make plans now for the Rehoboth Beach Autumn Jazz Festival, October 13-17; the 21st Annual Sea Witch Festival, October 29-31; and the 13th Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival, November 10-14. As always, CAMP Rehoboth is a major sponsor of the Film Festival, so watch for previews in the pages of this magazine throughout the fall season. On October 23, CAMP Rehoboth and the Film Society will present the next Another Take, our LGBT mini-Film Festival—watch for details.