It’s a Monster Mash
It’s time for Halloween! Time for excited kids to don costumes and roam the streets acting out cowgirl or cowboy fantasies. Time for parents in monster garb to pass out treats to cute little princesses, ghosts, and ghouls. Time for exhausted young ones to dump the booty onto the floor and separate chocolate bars from the awful stuff they give to their little siblings. Oh, who am I kidding. It’s time for adult CANDY!!!
Oh, c’mon. Who among you doesn’t buy extra candy so that there will be some for you the next day? Who among you doesn’t hide said candy from your children so they won’t go into sugar shock (oh, sure)? Who among you doesn’t start rationing your giveaways on Halloween night, giving kids the lousy stuff your significant other bought so that you’re sure there will be leftovers of the good stuff?
Hmmm…I probably shouldn’t have said all that out loud.
One of the greatest things about Halloween besides the sweets is the fun stuff that Rehoboth and the surrounding area offers kids and adults—all designed to scare the wits out of our youngsters or get the older crowd pleasantly tipsy. Here are a few. (Note that some of these events require payment, masks, registration, and/or jackets. Check their websites before venturing out.)
Any conversation about Halloween in Rehoboth this year starts with the 31st Annual Sea Witch® Festival. The festival was postponed last year because of the blankety-blank pandemic, and the streets and boardwalk seemed lonely through the empty days at the end of October. But this year, Sea Witch comes back, stronger than ever. There will be expanded entertainment, kids’ activities, pumpkin carving contests with night glow, the Apple Cider Donut Chomp game, Friday Bicycle Flight, and more. There is the famous parade, contests, magic shows, monster art, and trick-or-treating. The three-day event (October 29 through 31) is the perfect way to celebrate Halloween, both for kids and adults.
There are many other events to whet your appetite for Halloween. Try cooking Halloween recipes with cooking classes (for adults), drinking until you drop with the special Halloween pub crawl (absolutely for adults, and don’t drop for goodness’ sake), or attending a spooky Halloween party (adult; I will be attending).
What about the kids? There are plenty of family-friendly events. How about the Best Costumed Dog Parade Contest on the Boardwalk? October 31 at 1:00 p.m. Or the kid-friendly activities at the Convention Center and First Street Station? October 31, 10:00 a.m-5:00 p.m. Plenty of fun at every turn!
Another great attraction for the kids at the festival is Howl-ween. Great name. There is a photoshoot at the Canalside Inn in Rehoboth. Bring your pet, take your pet’s picture, and play doggie dress-up in front of multiple settings including haunted hay, ghosts, and ghouls. Sounds like my college days. October 31 at 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Then there’s Spooky Scary Story Time! at the Rehoboth Beach Library. The SSST! is a special story time before the Sea Witch Parade. All ages welcome; costumes are encouraged. I will be there; I probably will shriek louder than any of the kids. October 30 at 10:15 a.m.
Don’t miss The Jimmies (although I desperately want to call them the Sprinkles). They recreate music from the 80s for fun-loving crowds all over the East coast. Take the cue and catch The Jimmies at the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand. October 30 at 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
For the hardiest of adults, there’s Boos & Brews. As its name suggests, there is scary stuff AND liquor to be had on the historic campus of the Lewes Historical Society. You will find food and drink from local eateries, breweries, and vineyards. As you wander the grounds, you will encounter frightening stories of historic Lewes folks, plus music and more entertainment.
Wear a costume…you will judged. Will you be Scariest? Most Original? Most Uncomfortable? Most Embarrassed? OK, I made up the last two. If you’re 21+, share in the fun! October 29, 7-10 p.m.
Finally, cap off your Halloween with the last weekend of Clear Space Theatre’s wildly fun production of The Rocky Horror Show. Clear Space calls the show a “kitschy rock ‘n’ roll, sci-fi gothic musical.” What more could you ask for? October 29 at 7 p.m., October 30 at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., and October 31 at 2 p.m.
Remember, as you celebrate Halloween this year with your family and friends, kids and grown-ups alike, be thankful for: big coat pockets. So good for hiding handfuls of Snickers from those kids and grown-ups who would gladly steal them if you gave them half a chance. And thus, Halloween 2021 begins. Boo!!! ▼
Michael Gilles is a playwright, actor, and director from Milton, and a regular contributor to Letters from CAMP Rehoboth. ▼
Photo by Bruno Guerrero on Unsplash