Events & Happenings

Special Events

The Kalmar Nyckel, docked in Historic New Castle. Photo by Bruce Burk

The Kalmar Nyckel

New Castle is honored to host Delaware’s Tall Ship, The Kalmar Nyckel several times a year during sailing season. The ship docks at the public pier on Delaware Street.

New Castle is a home away from home for the Kalmar Nyckel. To book a sale, or tour the ship call 302-429-7447 or go online to www.booking.kalmarnyckel.org.

Delaware’s Tall Ship, The Kalmar Nyckel will be offering Day sails from the Delaware Street Pier on the following dates.

Book Your Sail Now

May 20th – 21st – 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A Day in Old New Castle (Free Deck Tours)
May 31st – June 5th (Public Sails)
July 13th – July 29th (Public Sails)
September 19th – 21st
October 23rd – 24th

The City of New Castle hosts many events throughout the year. Explore the links below for more information

New Castle Senior Center “Luck of the Irish”
Friday, May 13th 6 – 10 p.m. (Rain date Saturday, May 14th)

Don’t miss this fundraiser to benefit the New Castle Senior Center. Music by Seven Rings will highlight this outdoor cèilidh (Scottish/Gaelic word for gathering with music, singing, and often dancing.) This event will be held in the parking lot. Cost-$25, cash or check.

Fiona’s Irish Fish and Chips food truck will be onsite. Cash bar (no outside beverages allowed.) For tickets or more information, contact Natalie, in person at the Senior Center, by phone at 302-326-4209 or via email at nkaplan@newcastleseniorcenter.com.

Table seating with advanced reservation or bring your own chair!

Annual A Day in Old New Castle* (Third Saturday in May)

Experience Life on the River: Pirates, Colonial Craftsmen, Open Homes & Gardens, and so much more.

Historical Reenactments
Plundering Pirates
Colonial Craftsmen
Music, Performers
Open Museums
Tours of Rarely Open Homes and Gardens
Deck tours of Tall Ships, as available (included with ticket)
and much more!

Separation Day Festival

Separation Day Kickoff Party

Friday, June 10, 2022 6-9:30pm

Enjoy live music, beer, wine, seltzers and non-alcoholic drinks along with food trucks in a block-party setting. Admission is free. Food and drink will be available for purchase with tips benefiting New Castle’s Minquadale and Goodwill volunteer fire departments.

Featured performer: What The Funk

Saturday, June 11, 2022 noon start

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Noon: Parade (Delaware Street)
2pm: Festival & Vintage Market (Battery Park)
2-9:30pm: Live Music (Main Stage, Battery Park)Blues Reincarnation Project (2-3:30pm)
Blue Cat Blues (4:00-5:30pm)
Jimmy Pritchard Band (6:00-7:15)
Big Package (8-9:30pm)
9:30pm: Fireworks (Battery Park)

Separation Day Parade

Progresses along Delaware Street and culminates at the review stand in front of the Courthouse. This Colonial-inspired parade features re-enactors, bands, dance teams, classic cars, local sports teams and non-profits.

Family Festival

Something for everyone in Battery Park featuring live music, games, kid’s rides, exhibitors, food & drink, beer garden featuring craft beer, wine & seltzers. Admission free. Food, drink & ride tickets available for purchase.

NEW THIS YEAR:

Vintage Market

Offering festival attendees an array of vendors with different talents and passions. These vendors range from pickers, makers, shop keepers, collectors, small businesses, bakers, chefs, organic product specialists, craftsman, seamstresses, creatives that work hard to bring you a handmade and one-of-a-kind item, musicians, crafters, artists and hustlers who work so hard to offer a great product. Whether it is, handmade, hand-painted, up-cycled or found, vintage market vendors all share the love of mixing old and new to create something completely unique to their brand and shoppers.
Live Music:
Bands will be performing on Separation Day’s Main Stage from 2pm until the fireworks at 9;30pm. See schedule above
Fireworks:
Spectacular display over the Delaware River beginning at 9:30pm. Bring your own blanket and chair.

Wednesday Night Summer Concerts in Battery Park*

Annual Event – Wednesday night’s from late June through mid-August
Free to the Public – 6:30 p.m.

The Concerts take place on Wednesday evenings, running from late June through mid-August. Grab your blanket or a chair for dinner and music in the park. Information is available at www.historicnewcastle.com.

Outdoor Antique Show*

Last Sunday in August
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Quality dealers from around the country will offer a variety of treasures including Americana, Folk Art, Furniture, Paintings, Prints, Decorative Accessories, Jewelry, Silver, Porcelains, and Lots More. This outdoor show held in Battery Park is sponsored by the Visitor’s Bureau. For more information call 434.361.1770 or go to www.dfshows.com.

Dining in the Street *

This event benefits the New Castle Senior Center.

www.dininginthestreet21.eventbrite.com

Art on the Green*
4th Saturday in September
Annual Arts & Crafts Show in Historic New Castle Delaware

Art on the Green is an annual Art & Craft Show in Historic New Castle Delaware
Started in 1970, it is the 4th Saturday in September, in Battery Park, on the scenic Delaware River.
Sponsored by the New Castle Hundred Lions Club. For more information visit www.artonthegreende.net

First Saturday in October*

October 1st, 2022 will be the 10th annual River Towns Ride & Festival. This unique event provides riders the opportunity to bike between the historic riverfronts of Historic New Castle, Delaware City and Wilmington while earning medals based on distance completed. Go to www.rivertownsfestival.com for more information.

Annual New Castle Beach Clean Up!*

The Annual Beach Clean is rescheduled for October 1st. Check the Sailing Club’s website and Facebook for updated information.
Sponsored by the New Castle Sailing Club
Check the New Castle Sailing Club website and Facebook page for updates about this event.
Everyone is Welcome!

Help clean up the winter debris from the Battery Park Beach area.
Groups and individuals are welcome to help pick up the trash and
debris that has accumulated this winter so we can enjoy this
beautiful park this season! Wear old sturdy shoes, and bring gloves
Gloves and trash bags will be provided. Volunteer Certificates will be available; social distancing and mask rules will be in place.

Third Saturday in October, the New Castle Court House Museum, located at 211 Delaware Street in New Castle, Delaware, will present “William Penn Day,” a day-long series of activities commemorating the anniversary of Penn’s Oct. 27, 1682 disembarkment at New Castle, his first landing in the New World. Admission for all programs is free and open to the public. For additional information, call 302-323-4453.

William Penn Day activities usually include:

— Livery of Seisin ceremony. Historical interpreters re-enact the ceremony in which the town of New Castle, and a 12-mile circle of land surrounding it, were conveyed to William Penn by appointed representatives of the Duke of York.

— “The Tryal of William Penn.” Historical play about the 1670 trial of William Penn who was accused of unlawful assembly and inciting a mob by preaching to a group of Quakers on a London street. Issues of religious freedom and the rights of a jury are explored in this 30-minute performance. Audience members may participate in the trial as witnesses and as members of the jury.

— “The Wives of William Penn.” Historical interpreter will introduce visitors to William Penn’s wives Guliema and Hannah, remarkable women who made possible Penn’s dream of his propriety — Pennsylvania.

Oak Knoll Fest

Oak Knoll sponsors a festival devoted to the book arts and fine printing held in New Castle. Started in 1994, it brings together letterpress printers and book artists, and encourages the artists themselves to represent their work to the public. Held the first weekend in October in even numbered years the festival has typically included: two days of the fine press bookfair, an Oak Knoll bookshop sale, and lectures on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Last week of October
New Castle Hundred Lions Club Annual Halloween Parade
Parade lineup starts at 6:00 p.m. at St. Peters School parking lot. Cash Prizes.
A New Castle Tradition Sponsored by the New Castle Lions Club.

Fridays & Saturdays in October Hauntings in History: Ghostly Walking Tours of Old New Castle

Hauntings in History Walking Tours

If you are brave enough to explore the darker side of New Castle’s history, then join the New Castle Historical Society this October for a journey into New Castle’s supernatural side. You will be guided through New Castle’s darkened streets and alleyways where you will hear macabre tales of hauntings, Victorian death & funeral customs, and crime & punishment that span the almost 370-year history of this Delaware River town.

Visit the New Castle Historical Society’s website for more information on this and their other events and exhibits.

Don’t forget to Shop Small on Small Business Saturday

Shop Small on Saturday, November 27th and all season long. Our local shops have a wide variety of unique gifts, including our museum shops. Our restaurants and services offer gift certificates, which are always a great gift.

Arasapha Wreath Making Workshops: Help decorate Historic New Castle for the Holidays.
Wreath Workshop

Sponsored by Arasapha Garden Club
Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 12 noon-7 p.m.
Thursday, December 2, 2021, 9 a.m. -4 p.m.

Help decorate the wreaths that adorn Historic New Castle, or make one for your own home for only $25. No talent or experience needed! Stop by whenever you can, and we’ll show you what to do. Bring garden clippers and garden gloves if you have them. We also need donations of evergreen clippings from local backyards. For more information, visit www.arasapha.org/holiday-greening.

Come and visit New Castle and see the houses decorated for the season.

New Castle Historical Society

Spirit of Christmas *
Saturday, December 11, 2021
Presented by New Castle Presbyterian Church www.facebook.com/spiritofchristmasDE

Spirit of Christmas 2021

Guest Bartender Night at Jessop’s Tavern*
Jessop’s Tavern
114 Delaware Street

New Castle Senior Center
Guest Bartender Night
Mid January

Proceeds benefit the New Castle Senior Center.

On 1st Saturday in March atTAcK addiction E-Racing the Stigma 5K/Rally comes to New Castle. March 4th, 2023 will be the atTAcK addiction 5-k’s 10th year in New Castle.

Visit their website for pictures of the 2022 atTAcK addiction E-Racing the Stigma 5K

Please note that there will be significant traffic restrictions and road closures in town during this event, so check back for updated information regarding traffic restrictions on that morning.

Easter Parade
Sunday, April 17th – 1:00 p.m. on The Green

The New Castle Hundred Lions will once again hold their annual Easter Parade on the Green.

Don’t miss the candy, fun and prizes!

This New Castle tradition is sponsored by the New Castle Hundred Lions Club.

Arasapha May Market – 80th Anniversary
Friday, May 6th & Saturday, May 7th
(First Friday & Saturday in May)

www.arasapha.org/may-market

Market Square – Behind New Castle Town Hall
201 Delaware Street, New Castle DE

Looking for the perfect plant for your garden? A special herb for your kitchen or a unique bargain for your home? How about a Mother’s Day gift? You’ll find all this and more at May Market, a New Castle tradition celebrating its 80th Anniversary in 2022. Come early for the best selection and stay for a lovely day in Historic New Castle! Free gardening advice is available and credit cards are accepted. Proceeds benefit the gardens of New Castle’s historic Amstel and Dutch Houses and support Arasapha programs.

*Annual Event

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Events & Happenings