How to Cover All Events at the Annual Nanticoke Riverfest

Seaford, Delaware, a quiet town of around 7,000, is positioned along the Nanticoke River in southwest Delaware. Each summer, during the second weekend in July, Seaford hosts the 3-day Nanticoke Riverfest. The idea for the Riverfest came from a 1993 tubing trip (also known as a “float-in.”) down the Nanticoke River by a few friends. In 1994, the “few friends” became 50 and with them came food vendors – a festival was born. By 2007, the Nanticoke Riverfest float-in had 600 participants tubing down the river and 10,000 coming to participant in the festivities that include entertainment, food, live music, and so much, much more!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sun screen lotion
• Light jacket (maybe) for night time events
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Camera to record memories
• Wallet – lots of things to buy!

1. Check out www.nanticokeriverfest.com to get an event schedule. There’s a lot going on and some events overlap so you will have to decide what most captures your attention.

2. 
   Delmarva Pennisula

   Locate Seaford, Delaware, which is in the heart of the Delmarva Peninsula, and on route 13. Lodging is available in Seaford and near by communities. One of the most popular events of the Nanticoke Riverfest is the canoe and kayak challenge, bringing people in from out-of-state to participant.

3. 
   Nanticoke Riverfest Character

   The Nanticoke Riverfest begins on a Thursday evening when the children’s carnival rides open. The streets of downtown Seaford are closed to traffic for vendors to setup and to allow foot traffic. If you don’t have kids, come down to scope out the area and checkout the vendors. Parking is free.

4. 
   Duck Dash

   Friday, the second day of the Nanticoke Riverfest, the festivities pickup. You’ll find merchants selling jewelry, paintings, and scores of other gifts and products. The food vendors will send your nose into overdrive, wafting in all the fabulous aromas from funnel cake and cotton candy to scrapple and oyster sandwiches. And don’t miss the fire department’s outstanding barbeque chicken; and the crab cakes. The no-charge night time concert, which has seen more than 2,000 in attendance, brings dancing in the streets.

5. Saturday, the festivities of food and merchants continues. This is where you’ll really need to pull out your Nanticoke Riverfest schedule of events to pick and choose your favorites. Event schedules are available at the information booth. There are scores of children’s’ activities and rides, car and motorcycle shows, Seaford Museum tours, Nanticoke Indians in tribal garb will perform traditional Indian dances, and there’s much more to check out!! And there’s yet another no-charge evening concert that brings thousands of music lovers.

6. 
   Float-In

   For those coming to also participate in festival activities, there’s the Little Miss beauty pageant, youth fishing tournament, the duck dash, the float-in, 5K cross country, canoe and kayak challenge, treasure hunt, talent contest, and more, more, more!

7. Takes lots of pictures, and buy gifts and food for family and friends. You’ll be taking home memories of an exciting visit to the Nanticoke Riverfest and plans for next year’s visit!

Tips & Warnings

• Get the Nanticoke Riverfest event schedule and other Riverfest information at http://www.nanticokeriverfest.com.
• Remember to wear comfortable walking shoes and sun screen, and keep hydrated; drink water.

Resources

• Nanticoke Riverfest Website