It’s getting to be a great time of the summer: festival time.
All over Sussex County, folks are firing up barbecue pits and putting the finishing touches on arts and crafts as musicians make a few final runs at their material in preparation for an evening concert.
We love music, and there will be plenty in the air at all of the major happenings, and from late July straight on through August and even into the early fall, the best of Sussex will be on display in its many corners.
But don’t get it twisted: we’re mainly in it for the food. From fresh-pulled, barbecued pork sandwiches to empanadas and horchata, we’re ready to eat:
• Big Thursday: Millsboro’s annual summer celebration, Aug. 14-16, has settled nicely in to Cupola Park over the past few years, and in addition to the great food, local and regional acts from Seaford’s Jones Boys and Sussex singer Cathy Gorman to the Nanticoke Indian dancers and the Plenty Problems Steel Pan band.
• AFRAM Festival: Taking place Aug. 8-9 at Nutter Park in Seaford, the yearly celebration of African-American heritage, with performances by the Zion Reggae Band on Aug. 8 and TNT Baltimore Street, a steel drum ensemble, on Aug. 9, in addition to a Friday-night local talent showcase, basketball challenge and fish fry on the Thursday prior, and Miss AFRAM Pageant.
• Festival Hispano: Millsboro gets the lion’s share each summer, playing host to both Big Thursday and the Aug. 24 Festival Hispano, a day-long celebration of Hispanic food, music and culture, hosted by El Centro Cultural at the W.B. Atkins Little League Park. Performances by groups ranging from Mexico to and Andes Mountains take the stage at regular intervals, and you won’t find a better value for your dollar between the roasted corn, spicy marinated pork, empanadas and tacos.
And this is to make no mention of beach happenings, Milton’s Aug. 24 Bargains on the Broadkill and Great Duck Race and the Nanticoke Indian Powwow in the early fall.
So skip breakfast and get ready to enjoy some of what Sussex County’s festivals have to offer!
