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Spirits shine for Rehoboth’s Sea Witch parade

Painted in bright green, Hilda the Sea Witch is an eye-catcher.
Chris Flood
October 25, 2025

It may have been a little chilly, but the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce brought the heat with its 35th Annual Sea Witch costume parade Oct. 25.

Rehoboth Avenue was packed with tens of thousands of visitors who watched a parade that was over an hour long and featured dozens of Halloween floats and costumed ghouls from local businesses and individuals who love this time of year.

The parade was created by chamber President Carol Everhart, who is set to retire at the end of the year after more than three decades with the organization. Busy making sure the day runs smoothly, Everhart didn’t have much to say about this year being her last parade.

“The sun is shining and so am I,” said Everhart. “There are a lot of smiles.”

For a full list of costume winners, go to beach-fun.com/images/2025_SW_Costume_Parade_Winner_List_10.27.25.pdf

These two are dressed as characters from “Where the Wild Things Are,” but they are hardly the only wild things in attendance.
The wind instruments section of the Cape Henlopen High School marching band passes by.
A gardener, some flowers and a bee before the parade. Shown are (l-r) Beth Pearson, Sarah Beatty, Rachel Milburn, Paulene Scalvino, Sue Wilson, Fran Daly and Sarah Skorpinski.
Hanna Warfield makes her way down Rehoboth Avenue dressed as Hiccup riding Toothless from “How to Train Your Dragon.”
Preston Russell, center, and a few of his closest friends enjoy the parade.
A.J. Kincaid, 17 months, takes a nap while mom Jennie Kincaid pulls him along.
Matt Fox, center in white sweatshirt, celebrates after making one of the rings onto the soda bottles that are part of Funland’s float.
That’s a lot of hippos that need to use the tub to get clean.
The largest container of Thrasher’s french fries ever made.
Dozens and dozens of fire, police, EMS and other emergency personnel are on hand to make sure things went smoothly. Shown are (l-r) Millsboro Police Department officer Gavin Mullen, Rehoboth Beach Police Department officer Timothy Chan, Rehoboth Beach Police Department officer Kamryn Linsenbigler, Rehoboth Beach Police Department officer Joe Mulhern, Rehoboth Beach Police Department officer Brian Reynolds, Rehoboth Beach Police Department officer Ethan Buttridge, Rehoboth Beach Police Department officer James Ellinger and Laurel Police Department officer Spencer Sukar.
This big DelDOT plow just looks nicer in pink.
Young paradegoers sit like vultures ready for candy to be thrown their way.
Janelle Collins performs as Ursula for the Sussex Pride float.
Dressed as Marie Antoinette, Cheryl Drach looks over Sea Witch T-shirts.
There must be some Dallas Cowboys fans in the crowd, because there are still some boos as Tristan Foster holds up 6-month-old son Banks Foster.
Mike Firetti does his best scaring witch impression.
Woody’s owner Jimmy O’Conor dresses as Woody from “Toy Story.”
The Woodland String Band from Philadelphia always brings a good show.
The parade is over, so the Delaware State Police Mounted Patrol Unit brings up the rear.
There were thousands of kids lining the parade route looking for candy, including 15-month-old Declan Backus and 4-year-old Cameran Backus, who are with mom Christin Backus.
Dressed as Buster Moon from “Sing,” Blake Drew hands out candy.
Dressed in bright orange, these three Loraxes are hard to miss. Shown are (l-r) Rachael Pietkiewicz, Rebecca Gianforcaro and Sarah Leister.
The parade balloons are blown up and ready for action.
Judges have a hard job this year. Shown are (l-r) Rehoboth Beach Mayor Stan Mills, Rehoboth Beach Commissioner Patrick Gossett, Southern Delaware Tourism Executive Director Scott Thomas, Dewey Beach Town Manager Bill Zolper and Dewey Beach Commissioner Paul Bauer.
Paolo Damiano soars down Rehoboth Avenue.
Dressed in her Hello Kitty overalls, Jill Ridgaway sneaks out to take a picture.
With the fragile stuff taken care of, Marie Murray sets up another table for more fun.
Reilly Reeves is happy to be handing out candy to Aliyah Salifou.
The price is always right for Anastasia and Don Resnik.
Mike Ward stands guard on the Sea Witch pirate ship float.
Hilda the Sea Witch is on the move, so the parade has begun.
There are plenty of activities to do in the Bandstand area, near the Boardwalk.
The 35th annual Sea Witch parade took place Oct. 25. Hilda the Sea Witch makes her way down Rehoboth Avenue.

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Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.

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