Lewes Independence Boat Parade to set sail July 4

The City of Lewes will continue its long tradition of hosting old-fashioned games for children on Second Street beginning at 9 a.m., Monday, July 4.  For the safety of the participants, Second Street will be closed while the games are in progress and will reopen at the conclusion of the games.  

Following the games, the Lewes Independence Day Boat Parade will wind its way down the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal from Roosevelt Inlet to Fisherman’s Wharf as part of the City of Lewes’ Fourth of July holiday festivities. Dr. Nancy Targett has been named the parade’s honorary grand marshal to honor her service to the Lewes community for 33 years. Prior to serving as the acting president at the University of Delaware, Targett was the dean of the university’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment at the Lewes campus. She just completed her term as president. Although she has accepted the position of provost and vice president of academic affairs at the University of New Hampshire effective Sept. 1, she and her husband Tim plan to keep their Lewes home. She has also served on the Greater Lewes Foundation Board of Directors since 2001.

The parade entrants will leave from Roosevelt Inlet across from the Coast Guard Station at 1:30 p.m. and reach the judges’ reviewing stand at Fisherman’s Wharf at approximately 2 p.m. Mayor Ted Becker will announce the parade with amplification in the area of Fisherman’s Wharf and the City Dock. The parade judges are members of City Council, board directors from the Lightship Overfalls Foundation and the Lewes Chamber of Commerce. This is the 13th year that the Lewes Chamber of Commerce and the Overfalls Foundation have jointly sponsored the Independence Day Boat Parade.

All preregistered boat entrants will be eligible for prizes that include a unique hand-carved figurine by local carver Bert Long, a member of the organizing committee.  The figurine will be awarded to the most creatively decorated boat.  First-, second- and third-place ribbons will also be awarded. All boat entrants will receive merchandise prizes from the Overfalls Foundation. Boats will be judged on the best use of patriotic decorations.

At the conclusion of the parade, all boat entrants are invited to attend the Awards Ceremony at 3:30 p.m. on the deck of the Lightship Overfalls.  To be eligible for a prize, the vessel must be registered prior to 10 a.m., July 4.

Registration forms will be available at the Lewes Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center in the Fisher-Martin House in Zwaanendael Park, at Pilottown Marina on Pilottown Road and the Lewes Harbour Marina Bait and Tackle at the end of Anglers Road.  For more information, call 302-645-8073.  Late, unregistered entries are invited to join the parade by arriving at Roosevelt Inlet at 1:30 p.m, tuning a VHF radio to channel 65 and following instructions.

There is no charge to participate as an entrant in the boat parade or to be a spectator.  Good viewing spots line the canal on both sides and go on a first-come basis.