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30th annual Sea Witch Festival takes over Rehoboth
From the convention center to the Boardwalk, family fun everywhere
Sally the Sea Witch makes her final parade stroll down Rehoboth Avenue Oct. 26 during the 30th annual festival. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
October 30, 2019
The 30th annual Sea Witch Festival haunted Rehoboth Beach Oct. 25-27, with old-fashioned kids games on the beach, horse rides on the beach, indoor and outdoor vendors, live entertainment at the Bandstand. After kicking off Oct. 25, the festival continued Oct. 26 with the highlight of the weekend – the costume parade. The hour-and-a-half-long parade had dozens of groups dressed in costumes, parade floats, parade balloons, local elected officials and many local businesses participating. Most importantly, Mother Nature cooperated so the sea witch balloon was able to have one last ride down Rehoboth Avenue.
The Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce announced early Oct. 27 that all the day’s outdoor events had been cancelled, including the Pet Parade.
Chamber accepting costumed dog photos until Nov. 8
Since the Sea Witch Costumed Dog Parade was cancelled due to inclement weather, the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce will be accepting photo submissions of costumed dogs to be judged. Photos should be emailed to events@beach-fun.com by Friday, Nov. 8. Submissions will be judged Tuesday, Nov. 12, and winners will be posted on the chamber’s website and Facebook page. For more information, contact the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce at 302-227-6446.
The Sea Witch pirate ship has a crew of local scalawags. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Chase Mears of Rehoboth Beach is dressed as Pennywise, the evil clown from the hit horror movie “It.” RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Parade prize-winner Leighanna Dougherty of Millville, N.J., is on a mermaid throne. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Joey Juliano of Blackwood, N.J., has a handmade tank to drive on the parade route. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Mom Larisa Jack applies makeup to her daughter, Olivia, before the parade starts. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
The Fairway Village dancing hippos provide laughs as they bounce along the parade route. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Dressed as oyster cans are (l-r) Kim, Madeline and Tony Newman of Lancaster, Pa. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Sea Witch Parade watchers spell out the festival using Scrabble pieces. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Members of Rise Fitness exercise along the parade route. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Luca Lord-Buchanan of Falls Church, Va., is dressed as a young pilot. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Cub Scouts dressed in a variety of costumes take part in the Sea Witch Parade. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Fred and Wilma Flintstone push their “prehistoric car” down Rehoboth Avenue. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
The Addams Family strikes a pose right out of the new hit movie. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
The Nur Shriners’ mini choppers cruise down Rehoboth Avenue. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
The Woodland String Band Mummers from Philadelphia have become one of the most popular Sea Witch Festival performers. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
The Beatles yellow submarine rolls along the parade route. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Pieces from The Game of Life march along the parade route. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
If it’s Rehoboth Beach, there has to be a Funland parade entry. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
The Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce dolphin and wicked whale lead the parade. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Community Bank’s Jack Riddle is not handing out money, but candy is preferred by the hundreds of youngsters lining the Sea Witch Parade route. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
A cadre of circus performers take part in the parade. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Witches are definitely the characters of the day during Sea Witch. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Big Oyster Brewey has some spooktacular local brews. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Spooky Pez characters pose for a photograph before the parade starts. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
A terrifying ghoul walks along Rehoboth Avenue before the parade gets underway. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Sally the Sea Witch flies high, ready to start the parade. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
It’s best not to mess with Team Menopause, including Weepy, Nasty and Denial. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Marching cards are almost a full house, but not quite. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Epworth United Methodist Church has a stuffed-animal Noah’s ark on wheels. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
If you haven’t seen the movie “Slap Shot,” you wouldn’t recognize the Hanson brothers. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Ready for the Day of the Dead are Larisa, Olivia and Molly Jack of Leesport, Pa. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Cereal Killers are dressed as Fruit Loops and leprechauns, but they are not magically delicious. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
A huge crowd lines Rehoboth Avenue to watch the 30th annual Sea Witch Costume Parade. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Dressed as a Dole pineapple, Minni Pettengell hands out candy along the parade route. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Sussex Eye Center’s skeleton crew keeps its eyes on a large skull balloon. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Tall Cedars of Lebanon members drive their mini-cars in the parade. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Members of the Tulpehocken Junior-Senior High School Marching Band from Bethel, Pa., take part in the parade. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Dressed as Gru of movie “Despicable Me” fame, a U.S. Postal Service employee has a special delivery. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Magonlia Applebottom, the 2019 Best Rehoboth Drag Queen, is one hot slice on the gettaPizzathis float. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. employees are dressed up with an underseas theme, complete with the Beatles’ yellow submarine. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Balloons line the Sea Witch Costume Parade route. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Yes, that’s a large pizza slice walking on Rehoboth Avenue giving high-fives during the parade. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Members of Jefferson Lodge and Delaware Masons take part in the parade. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
A menacing inflatable cat sits atop a DART bus as he navigates the parade route. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
The Lisa Mathena Group has a tricked-up Batmobile. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
The Kutztown, Pa., High School Band takes part in the annual Sea Witch Costume Parade. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
The Rehoboth Beach Sunrise Rotary Club has a happy jack-o-lantern on its float. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
All Saints’ Parish Thrift Store’s truck is decked out in Halloween decorations with “inmates” handing out candy. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Dogfish Head employees are pushing a larger-than-life-four-pack down Rehoboth Avenue. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Elroy Elk has the best view of the parade sitting on the Cape Henlopen Elks Lodge 2540 float. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Two skeletons are ready to take an Urban Float. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
What’s a Sea Witch parade without zombies? Ocean Glass Inn takes care of that with its parade entry. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
DelDOT’s Wally Work Zone is dressed for the Halloween season. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
The Grim Reaper is the dead last participant in the Sea Witch Costume Parade. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Camp Arrowhead kids sing camp songs during the parade. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Having the most fun of anyone, youngsters jump on a Shell We Bounce trampoline during the parade. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Dawn Beach holds the horse still while Harper MacPherson, 5 of Bear, smiles before her ride. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
You should go home and change if you and a group of friends are dressed in Elton John’s elaborate outfits and the song Sad Songs comes on and you don’t break out in a group karaoke. Fortunately, these folks didn’t disappoint. Pictured are, l-r, Lynn Yonushka, Michael Porter, Steven Sabia, Donna Dubendorf, Joseph Richter and Ray Owlett. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
The folks from Williams Blacksmithing get the pit hot and ready. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Milton’s L.B. Harrington shows no mercy on the pumpkin seed during the spitting contest in the Grub’s Grocery parking lot. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
It’s all hands, and feet, on deck for All Saints’ Church organist Jackson Borges during the annual Spooktacular. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Edward Stephen-Hassard, 3, of West Virginia, hula hoops during the kids games on the beach. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Rehoboth’s Juliet J. Webster and her purple hula hoop was the last one standing for her age group. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
For all the costume parade participants, there were just as many who didn’t participate but decided to dress up anyway, like Rick Heffner, left, and Andy Hight, both from Alexandria, Va. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Jamie Morningstar and Nancy Descano get up and dance during The British Invasion Experience show. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Evelyn Summer, 7 of Pennsylvania, focuses on the final touches of her mask at the First Street Station kids’ zone. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Many people, including Brad and Loretta Jergensen of Baltimore, got their picture taken with the sea witch before the parade. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Maryland’s Sharon Ellecamp paid $1 to get kisses from bulldog Brewster. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Henry Stephen-Hassard, 5 of West Virginia, makes his way down the beach while keeping the noodle between his legs. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Shawn Kelley, of Middletown, shows good form as he unleashes a 38-foot seed spit. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Olivia Norman, 6 of Pennsylvania, actually balances the peanut while walking. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
It’s hard to see where you’re going with a peanut on your nose and hand covering your eyes, but Andrew Gaska, 6 of Voorhees, N.J., managed to make it to the end. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Organist Jackson Borges entertained a full crowd. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Vendor Karen and the Nut were making candy-coated pecans onsite. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
There will be live entertainment at the Bandstand all weekend. Junior Wilson and Chatty get the show started. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Sophia Sawicki, Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce memership representative, waves the starting flag for the bike roll. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Sussex County EMS Bike Medic Bonnie O’Bier escorts Katie and Chase Gifford down the Boardwalk. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Many of the businesses have decorations, including Gus & Gus. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
The 30th annual Sea Witch Festival has kicked off in Rehoboth Beach. Here Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce mascot Smiley gets a smile from Teddy Mann, a 2-year-old from Lancaster, Pa., during the Tyke Bike Roll on the Boardwalk. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Reese McElroy, 2 from Wilmington, N.C., and her M&Ms match the fall-themed scene outside the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
A new attraction this year for Sea Witch is indoor vending at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. Sherree Miller of Gettysburg, Pa., is excited about the sequin-covered witch’s hat. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
James Moyer, 5 of Westminster, Md., leads the pack during his age group’s bike roll. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
In addition to the indoor vending at the convention center, there’s a kid’s corner. Here Evan Rojas, 11 of New Jersey, decorates a trick or treat bag. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
The kids pile in as Rehoboth Toy & Kite owner Rachel Webster yells, “All aboard.” CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Larry Lanouette, aka Engineer Larry, takes off with the passengers. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Lucia Sorto, 5 of Germantown, Md., and Hazel Leeds, 2 of Chevy Chase, Md., get ready for a ride on the train. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
It's Rise Up Coffee's first Sea Witch Festival and they've certainly gotten into the spirit. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Holly Piper-Smith is ready for trick-or-treaters, dressed as Alice in Wonderland at the Sussex Family YMCA Trunk-or-Treat. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Costumed trick-or-treaters take part in carnival games at the Sussex Family YMCA in Rehoboth Beach. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Demi Hopkins is dressed as a pretty princess at the Sussex Family YMCA Trunk-or-Treat. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Marley Campanese is a fast cup stacker as she shows her skill during the Sussex Family YMCA Trunk-or-Treat. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Officer Austin Coulter is a SWAT member who has his mother, Rebecca, in “custody” at the Sussex Family YMCA Halloween event. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
A hideous creature rides atop The Salted Rim float. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Well-known Elvis impersonator, Frank Raines, is the Sea Witch Costume Parade emcee. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Youngsters make sand art at the one of the many vendors surrounding the Bandstand in downtown Rehoboth Beach during the Sea Witch Festival. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Large crowds listened to a variety of music all day on Oct. 26, including The British Invasion Experience. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
The iconic Sea Witch balloon - aka Sally the Sea Witch - makes its way down Rehoboth Avenue. EDWIN KRUMM PHOTO
It’s all fun and games for this playful octopus balloon. EDWIN KRUMM PHOTO
