Return Day is a unique Sussex tradition
Return Day in Georgetown is a truly unique Sussex County tradition that dates back about 230 years to 1792, a year after the county seat was moved from Lewes to the newly-created town of Georgetown. At that time, Delaware law required all county voters to cast their ballots in the county seat.
It's about 230 years because the first year is a best guess by historians. Others claim the event's origins date back to 1811.
In any case, organizers said it's the only such event in the country and has been a legal half-day holiday in Delaware since 1965.
So why Return (not Returns) Day?
Voters were required to cast their election ballots in Georgetown and then return two days later to hear the results, hence the name Return Day. The day quickly turned into a celebration. It's held every two years on the Thursday following the election.
Eventually voting districts were established, but votes were still counted at the county seat and the voters and candidates would return to Georgetown to learn the results of the election two days before.
The highlight of the day is the annual parade, which is a Republican tradition. While the parade route includes most of downtown, most people gather on The Circle to see the election winners and losers of each race, many riding together in horse-drawn carriages, antique cars or convertibles. The winners face forward while the losers face backwards.
Taking part in the parade are high school and college bands, civic organizations, businesses, sports teams and dance groups.
Following the parade, politicians gather together on the large Return Day stage as political party chairs literally bury the hatchet in Lewes beach sand to honor the first county seat from 1682 to 1791.
While the parade is the highlight, Georgetown shuts down the area around The Circle all day to make way for food vendors and entertainment. Music kicks off the event Wednesday night on The Circle from 6:30-10:30 p.m.
Nearly every office in Georgetown is closed and parties for employees, family members, friends and clients are commonplace.
Over the years, food vendors have become a vital part of the celebration. Although opossum and rabbit meat are not served – as they were in the late 1800s – there is still a wide variety and vendors and food trucks set up just off The Circle.
As tradition dictates, free roast ox sandwiches (a Democrat tradition) are given away following the ceremony when election results are read by the town crier from the balcony of the Sussex County Courthouse.
Even in the days when everyone knows returns on election night, the popularity of Return Day does not waiver.
Return Day trivia
It's rare that Return Day is canceled. Ironically, the 2020 event was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic as was the 1918 event because of the Spanish Flu. The event was also canceled in 1942 and 1946 because of World War II.
There are conflicting historical accounts when Return Day returned following the war. The Georgetown Historical Society recently posted a 1948 photo of Nutter Marvel riding horseback as the grand marshal. However, most historians agree the parade did not return until Democrats and Republicans gathered together to bring back the parade in 1952.
One of the most memorable events took place in 2008 when newly-elected Vice President Joe Biden rode in the parade. Everyone who ventured near The Circle had be screened and scanned.
The most recognizable face of Return Day is Rosalie Walls, who first got involved in the event in 1972 and has been a driving force ever since.
For more information, go to returnday.org. The Return Day office is located at the Georgetown Historical Society's Nutter Carriage Museum, where the carriages used in the parade are on display.
