Despite storm threat, Rehoboth fireworks go off perfectly

Severe weather stayed just north of city so display could happen as planned for thousands

A storm threatened to ruin the fireworks display in Rehoboth Beach July 2, but it never came and the fireworks went off without a hitch. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTOS

Chris Flood

July 3, 2023

Story Location:
Rehoboth Beach Bandstand

Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
United States

Rehoboth Beach hosted its annual fireworks display July 2. Tens of thousands of people lined the beach, Boardwalk and Bandstand area to watch the 20-minute display. A looming thunderstorm system approached as the designated time neared, but miraculously the storm stayed north and everyone remained dry.

The Rehoboth fireworks were the first of a number of events taking place in the Cape Region for the holiday. Don’t miss these events taking place Tuesday, July 4.

Lewes

Fourth of July in Lewes will offer a bevy of fun and games for all ages, starting with the Old-Fashioned Children’s Games at 9 a.m. on Second Street. An Independence Day Boat Parade will start at 1:30 p.m., with judging at Fisherman’s Wharf.

The Annual Doo-Dah Parade will step off in the vicinity of Lloyd's Market at 5 p.m., and the Go Fourth fireworks celebration will blast off at dusk from a barge off Lewes Beach. Call 302-645-8073 or go to leweschamber.com or gofourthlewes.org for more information.

Go Fourth fireworks organizers encourage attendees to arrive early to find parking. There will be no parking along Savannah Road and Cape Henlopen Drive.

Bridges to Lewes Beach will be closed to eastbound traffic for safety and traffic control. Pedestrians, bicycles and outbound/westbound traffic will be able to use the bridges. The Savannah Road bridge will close to vehicular traffic at 7 p.m. The Freeman Highway bridge will close to vehicular traffic at 8 p.m. Lewes Beach residents wishing to use the bridge after 7 p.m. should use Freeman Highway. No one will be permitted to watch the fireworks from the bridge.

Vehicles will be held for at least a half-hour following the fireworks show to allow pedestrians and cyclists to leave. Lewes Beach traffic will go directly out on Savannah Road after the show. There will be no turns onto Gills Neck Road, Pilottown Road and Kings Highway, to keep traffic moving efficiently. Cape Henlopen Drive traffic will leave via Freeman Highway.

The Lewes Line will cease operations at 7 p.m.

A rain date of Wednesday, July 5 is set.

For more information or to donate toward next year’s show, go to gofourthlewes.org.

Dewey Beach

Fireworks will light the sky over Rehoboth Bay to celebrate Independence Day in Dewey Beach Tuesday, July 4, as has been tradition in recent years.

Highway One Companies President Alex Pires has sponsored the annual fireworks display since 2013. It is typically launched from a barge in the bay in front of Northbeach/Ivy, two blocks north of the Rusty Rudder, and visible throughout town.

Milton

The Milton Chamber of Commerce will host the annual Bring Mayberry Back to Milton festival in Memorial Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 4.

This festival is free for all to attend and will feature entertainment, food, games, dunk tanks, water balloon fights, pie-eating contests, train rides and more. For updates, go to historicmilton.com under Events.

Thousands of people get an up-close look from the beach.

As usual, the Boardwalk is elbow to elbow during the display.

Before the fireworks, the Boardwalk is swarmed with people.

That’s not a spotlight behind the Star of Sea – that’s lightning.

The display is set off from New Castle Street.

The Funsters drummer Ed Shockley leads the way on this song.

High tide was about two hours before the fireworks went off, which makes the beach a bit narrow for those who set up early.

The city moved the fireworks farther south this year.

This was the first fireworks display for Rehoboth Beach City Manager Laurence Christian, left, while Rehoboth Beach Police Chief Keith Banks is a veteran of the craziness.

Zambelli Fireworks does its work from a safe distance behind the orange fence.

The horse racing game at Funland is always a popular way for families to pass the time before the fireworks.

Post 5 Sons of the American Legion had its annual burger and hot dog sale. Shown are (l-r) American Legion Post 5 Commander Tom Dahl, Sons of the American Legion member Terry Wieczorek, Sons of the American Legion member Brian Laird, Sons of the American Legion member Curtis Mitchell and Sons of the American Legion member John Fogelgren.

Like a dad saving the beach supplies, the crew from Zambelli Fireworks builds a sand wall as high tide approaches.

As the show is about to begin, the Funsters frontman Sherman Ward and guitarist Greg Mack take a second to talk it out.

The Boardwalk lights illuminate in a row as the fireworks go boom.

Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company Second Assistant Chief Kent Swarts hands out assignments before the show.

The Funsters frontman Sherman Ward is always energetic.

After the fireworks ended, the Funsters began again.

The fireworks weren’t held on July 4, so not too many people dressed the part, but (l-r) Marie Bowie, Sharon Langmaid and Mary Melvin didn’t miss the opportunity.

The Bandstand event is unofficially called Funsters and Fireworks.

With everyone outside watching the fireworks, the crew from Zelky’s has time for a selfie.

If only the people on the other side of the Bandstand knew there is no line at the Thrasher’s on the south side.

It looked like a storm was going to ruin the evening, but all it did was make for fireworks display on both sides of the Boardwalk.

The potential severe weather may have deterred some people, but the Boardwalk is still packed as the show begins.

Lightning and fireworks are captured in one shot in an image submitted by Dan Hirschfeld. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Brian J. Porter shared this image of fireworks in Rehoboth, taken from a vantage point of the beach at Philadelphia Street. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Despite storm threat, Rehoboth fireworks go off perfectly

Story Location: Rehoboth Beach Bandstand Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 United States

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