On June 1, 2008, the 4th Annual Taste of Lewes will be hosted by the Friends of the Lewes Canalfront Park. Local food, beer and entertainment get together for this amazing event held to support the new Canalfront Park in downtown Lewes. 12pm, University of Delaware Virden Retreat & Conference Center, Pilottown Road, Lewes,DE.

The month of April brings more athletic events to the Delmarva calendar. The 2008 Eastern Shore Senior Games will kick off the month beginning on April 3rd with the golf competition followed by opening ceremonies and various events on April 4th. Senior Games events include swimming, tennis, track and field as well as many others. The games are organized by Salisbury University, and competition is open to participants age 50 and above.

St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church wants you to “Catch the Spirit” at a 5K Run/Walk on April 12th. The event will be held at The Billy Gene Jackson Park on Jersey Road in Salisbury. In addition to the 5K, the event will offer a one mile walk, DJ music, a post race party, and prize drawings. Registration will start at 8:00 AM with the 5K race beginning at 9:00 AM. The Catch the Spirit 5K benefits the Jessie L. Parker Scholarship Fund. The cost of entry is $12 in advance or $15 on race day. The first 100 registrants will receive a free t-shirt. Entry forms are available at Vernon Powell.

April 12th is also the date for the Ocean City Half Marathon and 5K. The Half Marathon will begin at the inlet in Ocean City. The 5K will start from the park and ride in West Ocean City. Registration information is available online along with race details. The event will be followed by an after party at the Francis Scott Key resort.

The Pemberton Panda 5K will also take place on April 12th which proves to be a busy day for running events this year. This is a 1st Annual event for the Pemberton Elementary School PTA. The 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run will take place at Pemberton Elementary School with check in from 7:30-8:45 AM followed by the 5K start at 9:00 AM. All participants that pre-register for the event will receive a free t-shirt. The 5K race will be timed by the Eastern Shore Running Club. Registration forms are available online.

The Zoo Stampede 5K Run/Walk will take place on Saturday, April 19th. The event supports the Salisbury Zoo. Race day registration will take place from 7:30-8:30 AM at the East Gate of the Salisbury Zoo. The 5K race will start at 9:00 AM, rain or shine. The entry fee is $18 in advance or $20 on race day which includes a free long sleeve tech shirt to the first 125 applicants. Entry forms are available at Vernon Powell or online. The Zoo Stampede will be followed by Earth Day activities from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Salisbury Zoo.

The 3rd Annual Ben Layton Memorial 5K Run/Walk will take place on Saturday, April 26th, at the east entrance of the Salisbury Zoo. The event benefits The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Participants may also follow a 2 mile fun walk course. Event registration will begin at 5:30 PM followed by the 5K Run at 6:30 PM and the 2 mile fun walk at 6:40 PM. The 5K also includes a free buffet dinner provided by the Local Owner Restaurant Association for all registered participants along with shirts for the first 200 entries. The early registration fee will be $25 until April 11th and $30 after that date. Registration forms are available on benlayton5k.com or you can register online at active.com.

Another event that will take place on April 26th is the Wee Race at Wicomico Stadium in Salisbury. The event benefits the Beautification Committee of the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce and it is sponsored by VP Shoes in Salisbury where you can pick up an entry form. The race fee of $8.00 allows youth ages 2-9 years old to compete in four race divisions from 100 yards to 440 yards.

The Seashore Striders of Delaware list several events taking place in April including The Race for Jill Sunshine 5K in Milton, DE, on April 5th, the Arbor Day 5K Run in Ridgely, MD, on April 12th, the Oxford Day 10K Run in Oxford, MD, on April 26th, and the LDAF Race For Autism 1/2 Marathon/Team Relay/5k/Kids Fun Run in Lewes, DE, on April 27th.

Registration is already closed for the April 26th Pedal Delmarva event, but you can check out their web site for future cycling tours.

Another source for shore events is the Talbot County Multi-Sport Calendar.

With all of these events taking place in our region, there are plenty of opportunities for residents to support local organizations and improve health and fitness through participation in these great activities.

On Friday, the Milton Theatre will open their new production One Act Plays II which showcases a series of five one act plays written by local Delaware authors. Audience members will cast their votes on the best play, director and actor. These ballots along with the opinions of three official judges will determine which one act play will be submitted to the Delaware Theatre Association’s competition. Performances are scheduled on August 17, 18, 24, & 25 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, August 19 at 2:00 p.m.

The Milton Theatre is the result of a community effort to save an historic piece of Milton’s past.

The old Milton Theatre has a rich and meaningful history in Sussex County, Delaware. Erected in circa 1910, the two-story building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Milton’s historic district, and it has served, at one time or another, as the Town’s basketball hall, fire station, social center & community stage.

For the past six years, the non-profit 501(c)(3), Milton Development Corporation has been dedicated to rehabilitating this historic building, and the effort to restore and renovate the old Theatre into a multi-use Performing Arts & Cultural Center, Classic & Second Release Movie Cinema House and Venue for Community Programming & Special Events has been the MDC’s primary mission. As a result of an extensive capital campaign, the once crumbling building is now re-emerging as a touchstone and anchor in Milton’s historic Town Centre; it is operating as a viable facility for the promotion and presentation of the cultural and entertainment arts; it is serving as a showcase for the community’s educational programs and special festivals; and it is providing a destination attraction for a fast-growing arts community.

Visit the Milton Theatre web site to learn more about the performing arts center.

The 34th Annual Outdoor Fine Art and Fine Craft Exhibit organized by the Rehoboth Art League will continue on August 18th and 19th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. The Art League event offers:

More than 100 artists and craft persons exhibiting work for sale on the Rehoboth Art League grounds. Free and open to the public. Refreshments available for purchase. Musical and children’s entertainment.

Parking in the Rehoboth area can be a challenge, so the organizers have an alternative available.

Free Shuttle Parking
Rt 1 Northbound between Tomato Sunshine and the Outlet Malls
Holland Glade Road east to the Little League Field on Left.