Fireworks, bands and champagne toasts: Delaware New Year's Eve parties worth your time
Ryan Cormier
If you’ve been procrastinating and are just now staring at the prospect of New Year’s Eve with no plans, you’ve come to the right place.
White Panda in Dewey Beach isn’t the only party worth crashing this year (although it's sure to be one of the craziest)
Here are a few concerts, events and parties slated for Monday night across the state
WHITE PANDA in DEWEY: A piece of Firefly Music Festival will rage at Dewey Beach’s Bottle & Cork (1807 Del. 1) for New Year’s Eve this year. White Panda, the Chicago-based EDM mash-up DJ that played five Firefly fests, will bring the summer party to the beach in the winter. The Cork will host the act, which had been a DJ duo and changed over to a solo act earlier this year. Now there will only be one mysterious dude with a costume panda head bopping behind the deck. White Panda mixes both old and new for its wild dance parties, incorporating songs by everyone from Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters and Kanye West to Steve Winwood, Queen and even the “Game of Thrones” theme song. Tickets are $39 with DJ Knappy opening on Monday night. Doors open at 9 p.m. If all this beach talk has you thinking of summer fun and sun, the Cork has already announced a pair of summertime shows: pop act Walk off the Earth is there May 27; and country singer Chris Janson visits June 9. Tickets for New Year’s Eve, as well as the summer shows, are available at bottleandcorkdewey.com.
DAVID BROMBERG in ARDEN: Wilmington resident and folk/blues king David Bromberg will land at the intimate Gild Hall (2126 The Highway, Arden). Bromberg and his quintet will be playing late for this one. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. with Philadelphia folky opening act Black Horse Motel taking the stage at 10. Bromberg and his band will start at 11 p.m. with a champagne toast at midnight. His performance is expected to run until 1 a.m. This same show was at the 1,300-person Keswick Theater in Glenside, Pennsylvania last year. If you want to see Bromberg do it in a 250-person rustic former barn, it will cost you $79 at ardenconcerts.com.
FIREWORKS on WILMINGTON RIVERFRONT: If you’re looking for family fun, head down to Wilmington's Riverfront for a fireworks show to help ring in 2019. The event starts at 6 p.m. with ice skating at the Riverfront Rink leading up to the 9 p.m. boom boom show over the Christina River. (UPDATE: The skating rink has been closed because of rain, according to city officials. The fireworks are still set to go off as planned.)
KEG DROP near LEWES: A keg will drop from the ceiling at Crooked Hammock Brewery (36707 Crooked Hammock Way near Lewes) on Monday night, as is tradition. This brewery always throws a big bash, complete with an open bar. Music is provided by Clifford Keith and DJ Gregg this year with partiers munching on hors d’oeuvres before a special midnight “glitter” beer release. Tickets are $99 at crookedhammockbrewery.com.
PARTY in BEAR: It’s a C&D Canal party! Grain H20 (3006 Summit Harbour Lane, Bear) recently enclosed its patio for cold months and the new space will get a work out Monday night. For $75, you get a top shelf open bar, buffet dinner and a champagne toast at midnight. Newark cover band Bucket of Hot will perform and a DJ will also be on hand. Doors open at 8 with cocktails and appetizers with the buffet opening at 9. Tickets at meetatgrain.com.
CELEBRATION with REVELATION: The New Year’s Eve celebration at Revelation Craft Brewing Co. near Rehoboth Beach will have a little extra juice this year. The small brewery at 19841 Central St. announced last month that it would be expanding, taking over the former home of 16 Mile Brewing Co. in Georgetown, which suddenly shuttered in September. The site of Revelation’s bash in Rehoboth will remain open, and it should be rocking Monday night starting at 8. That’s when $65 gets you in the door for an open bar that will include Revelation beer, cocktails from Lewes-area Beach Time Distilling and area wines. There will also be hors d’oeuvres, a champagne toast at midnight and live music. Revelation’s new Georgetown location is expected to open in the spring with a kitchen and outdoor seating. Go to facebook.com/revbeer for tickets.
Contact Ryan Cormier of The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier), Twitter (@ryancormier) and Instagram (@ryancormier).