Memorial Day weekend at the beach: What you need to know
Maddy LauriaWith spring deluges behind us, it’s time to celebrate the unofficial start of summer.
The Delaware beaches are a prime place many spend the long Memorial Day weekend, and to help plan your visit, we compiled a beach-by-beach list of information about parking, beach dos-and-don’ts and some fun events along the coast.
Beach-goers should remember that ongoing road work along Del. 1, especially in the area of Thompsonville Road north of Milford, could result in some delays. Tolls keep surprising people, but in 2014, Del. 1's toll plazas raised rates to $3 on weekends, starting at 7 p.m. on Friday and ending at 11 p.m. on Sunday. During the week, tolls at the Biddles Corner plaza in New Castle County and the Dover plaza are $1.
For those who do not want the hassle of finding waterfront parking in the beach resorts, the Delaware Department of Transportation also offers two Park and Ride locations: The new Lewes Park & Ride near Five Points at 17616 Coastal Highway and the Rehoboth Beach Park & Ride at Del. 1 and Shuttle Road.
Lewes
Parking: Meters at the beachfront parking lots at the end of Savannah Road and at Georgia Avenue have increased to $2 per hour, while all other metered parking is $1 per hour from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Credit cards are accepted at the two beach lots, 1812 Park, the 3rd Street lot and Canalfront Park. Free parking can be found at the corner of Schley and Franklin Avenue and Otis Smith Park on Savannah Road. Parking is permitted on public streets unless “No Parking” signs are posted. People can also download the Parkmobile app to pay for parking. The parking lot at Beach 2, at the end of Georgia Avenue, is currently closed for renovations.
Lifeguards: Lifeguards will be on duty beginning Memorial Day weekend from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. People should check in with a lifeguard for any daily hazards.
Beach rules: No one is allowed on the beach between midnight and 6 a.m.; no dogs are allowed on the beach between 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. from May 1 through Sept. 30; and no smoking and no alcohol is permitted on the beach. For more rules regarding the beaches in Lewes, go to www.ci.lewes.de.us.
More: A newly renovated public restroom is now open at Beach 1, which is at the end of Savannah Road and the main public beach in Lewes. Additional public restrooms are available at Canalfront Park.
Memorial Day: American Legion Post 17 will host a Memorial Day parade at 11 a.m. beginning at the Lewes Presbyterian Church parking lot at 133 Kings Highway and ending at Post 17 at 113 American Legion Road in Lewes. For more, call Murt Foos at 301-706-0213 or Bert Long at 302-236-9828.
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Rehoboth Beach
Parking: Meters are $2 per hour and most meters accept quarters, credit cards or can be paid from 10 a.m. to midnight through the Parkmobile app starting Memorial Day weekend. All non-metered parking spaces require a permit starting Friday, May 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Permits range from $15 for a one-day weekday pass, to $45 for a three-day weekend pass to $250 for a transferable seasonal pass. Permits can be purchased at the city’s parking meter department at 1 City Hall Drive, the Visitor’s Center at 501 Rehoboth Ave., at the kiosk on Rehoboth Avenue near the drawbridge or the kiosk on Bayard Avenue near Silver Lake. For more, call 302-227-6184 or go to www.cityofrehoboth.com/visitors/parking-information.
Lifeguards: Lifeguards will be on duty on weekends and holidays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. starting Saturday, May 26. Weekday coverage runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. People should check in with a lifeguard for any daily hazards. For more, go to www.rehobothbeachpatrol.com or call 302-227-2280.
Beach rules: Effective last summer, tents and canopies are banned on Rehoboth Beach, but umbrellas that are no more than 8 feet in diameter with poles no higher than 7-foot-6-inches and baby tents up to 36 inches tall, 36 inches wide and 36 inches deep are permitted; umbrellas and other items left on the beach after 10 p.m. will be discarded; grills are not permitted on the beach; smoking is only permitted in designated smoking areas; no one is allowed on the beach between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.; no alcohol is permitted on the beach, boardwalk or public streets; no dogs are allowed on the beach or boardwalk from May 1 through Sept. 30; bicycles are only permitted on the boardwalk from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. May 15 through Sept. 15; beach wheelchairs are available starting on Memorial Day at the Beach Patrol headquarters at 1 Baltimore Ave. or by calling 302-227-2280; and skateboards, roller blades and roller skates are not allowed on the boardwalk, bandstand and Rehoboth Avenue from May 15 through Sept. 15.
More: Ramps to the beach are available at Maryland Avenue and Laurel Street for those with limited mobility. The city also has a new City Hall on Rehoboth Avenue where people can find out more about Rehoboth Beach. There also will be free entertainment at the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand with performances by Lake Forest Central Elementary band at 9:45 a.m. on Friday, The Eagles cover-band Desert Highway at 8 p.m. on Saturday, and the Jimi Smooth Band at 8 p.m. on Sunday. For more, go to www.cityofrehoboth.com or call 302-227-6181.
Memorial Day: The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7447 will host a Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. on Monday at the Bandstand.
Dewey Beach
Parking: Parking meters are in effect from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Wednesday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Sunday. Metered parking costs $2 per hour and can be paid at nearby kiosks with cash and credit cards or by using the Parkmobile app. Parking permits are available for daily use, weekend use or seasonal use and range from $10 to $200. Permits can be purchased in-person at Dewey Beach Town Hall, at the kiosk at 105 Rodney Ave. or by calling 302-227-6363. Permits cannot be used in metered spots. Parking is free at metered spots from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. For more, call 302-227-6170.
Lifeguards: Lifeguards will be on the beach starting Friday, May 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. People should check in with a lifeguard for any daily hazards. For more, go to www.deweybeachpatrol.com or call 302-227-6365.
Beach rules: No open alcoholic beverages are allowed on the beach; smoking is prohibited on the beach and in town parks; the beach is closed from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.; no glass containers are allowed on the beach; dogs are allowed on the beach, but must be licensed with the town and are not allowed on the beach between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.; bonfires are permitted but require a $30 permit and $100 deposit. For more rules, go to www.townofdeweybeach.com or www.deweybeachpatrol.com.
More: There will be 17 additional dune mats in Dewey Beach to help people cross over the dunes starting Memorial Day weekend. The holiday weekend is also filled with musical performances at The Rusty Rudder, northbeach, The Bottle & Cork, and The Starboard.
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Bethany Beach
Parking: Metered parking is $2 per hour and can be paid with quarters or credit cards at nearby pay kiosks or by using the Parkmobile app. Daily, three-day and weekly parking permits are available to purchase at the police station at 214 Garfield Parkway and cost $27, $79 and $183, respectively. For more, call 302-539-1000 or go to www.townofbethanybeach.com.
Lifeguards: Lifeguards will be on duty starting Saturday, May 26, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. People should check in with a lifeguard for any daily hazards. For more, go to www.townofbethanybeach.com/206/Beach-Patrol or call 302-539-8114.
Beach rules: Starting this summer, tents and canopies are also banned on Bethany Beach, but umbrellas that are no more than 8 feet in diameter and baby tents up to 36 inches tall, 36 inches wide and 36 inches deep are permitted; no ball playing, kites or fishing on the beach are permitted during lifeguard hours; no alcohol or glass containers are allowed on the beach; no smoking is allowed; dogs are prohibited on the beach and boardwalk from May 15 through Sept. 30; no fires are permitted; no one is allowed on the beach from 1 a.m to 5 a.m.; bicycles are only allowed on the boardwalk from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.; people are required to swim only between the orange flags posted; and digging large holes in the sand is prohibited.
More: Memorial Day weekend at Bethany Beach includes the third annual Poseidon Festival starting at 6 p.m. on Friday and ending at 4 p.m. on Monday. The four-day festival includes educational entertainment to celebrate the ocean and prepare for coastal emergencies and is held in downtown Bethany Beach and at the Bethany Beach Nature Center at 807 Garfield Parkway.
South Bethany
Parking: There are no parking meters in South Bethany and parking permits are usually available with a rental home. Handicap parking is available on Ocean Drive and South 3rd Street.
Lifeguards: Lifeguards are on duty daily starting the Saturday of Memorial Day to Labor Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and until 5:30 p.m. on weekends. People should check with a lifeguard for any daily hazards.
Beach rules: Smoking is prohibited on the beach and beach access walkways; no dogs are allowed May 15 through Oct. 15; fishing, surfing, inner tubes, life jackets and plastic rings are not allowed while lifeguards are on duty; fires and fireworks are prohibited at all times; digging large holes in the sand is prohibited; people cannot sleep on the beach from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m.; and no glass containers are allowed on the beach. For more, go to www.southbethany.org.
More: Yoga on the beach begins Monday at 8 a.m. People are asked to provide a donation as a fee and bring a beach towel or yoga mat and water. Yoga is held on the beach at South 3rd Street at 8 a.m. on most Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. A boot camp master class will be held at 7:30 a.m. on Monday on the beach at N. 6th Street. Donations are accepted as the fee for the boot camp, which will then be held on Tuesdays and Saturdays throughout the summer at 7:30 a.m. The town also will hold its annual election from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at 402 Evergreen Road to elect a mayor and fill three council seats.
Fenwick Island
Parking: Parking permits are required from May 15 to Sept. 15 and can be purchased at the police department at 800 Coastal Highway. Permits cost $2.50 per hour, $20 for a daily pass, $120 for a weekly pass or $400 for the summer season.
Lifeguards: Lifeguards will be on duty Memorial Day weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. People should check with a lifeguard for any daily hazards.
Beach rules: Umbrellas and tents are allowed, but cannot impede lifeguards or emergency vehicles; umbrellas must be less than 8 feet in diameter and 8 feet in height; tents cannot be more than 8 feet tall and either 8 feet in diameter and must be open and thoroughly secured; no alcohol is allowed from May 15 through Sept. 15; no pets are allowed on the beach from May 1 through Sept. 30; bonfires are allowed with a permit, which can be obtained at the police department; no fishing is allowed on the beach while lifeguards are on duty, unless permitted by a lifeguard; glass containers are prohibited on the beach; and there is no smoking on the beach, including e-cigarettes. For more, go to fenwickisland.delaware.gov.
Contact reporter Maddy Lauria at (302) 345-0608, mlauria@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @MaddyinMilford.
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