Sea Witch named Top 100 Event in North America

The American Bus Association has announced that the Sea Witch Halloween & Fiddlers’ Festival, scheduled this year for Oct. 24–26, has been designated as one of the Top 100 Events in North America for 2015 by an experienced expert tourism industry selection committee.

Inclusion in the Top 100 list, published as a supplement to the September/October issue of Destinations magazine, indicates that the Sea Witch Halloween & Fiddlers’ Festival offers excellent entertainment value to both tour groups and individual travelers from around the world, according to ABA.

“The attractiveness of the Sea Witch Halloween & Fiddlers’ Festival as a don’t-miss entertainment value is only part of why its selection this year is such a distinction for the Rehoboth Beach – Dewey Beach resort area,” said Peter J. Pantuso, CTIS, ABA’s president and CEO.

“The real news here is that the Sea Witch Halloween & Fiddlers’ Festival has been recognized as a potential magnet for tourism dollars, at a time when re-energizing domestic tourism is so important to our spirit and our economy. The honor gives the Rehoboth Beach – Dewey Beach resort area an important boost in visibility among professional tour planners.”

With the release of the American Bus Association’s 2015 Top 100 Events in North America, ABA celebrates 33 years of the program. What began as a way for motor coach operators to incorporate new product into their itineraries has grown to one of the most sought-after lists by travel professionals, motor coach operators and the general public.

According to studies completed by researchers at Dunham and Associates, one overnight visit by a motor coach group can leave up to $25,000 in a local destination’s economy. Those dollars are spent on lodging, meals, admissions, fees, shopping, souvenirs, services and local taxes.

“Tour groups spend more and stay longer,” Pantuso said. “That’s why the Sea Witch Halloween & Fiddlers’ Festival is truly a local economic asset. There is no better way to jump-start tourism than to attract motor coach groups to a great event and convince them to extend their stay.”

ABA’s 2015 Top 100 Events Selection Committee selected the Sea Witch Halloween & Fiddlers’ Festival from hundreds of event nominations submitted by ABA members. Judges considered the event’s broad appeal, its accessibility to motor coaches and skill at handling large groups, and a variety of other relevant criteria.