Do your Memorial Day Weekend plans include heading to the beach in light of the return of swim season? Consider a detour over to the Town of Bethany Beach, Delaware, specifically, for the 10th Annual Poseidon Festival. Running all weekend long, this free, family-friendly festival of such great community acclaim delivers the ultimate beach blast, laden with entertainment, hands-on activities, and more. Whether you’re into marine biology, pirates, mermaids, or all the above, you won’t want to miss any of the excitement.
The 2025 installment of the Poseidon Festival kicks off Friday evening on May 23. Enjoy the cool, island stylings of the Caiso Steel Band, beginning at 5 p.m. and lasting through 9 p.m.
Also taking place on Friday evening from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. is the highly anticipated, fun-for-all Community Kite Fly. Kites will be given to the first 100 attendees, and specific areas of the beach will be designated for all proceedings. Additionally, Tidepool Toys will unveil special Poseidon theme-related kites in light of the event.
Saturday will be a day full of ongoing excitement surrounding the scenic Bethany Beach Boardwalk, its Bandstand, and shops. Just beware of plundering pirates set to descend on the Bandstand Plaza between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Led by none other than Captain Jack and his crew, it will be a case of scallywags getting scholarly as they enlighten folks about facts and tidbits surrounding the Age of Piracy. Live sword demonstrations will be thrown into the mix as well!
For those who are more into mermaids, Mermaid Mania will be taking place at the same time as the pirate pleasantries. Here’s your chance to discover the world of mermaids, with “live mermaids” in attendance to meet and mingle with, snap photos with, and more. Watch in wonder and amazement as they perform fanciful underwater tricks!
3 Hour Tour, Delmarva’s premier Yacht Rock band, will keep the scene alive and hopping with live performance renditions of classic hits you know and love from the 70s and 80s. They will be playing between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Come dressed as a pirate, mermaid, or some other maritime creature for a chance to participate in this year’s Costume Parade and Contest. The lineup begins at 1:45 p.m. in front of Bethany Beach Ocean Suites, with the procession officially getting underway at 2 p.m. The route runs to the bandstand, where contest prizes will be awarded at 2:30 p.m.
Among the later-day endeavors, you have the Duper Jam Bash slated for 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Head on over to Bethany Surf Shop on the beach off Garfield Parkway to see and speak with live pros who will be onsite offering demonstrations of skim boards and body boards. Following this will be the Aloha Summer Luau Show at 7:30 p.m. Welcome in the start of summer with this “enchanting journey through the Polynesian islands complete with pulsating drums, exotic dancers, and a fire knife performance.” You’ll also be treated to dances from Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, and New Zealand, and have your chance at trying hula yourself!
Sunday, May 25, has its share of cool callouts as well, starting with encore offerings of Pirates on the Plaza and Mermaid Mania, running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Science-minded individuals in particular take note an open-classroom offering by New Logic Marine Science Camp as they present their award-winning program featuring an exploration into shark anatomy, fossils, and sea giants through interactive hands-on activities. You’ll also get the opportunity to learn all about the mission of the Marine Education, Research, and Rehabilitation Institute (M.E.R.R.) through an interactive exhibit illustrating their marine mammal and sea turtle rescue efforts. Both will be ongoing from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Chris Sacks Band will be performing live sets between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. They will keep the scene lively and upbeat with their “swirling blend of red-blooded American music and the blue seawaters of the Caribbean” combos.
There will be a special First Responder Meet & Greet taking place in the evening from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. A perfect opportunity for kids and adults alike, here’s your chance to get to the town’s lifeguards, police, and fire personnel on a personal, friendly level. And remember to pick up valuable information on how to prepare for a potential coastal emergency and other tips about natural disaster preparedness.
The United States Navy Band Country Current will be on the scene at 7:30 p.m. for the ultimate Sunday sendoff and prelude to Memorial Day Monday. As the Navy’s premier country-bluegrass ensemble, the United States Navy Band Country Current has garnered both national and international praise for their unique musicianship, blending both modern country music and cutting-edge bluegrass.
All mainstream festivities and follies surrounding the Poseidon Festival officially conclude at the end of Sunday evening. Take note, however, of the special Memorial Day Service happening at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7234 beginning at 11 a.m. in honor of the true meaning of Memorial Day. Visit the website to learn more.
To read more about the Poseidon Festival and all other events and happenings throughout Bethany Beach, visit the Town of Bethany Beach website at www.townofbethanybeach.com.