Rehoboth Beach Museum

Luncheons – The Society holds two luncheons each year, one in the Spring and one in the Fall. Speakers from prior years include Wayne Kirklin talking about Lightships, Martin Dill, speaking about the Pennsylvania Railroad Clubhouse on the Boardwalk, and Brian Cannon speaking about borders of the state of Delaware.

Annual Gala – The Annual Beach Ball fund raing party brings together friends of the Society to celebrate the Society’s accomplishments and reminisce about the history of the city and its inhabitants. Fun, food, music and live or silent auctions make this a night to remember every year. The Beach Ball is held the first Saturday of August each year. The 5th Annual Beach Ball will be held August 7, 2010.

Watermelon Festival – The Annual Watermelon Festival is held the second Saturday of August each year. The Second Annual Watermelon Festival will be held August 14, 2010 from 3-6 p.m. $3 for age 12 and older, $2 for children 5-12. Children 4 and under, free. Admission to the festival also includes admission to the Rehoboth Beach Museum. Watermelon seed spitting and eating contests, crafts, raffles and free samples of Watermelon.

Around the 1920s and 1930s, vacationing families in Rehoboth purchased watermelons from roving produce salesmen called “hucksters.” Most families did not have ice boxes and refrigerators were not yet common. When they bought a whole watermelon, people carved their initials into the melon and stored them in the icehouse. We celebrate this tradition today with the Watermelon Festival.

Lectures - The Historical Society hosts lectures on topics ranging from the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse to the Horn Family and Horn’s Pavilion. Lecturers have included Hazel Brittingham, Judge Jim Horn, and Ellen Rendle of the Delaware Historical Society.

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