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Capital Holiday 2022
The Capital City is brimming with lots of ways to celebrate the holiday season! Mayor Christiansen and his City staff, Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce (CDCC), the Dover Public Library, the Downtown Dover Partnership, and NeighborGood Partners (formerly NCALL) invite the community to enjoy holiday traditions, including Small Business Saturday on November 26, the traditional Capital Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting on Thursday, December 1, First Saturday on December 3, the “Dashing Through Downtown Dover Parade on December 9th, beautiful window displays and downtown shopping. And beginning on Thanksgiving Day, visit Dover’s first Gift of Lights at Dover Motor Speedway!
For additional events, visit the Downtown Dover Facebook Events page. Login required!
Gift of Lights (Ongoing)
Join the Dover Motor Speedway for the inaugural Gift of Lights event. The drive thru event will run every evening from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day and will have more than 60 scenes and 3 million lights set up along a 1.5-mile pathway winding through the Woodlands of Dover Motor Speedway which is also home of the Firefly Music festival. This compelling drive-thru holiday light display will be a must see for residents as well as our visitors.
For more information as well as to purchase tickets, please visit GiftofLightsDover.com
Small Business Saturday!
Visit downtown to shop local & small businesses, purchase new "Downtown Dover Dollars", and participate in an AMEX gift card raffle.
- Buy One, Get One: Downtown Dover Dollars
- During Small Business Saturday, for every Downtown Dover Dollars gift card you buy, you can get one free!
- To purchase:
- Buy online from Yiftree. Click here.
- Buy on site during at 101 W. Loockerman St.
- AMEX Gift Card Raffle
- With each purchase you make from a downtown merchant, you will receive an entry into the raffle. (Certain exclusions apply.)
- In store, online, curbside, and phone sales are included, as long as you have a receipt.
- Ways to enter:
- Show your receipts to the information booth at 101 W. Loockerman St., OR
- Send a text along with your name to (302) 219-0697, OR
- Email your receipts along with your name and phone number to info@downtowndoverpartnership.com, OR
- Purchase raffle tickets on site during Small Business Saturday (11/26).
- 1 Entry = $1.00
- 6 Entries = $5.00
- 14 Entries = $10.00
- 30 Entries = $20.00
- Drawing will be held 11/30 on Facebook.com/DowntownDover (login required)
- Conditions & Exclusions
- Purchases must be made between Friday 11/25 - Monday 11/28 before 11:59 p.m.
- Does not include purchases made from chain businesses.
- Alcohol sales are not included.
Click here to visit Downtown Dover Facebook for updates.
Annual Capital Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
Participate in downtown’s annual Capital Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration from 5-8 p.m.
The event will feature dance and musical arrangements, a photo op with Santa, free grab-and-go holiday kids crafts, cookies and hot chocolate, and a grand tree lighting ceremony. The fun doesn’t stop there, stroll down Loockerman Street for even more excitement! Such as:
- Downtown Giftcard Launch! "Keep Local Dollars Local"
- BOGO: Purchase a gift card between $10 - $50 and receive a FREE gift card of the same amount!
- Limit 2 cards per purchaser, bonus cards expire 2/26/23.
- Redeemable at 101 W Loockerman St. while supplies last!
- tinyurl.com/DoverDollars
- Merchants Open Late
- Shop at multiple stores remaining opening late for the event, with street closure to allow for easy and safe walking.
- Food, Snacks, & Drink Options, may vary day of event. Contact store directly for up to date information. Click here to visit the Downtown Dover Restaurants & Taverns Directory for contact information.
- Gourmandise food truck by La Baguette at Loockerman Way Plaza
- Angelo's
- Caribbean Cuisine
- Coney Island Grill - Opening soon in downtown Dover. Transport to New York with the classic tastes of Coney Island!
- Golden Fleece
- Key to Life Juicebar - Opening soon! Receive a taste of what's to come. Located at 136 W Loockerman St.
- La Hacienda - offering special holiday treats, Mexican hot chocolate, and sidewalk sales.
- Simaron's
- Tastee's Chicken and Seafood
- The Scoop - Coming soon! A new ice cream parlor offering pre-opening holiday treats and information at 305 W Loockerman St.
- Retail Options, may vary day of event. Contact store directly for up to date information. Click here to visit the Downtown Dover Retail Directory for contact information.
- Black Swamp Artisanal Market
- Dover Art League
- Esteem
- Forney's Too
- Puffster's
- Tina's Timeless Threads
- Local Food Truck
- Enjoy Gourmandise food truck by La Baguette, selling sweet and savory crepe options!
- Located in front of Loockerman Way Plaza (126 W. Loockerman St.)
- Live Music
- Enjoy classic carolers strolling through Loockerman St., presented by the First State Club Carolers and the Chamber Choir. Check back soon for the program!
- Mike Miller will perform at Black Swamp Artisanal Market (204 W. Loockerman St.)
- Diane Laird will perform at My Roots Boutique (9 W. Loockerman St.)
- Balloon Magic!
- Experience Kidz DeLight, the balloon wizard, available at the Dover Art League (21 W. Loockerman St.)
- Salvation Army Bellringers
- Be sure to visit the corner of State St. and Loockerman St. to make a donation to the Salvation Army this holiday season!
Christmas Cafe and Living Nativity
Pick up a meal at the Christmas Cafe at Wesley United Methodist Church between 5-8 p.m.. Choose between chili or homemade vegetable soup for eat in or take out at Grace Fellowship Hall (across from City Hall), and watch the live Nativity scene outside. Meal costs $8 and includes a drink and corn chips/crackers. Christmas cookies for sale.
For more information, click here.
First Saturday!
- NEW - Downtown Dover Fashion Show!
- Nutcracker Story Time and Super Saturdays! at the Dover Public Library
- Victorian Yuletide themed walking tours with First State Heritage Park
- Free admission, all-ages craft workshop, and a free guided tour of the Biggs Museum
- ... and more!
For information about First Saturdays, Dec. 3, click here.
Dashing Through Downtown Dover Parade
The electric light parade will showcase "all lit up" vehicles starting at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, click here to visit the Dashing Through Downtown Dover Parade Facebook page.
Woodburn Illuminated
At 5:30 p.m., visit Woodburn: the Governor's House to display traditional crafts from early Americans: historical illuminations! Using candlelight, celebratory images, silhouettes, special messages, and more, the night will be adorned with flickering, beautiful brilliance. Visit the Biggs Museum from Wednesday-Sunday, starting Dec. 3 to create your own stained glass to display. Can't make it to the Biggs before the big day? Use the hands-on studio at Woodburn from 5:30 to 7:30 PM during the event.
Hometown Holiday Event
Join the Dover Police Department, NeighborGood Partners, and Habitat for Humanity on Legislative Mall for a free event with music, games, and food! Occuring from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Breakfast with Santa
Start off the holiday season on Saturday, December 10th, from 9:00-10:30am, with a delicious breakfast and visit from a very special guest at the John W. Pitts Recreation Center! This fun-filled morning will feature Christmas music & carols, crafts, and a kid friendly breakfast. Most importantly, Santa will be here for Christmas wishes and photos. (Sorry mom & dad breakfast is for kids only.) Pre-Registration is mandatory as limited seating is available, sign-up, now!
To purchase tickets and register, visit tinyurl.com/SantaBreakfast22
Delaware Ballet's The Nutcracker (Night One)
Delaware Ballet will present its time-honored holiday production, The Nutcracker, at the Schwartz Center for the Arts on December 10th and 11th, 2022. Kick off your holiday season with the classic tale of a young girl who receives a nutcracker as a gift on Christmas Eve. With the help of her Uncle Drosselmeyer, she is transported from a life-size battle between mice and soldiers, through a snowy forest to the Land of the Sweets. We invite you to come experience this beautiful ballet that truly portrays the magic of the season!
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Eventbrite.
Delaware Ballet's The Nutcracker (Night Two)
Delaware Ballet will present its time-honored holiday production, The Nutcracker, at the Schwartz Center for the Arts on December 10th and 11th, 2022. Kick off your holiday season with the classic tale of a young girl who receives a nutcracker as a gift on Christmas Eve. With the help of her Uncle Drosselmeyer, she is transported from a life-size battle between mice and soldiers, through a snowy forest to the Land of the Sweets. We invite you to come experience this beautiful ballet that truly portrays the magic of the season!
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Eventbrite.
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