Hot Delaware dance spots, beach intel, cool events: Your Weekend Guide

Well, that week sure went quickly.

And here we are already on Saturday morning, looking to make the most of the first weekend of June.

If you’re like us, you are either at the beach or wishing you were at the beach, so let’s start there …

Delaware beaches weekend guide

A mother shares a moment with her daughter at Rehoboth Beach on Saturday, May 27, 2023.

A mother shares a moment with her daughter at Rehoboth Beach on Saturday, May 27, 2023.

Restaurants and shops at the beach had a busy holiday weekend, a preview of the season that’s coming. With summertime visible on the horizon now, it’s full speed ahead at the Delaware beaches.

The News Journal/Delaware Online offers this guide each week, with up-to-date information about parking, events, sand replenishment and everything else visitors (and maybe a few locals) to the Delaware beaches need to know.

You can also bookmark our Delaware Beaches landing page, where you will find all of our 2023 beach content gathered in one place.

Don’t forget your sunscreen.

more: Visiting the Delaware beaches the first weekend in June? Here’s your guide

Plenty of fun ahead…

Folks will don their finest Victorian-era threads for the Victorian picnic at First State Heritage Park in Dover on Saturday, June 3.

Folks will don their finest Victorian-era threads for the Victorian picnic at First State Heritage Park in Dover on Saturday, June 3.

There’s a lot to do this summer in Delaware? Seriously, there is.

Here’s a preview of some can’t-miss events in June that should be on your radar, starting with this weekend’s women-led music fest. (Only the first one is in the history books.)

more: 9 June events in Delaware: Ladybug Fest, Clifford Brown Jazz, Tina Turner tribute & Pride

Turn up time

More and more Wilmington area nightclubs are offering options for people who like to party to hip hop, dancehall, and Afrobeats music and enjoy hookah.

More and more Wilmington area nightclubs are offering options for people who like to party to hip hop, dancehall, and Afrobeats music and enjoy hookah.

Some say there’s nothing exciting to do in Delaware. Yes, there are bars, beaches and places to shop, go ax-throwing, ziplining and race-car driving.

But what about nightlife and the chance to dance? Where do you go to two-step, wobble or wine to heart-pounding R&B, hip-hop, Afrobeats and dancehall music?

There are plenty of places to get your party on — whether at dance spots, festivals and shows — and we are here to tell you where they are.

more: Turn up time: Delaware nightspots, events where you can get it poppin’ this summer

Grab yourbike

Visitors walk their bikes on a bumper-to-bumper Rehoboth Avenue on day 1 of the Memorial Day Weekend at Rehoboth Beach on Saturday, May 27, 2023.

Visitors walk their bikes on a bumper-to-bumper Rehoboth Avenue on day 1 of the Memorial Day Weekend at Rehoboth Beach on Saturday, May 27, 2023.

If you love to cycle, we’ve got you.

First, check out this guide to bike safety in Delaware and what’s being done to make roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Next, you can check out our guide to cycling in the First State, with updates on new and incoming trails.

And finally, Matthew Korfhage had a little bit of fun creating this guide to cycling near Delaware beaches for lovers of hard cider, wine and beer. Check it out and cycle responsibly, people!

more: Your guide to cycling in Delaware. See the best trails, with more in the works.

Laugh it up

Reginald Ballard, best known as the character Bruh Man from the '90s sitcom 'Martin,'  will perform in the Bar None Comedy Jam at the baby grand in Wilmington on Saturday, June 3.

Reginald Ballard, best known as the character Bruh Man from the ’90s sitcom ‘Martin,’ will perform in the Bar None Comedy Jam at the baby grand in Wilmington on Saturday, June 3.

If you like to laugh loud and often, The Grand is offering another chance to act up with the Bar None Comedy Jam.

This comedy showcase, hosted by Chris Thomas, the former major of Rap City, will feature a number of well-known comedians who are sure to leave you laughing with tears.

The lineup also features comedian Reginald Ballard, best known as “Bruh Man from the 5th floor” on the ’90s sitcom “Martin.”

There’s also Charles Walden, Ralph Anthony (“Ralph The Mouth”) and magician Derek Lee.

The Bar None Comedy Jam will cut up at the baby grand (818 N. Market St., Wilmington) at 7 and 9:30 pm Saturday. Tickets are $53. Visit thegrandwilmington.org or (800) 37-GRAND.

Gooch at The Queen

South Jersey’s Gooch & The Motion like to chef up a musical salad that mixes blues, country and rock.

“Outside the Window” is the band’s sophomore album. The crew’s unique sound has seen them share the stage with a diverse group of big artists including Lynyrd Skynyrd, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Zac Brown Band and The Allman Brothers.

Joined with artist Walter Parks, Gooch & The Motion will charm The Queen (500 N. Market St., Wilmington) at 8 pm Saturday. Tickets are $9-$14. Visit thequeenwilmington.com or (302) 400-7020.

Country tunes

Carly Pearce performs onstage during the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas.

Carly Pearce performs onstage during the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas.

Grammy Award-winning country star Carly Pearce started from humble beginnings. At 16, she left her high school and Kentucky home to work at Dollywood.

These days, the music artist is sitting on multiple platinum-certified songs, including “What He Didn’t Do” and “I Hope You’re Happy Now” with Lee Brice.

Jonathan Hutcherson will open the show and Carly Pearce will headline the Freeman Arts Pavilion (31806 Lakeview Drive, near Selbyville) at 7 pm Sunday. Tickets are $59-$84. Visit freemanarts.org or (302) 436-3015.

Now that the weather is reliably warmer and more inviting, it’s a great time to get out and explore.

Do you have your Passport?

Drums, dancing are the center of attention as the Delaware Art Museum hosts a powwow, but participants say remembering the past is the important part.

Drums, dancing are the center of attention as the Delaware Art Museum hosts a powwow, but participants say remembering the past is the important part.

An affordable way to see more of the region is through the Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport.

The passport provides general admission to a dozen of the region’s most popular venues including the du Pont estates, the Delaware Art Museum and more.

The Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport is valid through Oct. 31. Cost is $49 and $99 for a family (two adults and up to three children). Visit visitwilmingtonde.com (800) 489-6664.

Asparagus, strawberries and ramps, oh my!

Wild ramps, also known as wild leeks and wild garlic

Wild ramps, also known as wild leeks and wild garlic

It’s farmers market season, one of our favorite seasons. Asparagus, baby lettuce, ramps and fiddleheads, what’s not to like? Check out our guide here.

It’s a luscious time of year to grab a basket and head out to your favorite market, meet a few friendly farmers, and load up for weekend kitchen and patio inspiration.

For weekly exclusive food and dining news, sign up for Delaware Eats here.

Slices of Delaware

Multimedia Reporter Damien Giletto films the judges in action of sampling and discussing the pies of finalists Cafe Napoli's and Margherita's Pizza during the Delaware's Favorite Pizza Challenge bracket finals held in the News Journal's s newsroom in New Castle, Monday, March 27, 2023.

Multimedia Reporter Damien Giletto films the judges in action of sampling and discussing the pies of finalists Cafe Napoli’s and Margherita’s Pizza during the Delaware’s Favorite Pizza Challenge bracket finals held in the News Journal’s newsroom in New Castle, Monday, March 27, 2023.

Need a pizza this weekend. Check out which place won our Pizza Brackets Challenge.

more: Cafe Napoli or Margherita’s Pizza? The winner of our Delaware’s Favorite Pizza Challenge is …

Delaware Voices Uplifted!

Not everything good civic action or community improvement in Delaware makes our radar.

Aimed at connecting underserved audiences and shining light on those doing the hard work of improving their communities, we’d like to introduce you to Delaware Voices Uplifted.

Our new Facebook Group is a gathering place for Delaware residents to share the good things happening in their neighborhoods, projects and efforts to bring about positive change.

Led by Anitra Johnson and Cameron Goodnight, this new virtual space is meant to both inform and inspire you.

“We thought that we should have a place where communities throughout the country could converge, post about events and learn who is doing what,” wrote Anitra in introducing the group. “These posts will help keep neighbors informed, work to make the community healthier, and connect people!”

Hope to see you there! And be sure to let us know what you think.

How well do you follow the news?

Are you a newshound who knows more about what’s going on than anyone around you?

Well, do we have a quiz for you!

Fresh off the local headlines, we’ve created a weekly Delaware Online news quiz that will test your news IQ based on what happened the previous seven days.

Our quiz hits all our favorite topics – sports, food, history, politics and more. We release a new quiz every Friday, so look for it when you want to exercise those brain cells.

Test your local news IQ here.

Andre Lamar, Anitra Johnson and Shannon Marvel McNaught contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on the Delaware News Journal: Want to swim, dance, laugh or eat? Here is your Weekend Guide

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