Seaford’s annual Nanticoke Riverfest is this weekend - with the theme: “Rollin’ on the Nanticoke.”
The two-day celebration starts Friday night and includes the Nanitcoke Carnival, live music, a treasure map search, and the traditional float-in on Saturday.
Saturday’s Float-In takes place earlier this year due to river tides. Registration begins at 8 am with the launch at 10am. It costs one dollar to join the float-in and tubes are available to purchase for $15 and $20. Tubers are encouraged to park downtown and take the pre-float shuttle, since transportation is not provided back to the launch site.
There's also the Duck Dash. Rubber ducks will be dropped into the Nanticoke river at 4:30pm Saturday at the Blades Seaford drawbridge. Duck Dash tickets can be purchased at City Hall for a chance to win cash prizes in each heat of the race.
Seaford Historical Society president Donald Allen there’s also educational opportunities at the Riverfest. The Seaford Museum is free to visitors Saturday, giving them a chance to learn about history of life along the river.
“Even though we are the Seaford Museum, we are a representation of what went on in every little town along the Nanticoke over the decades – how the commerce grew around the river," said Allen.
Among the museum’s river related exhibits is one detailing the lives of 19th century black pilots who guided vessels up and down the Nanticoke.
Allen adds this weekend is one of the last opportunities to see the museum's exhibit featuring models used by the late Delaware sculptor Charles Parks.
“These are the fiberglass models that he would make and glaze with the bronze batinas to show to the person who commissioned them what the bronze would look like when it was finished,” said Allen.
The museum will also preview its upcoming Delaware Auto Racing exhibit during Riverfest.
The complete lineup of events for Nanticoke Riverfest can be found at the event's website.