Boast the Coast Maritime Festival celebrates Lewes’ Historic and Nautical Heritage. Dutch seamen landed in Lewes in 1631 and established the first settlement. Consequently, Lewes is known as the “First Town in the First State.”

This year’s Boast the Coast, hosted by the Lewes Chamber of Commerce, takes place on Saturday, October 3 with free activities in 1812 Park from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. We’ll celebrate America’s 250 th by giving away free flags to the first 100 attendees. 1812 Park overlooks the Lewes Rehoboth Canal with a public dock adjacent to the park.

On the day of the event, Freedom Boat Club offers free boat rides on the canal, giving attendees an opportunity to see Lewes from a different perspective. Free facepainting and musical entertainment also take place in the park. Cape Water Tours offers an hour-long, ticketed Nautical History Tour. Both the History Tour and the Freedom Boat rides depart from the City Dock.

There are other activities in Lewes associated with Boast the Coast including free tours of the Lightship Overfalls and the Lewes Historical Society’s Cannonball House, both a short walk from 1812 Park.

Parking at 1812 Park and the historic business district is metered.

Parking at the Lightship Overfalls is free.

There are no food trucks at Boast the Coast but there are numerous restaurants within walking distance of the activities.

The following day, the University of Delaware hosts Coast Day, also a nautically-themed event, offering activities at their Lewes campus. The University and the Lewes Chamber jointly market the two events as a Maritime Weekend. Coast Day has food trucks.