As this issue hits the streets, the Black Friday frenzy is on, followed by shoppers moving on to Small Business Saturday, then Cyber Monday and all the rest of the marketing memes on tap this season.
Amid the flurry of events come some great getaway opportunities in Rehoboth Beach, where visitors can combine tax-free holiday shopping with the shore town’s rampant gay sensibility and hospitality.
The weekend of Dec. 1-2 finds downtown aglow (perhaps from candles, perhaps from beverages) for the Cookies, Cocktails and Cheers event, sponsored by the Rehoboth Beach Main Street organization and in-town shops. All of the coolest downtown retail outlets will welcome shoppers with refreshments and special tax-free deals.
A book launch will be held for award-winning author Stefani Deoul at Browseabout Books, a locally owned bookstore and gift shop. Her new novel, “Zero Sum Game,” featuring lesbian brainiac and teenage coder Sid Rubin, will make its debut 2 p.m. Dec. 1.
Gay-owned shops abound downtown, such as Elegant Slumming for jewelry and home furnishings, Snyders Candy, Critter Beach for pet supplies, Mod Cottage for gifts and upscale home accents, Pelican Loft for funky gift items, Rehoboth Breeze for T-shirts, Rock Creek for clothes, In 2 Soles for shoes and Ward Ellinger Gallery for original art.
Of course, the Rehoboth outlets are ensconced in three different shopping centers along Route One and the bargains are legendary. As long as shoppers are driving to Lewes, on Dec. 1, time can be split between shopping and sidewalk gawking for the 87th Annual Lewes Christmas Parade. It’s always a hoot.
On Dec. 2, football and gift-buying share the focus. Shoppers can duck into Murph’s, The Pond or the Purple Parrot to catch the games between shopping sprees.
For visitors who can stretch the weekend through Tuesday (Dec. 4), it’s time for Rehoboth’s Hometown Christmas Parade. Locals have been overheard calling it the Emergency Vehicle and Tractor Parade, as dozens of fire trucks, ambulances and farm vehicles from around the county show up creatively decorated. CAMP Rehoboth generally has an entry, along with the CAMP Chorus and other festive entries. The trash trucks wearing antlers are favorites.
On Dec. 7, popular band Mama’s Black Sheep will be at The Pond. For folks not partying too hardy with the Black Sheep, the Rehoboth Beach Seashore Marathon starts 7 a.m. Dec. 8. With thousands of runners, it’s an enormous boost to the energy in town.
Runners carb-loading the night before or visitors not getting to town on time still have a chance to enjoy Mama’s Black Sheep, as the band will perform again the night of Dec. 8 at The Pond.
On Dec. 9, it’s a shopper’s paradise at Heartstrings, a craft fair and music event at the VFW on State Road in Rehoboth. Expect nonstop music from noon-4 p.m. from LGBT favorites like the Bettenroo Duo, John Flynn, Matt Kenworthy and more.
Artisan crafters will offer stained glass, woodwork, photography, fine arts and the bold, graphic-adorned shirts, hats and pillows by photography artist Geri Dibiase.
On Dec. 14, a special treat is in store for Rehoboth visitors: The famous Vienna Boys Choir will sing at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. One of the world’s finest vocal ensembles for more than five centuries, its “Christmas in Vienna” is certain to sell out.