10. This time of year I am lured back to the boardwalk by the cooler days and smaller crowds. The 1-mile boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach is the perfect spot for getting some fresh air and exercise.

9. First Thursdays in Lewes – Join the locals on Thursday, November 5th in downtown Lewes for live music and special offerings from area restaurants and merchants. You’ll most likely find me at Striper Bites enjoying great fare and libations.

8. Sea Witch Festival – This local tradition includes the always hilarious costumed pet parade. October 23 -25.

7. The return of the off-season specials at local restaurants – Most area restaurants offer great deals throughout the non-summer months.

6. Jazz Fest – Many local venues will be showcasing live jazz music. October 14 -18. www.rehobothjazz.com

5. Outlet shopping – Sure, you can shop at the outlets all year round, but the Fall is the perfect time to start tackling that holiday shopping list. Buy a $1 Pink Card at the Tanger Outlets office to save an additional 25% at participating stores while benefiting the fight against breast cancer. Don’t forget – Delaware is tax-free!

4. Independent Film Festival – Around 100 films to see this year, including shorts, documentaries, and foreign films. November 11-15. www.rehobothfilm.com/festival.html

3. Dogfish Head Punkin Ale – This delicious seasonal brew is available in September and October. Get some before it’s gone! www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/seasonal-brews/punkin-ale.htm

2. Punkin Chunkin’ — Live music, rides, delicious fare, and pumpkins being hurled overhead – what more could you want on a cool autumn weekend? Whether you prefer the craftsmanship of the whirligigs or the sheer power of the air cannons, each “chunker” is a site to behold. November 6-8. www.punkinchunkin.com

And the number one reason the fall is my favorite time of year in coastal Delaware is:
No more meters! Parking is free throughout Lewes, Rehoboth, and Dewey Beach until the summer months return. So come visit and, while you’re here, check out the beautiful Delaware homes for sale so you can linger longer! Maybe you’ll decide that Delaware is the place for you even when the summer sun has set for the season.
Hope to see you out and about over the next few months!
- Erika

One of my favorite things to do in June is pick local blueberries. Here in Sussex County, Delaware, there is a large blueberry farm near Dagsboro where you can go to pick your own berries. The fields are open 7 days a week. Here are some tips from a local:

• Wear a hat no matter how overcast.
• Spray your legs with bug spray.
• Take water to drink.
• Bring a bucket! The farm provides buckets for picking, but don’t forget to take containers to bring the berries home.
• Blueberries freeze well, but make sure you DON’T rinse them before you freeze them. Rinse them when you are ready to thaw and use them.
• They are sold by the pound. Here’s the best part: you can eat while you pick, and they don’t weigh you on the way out!

I use the berries for pies, muffins, pancakes and just plain old snacking. Close to home, fresh off the vine and supplying antioxidants that taste good – what a great way to spend an afternoon!

For information call 302-238-7043.

Happy picking!

Barbara Dean is a Sussex County native, born and raised in Lewes, Delaware. Barbara is the Controller at Schell Brothers and has been with the company for 5 years.