The Melting Pot of America is full of plenty of cool cultural festivals in Delaware that will add some extra flavor to your life this summer.
Here’s a look at festivals across the First State that celebrate different heritages.
Whether it’s planning a wedding or winning the NBA MVP two times in a row, Greeks love to dream big. The proof with the rice pudding. The 48th annual Holy Trinity Greek Festival is a six-day celebration of Greek heritage that offers plenty of good excuses not to leave on an empty stomach.
There are also curbside takeout options.
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Dishes offered include samples of moussaka and pastichio, meatball and lamb sandwiches, keftedes, spanakopita, tyropita, dolmades, Greek salad, rice pudding and baklava, according to the festival website.
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (808 N. Broom St., Wilmington) Monday, June 5 through Saturday, June 10. Festival hours are from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Visit Facebook.com/WilmGreekFest Or greekfestde.com.
The popular St. Anthony Italian Festival is back to introduce you to the flavors of Italy with mouth-watering cuisine, as well as rides and music. The menu includes everything from delicious ice cream and brick oven pizza to gourmet wings and more.
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This eight-day festival is quite presidential, because Joe Biden frequented it, when he was senator from Delaware, then vice-president. The festival is the main fundraiser for St. Anthony of Padua Elementary School.
Italian Festival (901 N. Dupont St., Wilmington) 4-10:30 p.m. Sunday, June 11; from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. from Monday June 12 to Friday June 16; from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday June 17; and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, June 18. Admission is $5 per day for ages 16 to 61. Visit sapde.org or (302) 421-3700.
In honor of African American emancipation, the Delaware Juneteenth Association presents the Freedom Festival & Parade.
The event begins with a parade, followed by the festival, which includes games, food, vendors and performances. Additionally, the festival features special guest Chubb Rock, a rap legend known for songs like “Treat ‘Em Right” and “Just the Two of Us.”
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The Freedom Festival & Parade will take place on Saturday June 17. At 10 a.m., the parade begins on Rodney Square (1000 N. Market St., Wilmington) through 11th and King streets; At noon, the festival takes place at Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park (Rosa Parks Drive, Wilmington). Visit delawarejuneteenth.org.
Everyone is invited to learn about the ancestral traditions of enslaved African Americans and the history of their descendants at the Beyond Juneteenth Ancestors Festival: Afrosympoesium & Expo.
According to the event’s website, this year’s festival features an “AfrisymPOEMsium and exhibition focused on education, healing, protection and adaptation of the human spirit.”
Delaware Art Museum (2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, June 18; Free event. Visit delart.org or (302) 571-9590.
People interested in learning more about East Asian culture can attend the annual CACC Chinese Festival. The three-day event will feature dragon and lion dances.
There is also authentic cuisine, martial arts, shows, children’s activities, Chinese yo-yo and folk dances. This year, special exhibitions focus on oracle bone inscriptions, tea culture and calligraphy.
Chinese American Community Center (1313 Little Baltimore Road, Hockessin) from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, June 23; from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday June 24; noon to 6 p.m., Sunday June 25. Visit facebook.com/CACCdelaware or (302) 239-0432
Long before Juneteenth became a federal holiday, the Inner City Cultural League’s “Positively Dover” African-American Festival was a staple event honoring black heritage since its inception in 1991.
Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy delicious food and a variety of vendors, which typically include clothing, African-themed items and more, all in an atmosphere that reflects African open-air markets.
Legislative Mall (410 Legislative Ave., Dover) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 24. Visit icclarts.org or (302) 883-2180.
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There is much to appreciate about the diversity of Hispanic heritage across Delmarva at the Maxima Hispanic Fest.
About 20,000 people attended the festival in 2022, according to the festival website. This popular event features delicious traditional foods, arts and crafts, dancing and performances by international and local groups.
The schedule for this year’s event has not yet been announced.
Downtown Georgetown (216 North Race St., Georgetown) Sunday, September 17. Visit hispanicfest.festivalhispano.org or (302) 858-5118.
If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle journalist Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider subscribing to her weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.
