The 26th annual Boast the Coast event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 1. 

Boast the Coast was conceived in 1996 to showcase Lewes’ nautical heritage and to feature activities that complemented the already long-established University of Delaware’s annual “Coast Day” event. 

Boast the Coast takes place annually on the first Saturday in October and Coast Day on the first Sunday in October. This year’s Boast the Coast activities are sponsored by Irish Eyes Pub & Restaurant and Beebe Healthcare with partial funding from Southern Delaware Tourism.

A number of free activities are associated with Boast the Coast that take place in 1812 Park adjacent to the City Dock on the canal from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Freedom Boat Club will offer free boat tours leaving from City Dock, also from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. These short excursions on the canal are on a first-come, first-served basis with six to eight passengers per trip. Visitors to the park and dock will be entertained by Lewes-vocalist Jgar Helwig, who will perform his repertoire of Broadway show tunes and other popular favorites from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Other activities taking place simultaneously at the dock and in the park include a seafood tasting with food priced individually by Lewes-restaurant, Full Belly Bistro. Cape Water Tours is offering two, hour-long narrated tours departing from City Dock at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The tour, “Floating Through Lewes Maritime History,” will be narrated by Marcos Salaverria, director of education at the Lewes Historical Society. The cost is $20/adults and $15/children under 12. Reservations are available to purchase online at CapeWaterTours.com. 

The annual Lewes Merchants’ Fall Sidewalk Sale has long been associated with Boast the Coast. This three-day event will take place Friday, Sept. 30 through Sunday, Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The majority of the retail businesses in the Historic Lewes Business District participate.

Other events taking place on Oct. 1 in association with Boast the Coast are the Historic Lewes Farmers Market, Overfalls Lightship deck tours, The Lewes Maritime Museum at the Cannonball House tours, Peninsula Gallery Opening Reception, Lewes Historical Society Fall Craft Fair, Cape Artists Gallery Open House and the Lewes Public Library Community Carnival.

For more information about Boast the Coast activities, visit www.LewesChamber.com or call 302-645-8073 or 877-465-3937.