May 20th, 2023 - 10:00 am to 4:30 pm
Join us on Saturday May 20th between 10 am and 2 pm for a celebration of Lewes’ maritime history! Free and open to the public, there will be an opening ceremony at 10 am to recognize Merchant Mariners who have served our country and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Lightship Overfalls’ (LV-118) arrival in Lewes. Come stroll the vendor exhibits, boat tours and demonstrations throughout the day. Exhibits and the ship will be open for free visits and tours starting at 11 am. Some boating and sailing excursions will be offered for a fee, including the AJ Meerwald sailings on Saturday and Sunday. FREE parking is available at the Ferry Terminal and a circulator bus will transport people between 2nd Street and the Ferry Terminal parking lot between 9 am and 3 pm. For complete details on the day and links to purchase tickets for the sailings, visit the website below or click here.
EVENT SCHEDULE
10:00 Opening Ceremony
11:00-2:00 Exhibits, Tours and Boat Rides open. Music by Jgar.
11:00 “History Happens Here” Cruise with Lewes Historical Society and Cape Water Taxi (tickets required - buy tickets here)
12:00 Overfalls Exhibit “Rope Cutting” Ceremony at Cannonball House
1:00 DRBA Liferaft Demonstration
2:00 Schooner A.J. Meerwald Schooner Sailing (tickets Required - click here for information)
4:00 HMS DeBraak Program at the Zwaanendael Museum
4:00-7:00 “Chantey Tavern Night” at Lewes Historical Center (tickets required - buy tickets here)
REVISED SCHEDULE DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS AS OF 7 am May 20, 2023:
1. The opening ceremony planned for 10 am in Canalfront Park is canceled. However, a smaller memorial service will be held at the gangway of the ship for family members of those who are being memorialized.
2. The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Cannonball House to take place at noon will proceed as planned.
3. Exhibits are canceled with the following exceptions:
- The Lightship Overfalls will be open for tours from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm.
- The tall ship AJ Meerwald will be open for tours from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The 2:00 pm sailing will proceed as planned. Sunday’s noon sailing will also proceed as planned.
- The “History Happens Here” Cruise with the Lewes Historical Society and Cape Water Taxi will take place at 11:00 am as planned.
- The Liferaft demonstration will take place at 1:00 pm as planned.
- The HMS DeBraak Program at the Zwaanendael Museum will take place at 4:00 pm as planned.
- “Chantey Tavern Night” at Lewes Historical Society Campus will take place 4:00-7:00 pm as planned.
We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.