9th Annual Lewes Tulip Celebration Blooms on April 6-15

9th Annual Lewes Tulip Celebration Blooms on April 6-15
Event Includes 2nd “Lewes Two-Lips Culinary Week” from April 6-12 &
The Lewes Historical Society's Preservation Awards Luncheon on April 12 

      
The Lewes Chamber of Commerce’s ninth annual Lewes Tulip Celebration will be blossoming on April 6-15, 2018.   It is a partnership with Lewes in Bloom, The Lewes Historical Society, Lewes Parks & Recreation Commission, the Zwaanendael Museum, the Historic Lewes Farmers Market and new participants, the Lewes Chamber restaurant members participating in the 2nd annual “Lewes TWO-Lips Culinary Week”.  The broad-based committee, chaired by chamber-member and Mayor Ted Becker, is working on all aspects of the multifaceted event. This year’s celebration is receiving financial sponsorship by chamber-member Fulton Bank for the sixth consecutive year and Tulip Planting Bed sponsorship from Long & Foster. The biennial Lewes Preservation Awards, sponsored by the Lewes Historical Society, have been incorporated into the Tulip Celebration since the inception of the event nine years ago. This year the Society’s Preservation Awards luncheon is Thursday, April 12 at noon at the Lewes History Museum. For more information, visit the Society’s website – www.HistoricLewes.org.
 
The timing of the tulips’ appearance is an inexact science and to that end, the committee has expanded the time frame of the event to enhance the chances that the tulips will be visible during the event. The event dates (April 6-15) span two weekends with special events planned on the first weekend - April 6 & 7.  In advance of the Celebration, Lewes in Bloom and the Lewes Public Library will present a Children’s Tulip Celebration story hour at the Library on April 5 at 10:30 a.m. with stories, crafts and snacks.  On both April 6 & 7, the Tulip Celebration’s Photography Contest submissions will be displayed in a tent in Zwaanendael Park from 11a.m. – 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Also on the 6th & 7th in the park, weather permitting, Lewes Beekeeping Club will share information about the art and science of beekeeping. Pollinators such as honey bees are key to the production of more than 30% of the foods we enjoy including strawberries, apples and coffee. There will be samples of the honey produced by the club’s bees and if weather permits, the club will have a demonstration hive at the event as well.  On April 7, Lewes in Bloom will be staging a sale in Zwaanendael Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with potted tulips among other plant-related items for sale. There are other activities taking place in Zwaanendael Park on April 7, including the GFWC-Zwaanendael Women’s Club taking orders for 6” geranium pots for pick up on May 4th, the sale of which benefits their donations to the many locally-based organizations they support.
 
Floral displays are an integral part of the Tulip Celebration. The Zwaanendael Museum will have arrangements on display created by members of the Sussex Gardeners. It was founded in 1937 and is one of the oldest garden clubs in the United States, a member of the Federation of Garden Clubs and part of The National Garden Clubs, Inc. Central Atlantic Region.  Flower arranging demonstrations are scheduled for Friday, April 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Floral Inspirations, located at 524 E. Savannah Road (in the shops under the Beacon Motel).  Owner Ken Norman and members of his team invite people to stop by and watch them at work. Ken will also be hosting a Tulip Arranging class in his store on Tuesday, April 10 from 10 a.m. to Noon and it will be a fundraiser for Lewes in Bloom. Flowers by Mayumi, located at 128 Second Street, invites everyone to stop by her shop and watch informally as their designers create beautiful floral arrangements on Saturday, April 7 from 1 – 2 p.m. 
 
The 2nd “Lewes TWO-Lips Culinary Week” is collaboration with the Lewes Chamber of Commerce and its members in the restaurant sector, chaired by chamber board member Rich Garrahan, co-owner of the Crooked Hammock Brewery.  Last year was the first time that the Lewes Chamber members organized a Culinary Week and its format does not follow a traditional “Restaurant Week.”  Each participating business will identity a “specialty” menu offering that will be available from Friday, April 6 - Thursday, April 12. Patrons who order this specially designated item will fill out a raffle form that will enter them in the contest with all the others who order these items during the culinary week. The grand prize drawing will include a two-night stay at the Dogfish Inn (date restrictions apply) with gift certificates and merchandise donated by the participating restaurants. A complete list of the participating restaurants will be available closer to the event.
 
The number of tulips and other spring bulbs planted in the City’s parks and other public locations expanded to more than 20,000. The locations of the plantings will be identified on the map produced in association with the celebration. More than 100 varieties will be on display. They were all planted by Lewes in Bloom volunteers, an organization of volunteers who promote the beautification of Lewes by planting flowerbeds and planters throughout the City and maintaining them during the entire growing season. Lewes in Bloom is coordinating a new feature to this year’s Tulip Celebration.  Free lectures at the Lewes Library will be offered on Friday, April 6 and Saturday, April 7. The times and topics will be announced at a later date and will be included in the Tiptoe To The Tulips Map. On Saturday, April 7 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., the Lewes Historical Society is offering the opportunity to experience the 18th century chocolate making process and “taste of the past” in their Museum Gift Shop at 302 Savannah Road. Visitors will learn more about the 19th century Chocolate Trade Cards and their connection to Lewes’ Dutch beginnings and continued heritage. Blue and White Dutch style Delft ceramics and other collectibles will be on sale.
 
The tulip planting locations as well as Lewes’ historic landmarks will be included on the Tiptoe To The Tulips Map and the Tiptoe To The Tulips Shuttle Tours coordinated with the Cape May-Lewes Ferry with docents from Lewes in Bloom – John Hanson and Cindy DeEmedio.  The trolley tours are only scheduled for April 6, 7 & 14 at 11:15 and 12:30. The Tulip Shuttle Tours are $10, seating is limited and reservations can be made by after March 15 by calling the Lewes Chamber of Commerce - 302-645-8073. The tours depart from the Fisher-Martin House which is the Lewes Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center at 120 Kings Highway, next to the Zwaanendael Museum.
 
The event organizers created the Tip Toe To The Tulips Map that will be available beginning Thursday, April 5 at the Lewes Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Center.  Each map will have a raffle ticket that can be torn off and dropped off no later than Sunday April 15 at one of the businesses listed on the map. All the raffle tickets will be collected after April 15 and there will be multiple-winner drawing with each winner receiving a gift certificate from one of the participating businesses listed on the map.
 
A photography contest is another component of the Tulip Celebration with judging in six categories – Lewes Architecture, Lewes Landscapes, Quintessential Lewes (subject matter that is uniquely Lewes), Tulips (images must be photographed in the Lewes geographic area), Lewes Food and a new category last year, Lewes in Black and White. No sepia submissions will be accepted in this category. All entries must be photographed in Lewes.  The cost to enter the contest is $5 per submission with a maximum of five entries per photographer. Each photograph can only be entered in one category and the photographer determines the category.  Monetary awards will be made for first, second and third place in each of the six subject categories. Other prizes include the Mayor’s Prize and a cash award from Coastal Camera Club (CCC), a group that has collaborated on the photography contest for the past eight years and coordinated by CCC member Sue Eberhart. The judges are all professional photographers and chamber members.  Additionally, visitors to the photography exhibit will have the opportunity to select their favorite photograph and the winner will be awarded a special ribbon for the “People’s Choice Award” at the 2 p.m. ceremony on April 7. The Grand Prize winner will receive a cash prize of $100 from the chamber. Entries will be accepted beginning March 12 at the chamber’s visitor center in the Fisher-Martin House at 120 Kings Highway. Deadline for entry is March 23 by 4 p.m.  For entry rules and more information, call the chamber at 645-8073 or visit www.LewesChamber.com. The photographs will be on display in Zwaanendael Park on April 6 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. and April 7 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.  
 
On the Lewes beach side of town, two additional events are taking place in the businesses under the Beacon Motel (in addition to the Floral Inspirations demonstration on Friday, April 6.)  Mare’s Bears will be hosting a Spring Flowers Quilt Exhibit in the Beacon Motel lobby on Friday, April 7 and Saturday, April 8 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. The Peninsula Gallery will hold a floral exhibition, “Birds and Bees, Flowers and Trees,” a multiple artist show designed to coincide with the Tulip Celebration, Celebrate Arbor Day and raise funds for Art in Bloom. The gallery owners are donating 10% of their proceeds from sales and two of the artists, Nick Serratore and Richard Calvo are donating 100% donation to Art in Bloom. The other artists are Robert Jenkins, Brenda Kidera, Rick Phillips, Teresa Politowicz and Betsey VonDreele. The exhibition will open on March 31 with a reception from 5-7 p.m. to which the public is invited. Images from the show are on the gallery’s website, www.peninsula-gallery.com. 
 
The final schedule of events will be available in early April. The Tiptoe To The Tulips Map will be available at the Lewes Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, April 5. For more detailed information, contact the Lewes Chamber of Commerce at (302)645-8073.     
 

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