FULTON BANK SPONSORS EVENT
The Lewes Chamber of Commerce continues its partnership with Lewes in Bloom, The Lewes Historical Society, Lewes Parks & Recreation Commission, the Zwaanendael Museum and the Historic Lewes Farmers Market to present the seventh annual Lewes Tulip Celebration, blossoming on April 7-16, 2016. A 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 fourth consecutive year.
The timing of the tulips’ appearance is an inexact science and to that end, the committee decided to expand the time frame of the event to enhance the chances that the tulips will be visible during the event. The event dates span two weekends with special events planned on the first weekend - April 7, 8 & 9. The Lewes Historical Society’s Lewes Preservation Awards, presented every other year, will be celebrated this year at a luncheon at Irish Eyes at Noon on April 8, sponsored by Burton Builders and at a public awards ceremony in Zwaanendael Park at 2 p.m. on April 9.
To date, 15,055 tulips have been planted in the City’s parks and other public locations to 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 received top honors in the prestigious 2015 America in Bloom national awards program at their annual awards held in Holland, Michigan on September 26, 2015. Lewes received a top five bloom rating out of a possible five blooms and they also won in their competition category - Champions for small towns with populations under 5,000. Lewes received special mention for its community floral displays.
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 Trolley Tours coordinated with the Cape May-Lewes Ferry with docents from the Lewes Historical Society and Warren Golde, founder and past co-chair of Lewes in Bloom. The trolley tours are scheduled for April 7-9 only at 11:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The Tulip Trolley Tours are $10, seating is limited and reservations can be made by calling the Lewes Chamber of Commerce - 302-645-8073. The tours depart from the bus stop at the corner of Second and Market Streets.
The event organizers created the Tip Toe To The Tulips Map with an associated ticket. Tiptoe To The Tulip Tickets (separate and different from the Tulip Trolley Tickets) are free and will be distributed with each map. Ticket-holders, who visit 10 of the businesses that have advertisements surrounding the map and get their ticket stamped, will be entered in drawings for individual gift certificates donated by the participating businesses. The maps and tickets can be picked up beginning Thursday, April 7 through Saturday, April 16 at the Lewes Chamber of Commerce’s visitor center in the Fisher-Martin house located in Zwaanendael Park behind the Zwaanendael Museum. Completed tickets can be turned at the Chamber’s visitor center, which is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday, April 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets also can be turned in on Sunday, April 17 at Marsha’s Co., located on Front Street across from the 1812 Parking Lot. Ticket holders need not be present to win. The drawing will be held on Monday, April 18 and winners will be notified by phone or e-mail.
A photography contest is another component of the festival with judging in five categories – Lewes Architecture, Lewes Landscapes, Quintessential Lewes (subject matter that is uniquely Lewes), Tulips (images must be photographed in the Lewes geographic area) and Lewes Food. The cost to enter the contest is $5 per submission with a maximum of five entries per photographer. Monetary awards will be made for first, second and third place in each of the five subject categories. 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 at the 2 p.m. ceremony on April 9. The Grand Prize winner will receive a cash prize of $100 from the chamber. Entries will be accepted beginning March 14 at the chamber’s visitor center in the Fisher-Martin House at 120 Kings Highway. Deadline for entry is March 28 by 4 p.m. and the awards will be presented April 9 at 2 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 7 - 9, 2016 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
The final schedule of events will be available in early April and the Tiptoe To The Tulips Map and Tulip Tickets will be available at the Lewes Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, April 7. For more detailed information, contact the Lewes Chamber of Commerce at (302)645-8073.
For more detailed information, contact the Lewes Chamber of Commerce at (302)645-8073.