Great Wolf’s $84 Sale Gets You a Suite and 2 Days of Fun

☀️ Rise and Shine, 302. After weeks of weather that told you to stay inside, the script flips Friday. The weekend might actually reward a little ambition. Walks feel possible, errands feel optional, and outdoor tables might fill up fast.

Your 302 Rundown:

• One-day Great Wolf Lodge deal: Stay and Play for $84

• Main Street Isn’t Rocking Like It Used To

• Pot officially hits the shelves Friday

Let’s get to it.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

🎤 What happened to the live music?

Main Street used to rock. Literally. But these days, Newark’s nightlife is all about DJs. Out & About just dropped a full feature on why live bands have taken a backseat. It’s part music, part money, and a whole lot of changing vibes.

Venues like Deer Park still host bands now and then, and Rainbow Records has a solid August 1 lineup. But the days of weekly cover bands and packed bar stages on Main Street? They're fading fast.

Check out the full story at Out & About. It’s a great read.

🌊 Great Wolf’s $84 deal is back

Get ready to make a splash! Great Wolf Lodge is bringing back its 84 Degrees Sale on August 4, and it’s a steal. For one day only, you can book a suite for just $84 — water park access for two included.

Here’s the kicker: you can hit the slides from 1 PM on check-in day until the park closes the next day, which means nearly 20 hours of nonstop fun. The deal is good for Sunday through Thursday nights through December 18, but you have to book this Sunday using code “84DEGREES.”

My son’s about to find out his dad is kind of awesome.

🌿 Recreational marijuana sales start Friday

Delaware’s long-awaited recreational marijuana market officially opens this Friday, August 1. After years of planning and delays, 12 dispensaries across the state will begin selling to adults 21 and older with valid ID. No medical card required.

Options include edibles, vapes, flower, tinctures, and more, with prices similar to medical dispensaries plus a 15% sales tax. Just remember, public use is still illegal. Most shops will open between 9 and 10 AM, and early access will be available for medical patients.

Whether or not you plan to visit, it’s a major change for Delaware. And one that’s expected to bring in $280 million in revenue for the state.

🦽 Delaware State Parks debut all-terrain wheelchairs

Delaware has officially expanded its Trackchair program to five state parks including Cape Henlopen, Lums Pond, Killens Pond, Trap Pond, and the flagship White Clay Creek. These motorized, all-terrain wheelchairs let visitors with mobility challenges explore wooded paths, picnic spots, and even concert lawns.

They come with treads, headlights, an adjustable seat, and a horn. Best part? They're free to reserve in three-hour blocks and even include companion controls. For many, this is the first time back on the trails.

It’s a quiet but powerful shift, making nature more inclusive, one chair at a time.

IN BUSINESS

🏢 WSFS doubles down on Wilmington

WSFS Bank just renewed its lease at 500 Delaware Avenue, keeping its headquarters firmly planted in downtown Wilmington. The long-term deal with Buccini Pollin Group comes with a full office renovation aimed at boosting collaboration and updating the space for its 300 associates.

This move quiets rumors about WSFS shifting focus to Philly, where it’s expanded in recent years. With nearly 75,000 square feet of office space and some very prominent signage, the bank is clearly staying put.

It’s a vote of confidence in the city, and a big win for Wilmington’s business district. Full story here.

💼 Big fintech ideas, born in Delaware

There’s a quiet fintech revolution brewing at UD’s STAR Campus. The CAFE accelerator is two years in and already launching startups like Prismm, a digital vault that stores everything from insurance docs to estate plans, safely encrypted and easy to access in a crisis.

Led by the Center for Advancing Financial Equity, the 12-week program helps early-stage founders build tools that support everyday folks’ financial health. It’s not just Zoom lectures either. These entrepreneurs pitch to banks, meet with the SBA, and make real connections.

With applications open for the fall cohort, Delaware’s becoming the place where fintech ideas (and founders) come to grow.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

🧾 Property tax sticker shock? Lawmakers are on it

If your latest property tax bill made you gasp, you’re not alone. The General Assembly is coming back for a rare one-day session on August 12 to tackle the reassessment fallout that’s left many homeowners, especially in New Castle County, reeling. Proposals include rolling back automatic 10 percent school tax hikes and letting schools tax businesses at a higher rate than homes.

Some say schools need the money. Others say enough is enough. Either way, your September tax deadline might get a little less painful if lawmakers make some moves.

Spotlight Delaware has the full scoop on what’s being proposed and what’s at stake.

🧾 Delaware just eliminated $50M in medical debt

Even if your name’s not on the bill, this is big. Delaware just partnered with Undue Medical Debt to cancel $50 million in unpaid healthcare debt for 17,000 residents. No applications, no red tape.

It’s part of a larger effort to ease financial strain: new laws now block medical debt from credit reports and make it possible to seal certain eviction records. That means fewer hurdles when it comes to housing, credit, and employment.

Whether it’s your neighbor, your babysitter, or your hairdresser, someone you know just got a serious financial breather.

THE HAPPENINGS

Multi-Day Events

Twelfth Night, O Lo Que Quieras wraps up its run this weekend, bringing a vibrant, bilingual musical twist to Shakespeare’s classic comedy. Thursday, July 31 through Sunday, August 3, 7:30 PM (Sunday at 7:00 PM) at Rockwood Park, 4651 Washington Street Extension, Wilmington — Sundays are Family Night (kids under 12 free with a paying adult), and ACCESS/EBT cardholders can attend for just $2.

UD Community Music School presents The Wizard of Oz – Follow Dorothy and her friends down the yellow brick road in this charming, family-friendly production featuring a live orchestra and all the magic of the classic film. Friday, August 1 at 7 PM, Saturday, August 2 at 7 PM, and Sunday, August 3 at 2 PM at Thompson Theatre, Roselle Center for the Arts, 110 Orchard Rd., Newark.

Thursday

Glasgow Park Farmers Market is your Thursday afternoon stop for everything from fresh produce to handmade skincare. Thursday, July 31 from 3:00–7:00 PM at 2275 Pulaski Highway, Newark — shop local, grab a sweet treat, and enjoy the variety of vendors in one of New Castle County’s most popular parks.

Sculpture Garden Happy Hour at the Delaware Art Museum returns with live music from The Full Carbon Get Up, a genre-mashing band blending reggae, funk, hip-hop, and more. Enjoy the scene on Thursday, July 31 from 5:00–7:30 PM at the Delaware Art Museum (2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE). Admission is free, with a cash bar and food trucks on site.

The X Band Experience at Bellevue Bandshell hits the stage for a high-energy night of music as part of the summer concert series. Join the fun on Thursday, July 31 at 6:30 PM at Bellevue State Park, Wilmington, DE—free and open to the public.

JD Webb at Glasgow Park kicks off another evening of the Summer Concert Series with live music and community vibes. Bring a chair and pick up dinner at the farmers market before the show begins on Thursday, July 31 at 6:30 PM at Glasgow Park, 2275 Pulaski Highway, Newark, DE—free and open to all.

Friday

Carousel Park Farmers Market is your Friday afternoon spot for fresh produce, handmade goods, and local flavor in Pike Creek. Friday, August 1 from 2:00–6:00 PM at 3700 Limestone Road, Wilmington — shop everything from goat milk soap to BBQ and baked goods, with EBT, cash, and cards all accepted.

Bellevue Farmers Market is a Friday afternoon favorite for local produce, baked goods, and handmade treats. Friday, August 1 from 3:00–7:00 PM at 510 Duncan Road, Wilmington (in front of the Bellevue Community Center) — shop fresh and stay a while, and don’t forget to join the market’s fun puzzle exchange!

Kennett Square Farmers Market is the perfect Friday stop for peak-summer produce, artisan breads, and small-batch specialties. Friday, August 1 from 3:00–6:00 PM at 600 S. Broad St., Kennett Square, PA. Stroll the lot for sweet corn, ripe peaches, and local favorites like Wagyu beef, wildflower honey, and European pastries.

Pop-Up Opera at the Sugar Bowl brings a lively evening of arias, show tunes, and interactive fun to Brandywine Park. Expect a family-friendly performance with bubbles, giveaways, and even a t-shirt cannon. Friday at 6 PM at the Sugar Bowl Pavilion, Brandywine Park, Wilmington.

Jump City 8 at the Brandywine Museum of Art brings West Coast Jazz vibes to Chadds Ford with a stylish, swing-inspired outdoor concert. The music starts on Friday, August 1 at 7:00 PM (doors open at 6:00 PM) at 1 Hoffman's Mill Road, Chadds Ford, PA—tickets $25 for non-members in advance, more at the door.

Saturday

New Castle Saturday Market brings small-town charm and local flavor to Delaware’s most walkable historic district. Saturday, August 2 from 9:00 AM–1:00 PM at 221 Delaware St., New Castle — shop artisan goods, fresh produce, and handmade treats while exploring cobblestone streets, riverside views, and family-friendly fun.

Middletown Farmers Market offers a Saturday morning mix of fresh produce, baked goods, and handmade items in a family-friendly setting. Saturday, August 2 from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM at 204 East Main Street, Middletown (Appoquinimink Library parking lot) — shop small and local with vendors accepting cash, cards, and EBT.

Sharon Sable Trio: Music at the River brings smooth vocals and jazz vibes to the waterfront for a family-friendly evening in Delaware City. Saturday, August 2 at 5:00 PM at Battery Park, 33 Clinton St., Delaware City — bring your blankets and lawn chairs for this free outdoor concert along the river.

Sunday

Brandywine Park Farmers Market returns this weekend for a special Sunday edition filled with fresh produce, artisan goods, and community wellness. Sunday, August 3 from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM at Brandywine Park, Wilmington — stroll the market, join the women-only walk club, and support local farms and makers in a vibrant riverside setting.

Newark Natural Foods Co-Op Farmers Market keeps Sundays fresh with local produce, handmade goods, and community vibes. Sunday, August 3 from 9:30 AM–2:00 PM at 209 Newark Shopping Center, Newark — shop rain or shine and support local growers and makers, with SNAP/EBT accepted at the market.

Whitehall Sunday Market returns this weekend with fresh goods, food trucks, and family-friendly fun. Sunday, August 3 from 12:00–5:00 PM at The Town of Whitehall, Saint Georges, DE — shop local produce, meats, baked goods, and artisan items while enjoying live music and activities for kids.

Petty Thieves at Bellevue Bandshell brings the music of Tom Petty to life with a Delaware-based tribute band that knows how to rock a summer night. Catch the show on Sunday, August 3 at 6:30 PM at Bellevue State Park, Wilmington, DE—a free concert perfect for fans of classic American rock.

FORECAST AT A GLANCE

Thursday

88 🌡️ 66 | ⛈️ | 98 % | 💨 SSE 8 mph

Friday

74 🌡️ 63 | ☁️ | 24 % | 💨 NNE 13 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 78ºF
Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean at Rehoboth Beach.

THE NOT SO SHORTLIST

Now on Their Own Pages

• 🧘 Health & Wellness

• 🎭 Theatre/Arts 

• 🥳 Weeknight Social 

• 🎶 Live Music

• 🧒 For the Kids

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