Longwood Sets Summer 2026 Lineup

☀️ Rise and Shine, 302. If you've already filed your taxes, good for you. If you haven't, at least you're reading a newsletter. That's something

Your 302 Rundown:

Let’s get to it

May 16, 2026 | 10:00 am–4:00 pm 

Pack your prettiest picnic and step into the timeless charm of a country-estate garden party inspired by H. F. du Pont’s love of entertaining outdoors.   

Enjoy your own beautifully packed picnic or indulge in seasonal offerings from our curated mobile vendors. Then settle in amid the scenic open fields alongside Azalea Woods for a joyful day soundtracked by the Unforgettable Big Band performing favorites from across the decades. 

Adding to the charm, an old-school procession of vintage Rolls-Royces, 1950s automobiles, Winterthur farm tractors, marching bands, and bagpipers will parade through the garden in a spirited nod to Winterthur’s heritage. Guided garden tours will be available. 

Come celebrate the season—and 75 years of Winterthur—with a gathering that blends nostalgia, style, relaxed elegance, and the simple magic of celebrating outdoors.  

Tickets and more information at winterthur.org/field-and-fete

Think you know local real estate? We're showing you a home that's currently for sale in northern Delaware and you have to guess the listing price. No peeking at Zillow.

Amtrak track work north of Wilmington Station is shutting down SEPTA rail service on the Wilmington/Newark Line this Saturday and Sunday, April 11-12. DART shuttle buses will fill in for the trains during the disruption.

The shuttle service will run between Wilmington Station and Claymont Transit Center while the track work is underway. Riders on that stretch of the line should plan for longer travel times and check schedules before heading out this weekend.

Spring break and Easter travel pushed parking lots at Wilmington Airport close to capacity over the weekend. The main lots — A, B and C — dipped to just three available spaces on Friday before rebounding slightly to 47 by Saturday morning.

Avelo Airlines has been ramping up flight frequencies to destinations like Orlando, Fort Myers, and San Juan, and total passenger traffic at the airport is up more than 30% so far in 2025. Overflow parking is available at Lot D, within walking distance of the terminal, at $8 per day compared to $11.50 for the closer lots.

The Delaware River and Bay Authority has budgeted more than $4 million for improvements to Lot D, following a renovation project at the airport's 1950s-era terminal.

Longwood Gardens is gearing up for its next season of live music and outdoor theater. The Kennett Square botanical garden recently announced its Summer Performance Series, which will run from May through September 2026.

The upcoming lineup features a mix of musical acts and theatrical performances set across the grounds, including the historic Open Air Theatre. The concert series coincides with the annual Festival of Fountains, bringing extended evening hours and choreographed water displays set to music and lights. Visitors will also find casual live music scattered throughout the gardens during the summer months.

Members typically receive early access to purchase tickets before they become available to the general public.

A new outdoor arts festival is headed to Northern Delaware this May. The Brandywine Spring Festival of the Arts will run May 16–17 at the Siegel JCC on Garden of Eden Road in Wilmington. It's produced by Barry's Events, the same outfit behind the fall Brandywine Festival of the Arts and the winter holiday edition.

The two-day event will feature 100 to 150 juried artists and artisans, plus food trucks, live entertainment, and a dog adoption component with Angel's Retreat. Admission is $5 per person with free parking. Producer Barry Schlecker, who turns 86 this month, said the festival is designed as an entry point for emerging artists, with plans for a mentoring program pairing newcomers with experienced exhibitors.

Artists, vendors, and nonprofits can apply through the festival's website or contact Barry's Events directly.

Drip Cafe in Hockessin is teaming up with a regional floral designer to host a hands-on flower arranging workshop this spring. The April 24 event brings Chester County Cart Company into the local coffee shop for an evening focused on seasonal blooms.

Tickets for the workshop run $75, which covers all the necessary materials, including a vase and fresh spring flowers. A professional designer will walk attendees through the basics of building a balanced arrangement, from picking complementary stems to final placement.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. to give participants time to purchase food and drinks from the cafe menu before the instruction kicks off an hour later. Advance registration is required to secure a spot.

Bounce Pickleball has closed its nearly 25,000-square-foot facility on the Wilmington Riverfront and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The location was open for less than a year, situated in an area that's seen a wave of apartment construction and a growing population of working professionals.

The chain's other locations in Philadelphia, Malvern, and Baltimore are not affected by the closure. Chapter 7 typically means liquidation rather than reorganization, so a comeback at the Riverfront spot doesn't appear to be in the cards.

The Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement just rolled out a new health insurance program called Care for Good. The initiative is designed specifically for local nonprofit organizations with ten or more employees.

The launch follows recent jumps in the state's health insurance market, where some individual rates increased by over thirty percent last year. The new program was developed in collaboration with state officials and the Department of Insurance to offer employers more predictable coverage rates. Smaller organizations with fewer than ten workers have a similar option available through Angle Health.

Eligible nonprofit members can enroll in either of the new insurance programs now.

As spring begins, it’s the perfect time to release the heaviness of winter and reset your energy.

Join Ann-Marie at Mind Body Spirit DE in Wilmington on April 8 for a Spring Reset Sound Bath & Meditation. The evening begins with a guided meditation followed by the calming tones of crystal singing bowls designed to help quiet the mind and promote deep relaxation.

Participants often leave feeling lighter, clearer, and more grounded.

Events are held in small groups at the Mind Body Spirit Healing Room in Wilmington, and space is limited.

Details and registration are available at mindbodyspiritde.com.

State transportation officials are weighing two $21 million redesign options for a stretch of Glasgow Avenue between U.S. 40 and Route 896. The project aims to address high vehicle speeds while accommodating pedestrians and cyclists.

The first proposal introduces a “Main Street” concept near Peoples Plaza, featuring on-street parking alongside separated bike and pedestrian pathways. The second option skips the street parking in favor of a second southbound traffic lane between U.S. 40 and Cann Road. Both plans incorporate a new traffic signal at Peoples Plaza and roundabouts at Paxson Lane and Old County Road.

The state is collecting public feedback on the designs through April 25. Officials expect to select a final concept this summer, with construction tentatively slated for late 2028 or 2029.

Over 100 residents gathered at Brookside Elementary School on Wednesday to push back against a New Castle County proposal to manage their neighborhood's finances. The plan aims to help the local homeowners association recover following a recent embezzlement case that left the community missing nearly $100,000.

If implemented, Brookside would become the first Neighborhood Improvement District in the county. The designation allows local officials to collect annual dues directly through county tax bills to fund services like snow plowing and park maintenance, while charging an administrative fee of up to fifteen percent.

The current homeowners association board unanimously opposes the measure. To stop the plan from advancing to a county council vote this August, half of the neighborhood's residents must submit notarized letters of opposition.

State lawmakers recently advanced a bill that would restrict civil immigration arrests at courthouses and Department of Labor hearings across Delaware. State Representative Mara Gorman introduced the legislation to prevent federal agents from detaining individuals showing up for court dates or workers' compensation claims.

While Gorman noted she has not seen these arrests happen at local courthouses, she pointed to incidents in other states as the reason for the bill. The legislation does not prevent criminal arrests, but it would require immigration officers to provide written notice before making a civil arrest in these specific state buildings.

The measure cleared the House on a party-line vote just before the spring recess. It now heads to the State Senate for consideration.

On Mondays, opening acts and exhibits are listed here when they debut. After that, you'll find individual dates in the regular Theatre/Arts listings.

It’s a Spring Thing at Jester Artspace. Celebrate the return of color and creativity with this multimedia exhibition featuring works from local artists exploring the energy of the season. Saturdays through April 18.

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at Resident Ensemble Players. A sharp, laugh-out-loud comedy about family, fading dreams, and unexpected chaos unfolds in this acclaimed production filled with eccentric characters and witty twists. Opens Thursday April 9 and runs through Sunday April 26.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. Just things worth knowing. I’ll always flag sponsors clearly.

That smile. That stance. That "I know I'm cute and I dare you to disagree" energy. This is Betty Deville, and yes, she's named after the toughest mom in Rugrats, which should tell you everything you need to know. She's a four-year-old brindle beauty with a grey coat, white paws, and the kind of confidence that makes you wonder if she's already picked out her spot on your couch.

Betty is the full package. She's dog friendly, walks like a lady on leash, sleeps in her crate like a champ, and actually enjoys bath time (so she's already better behaved than most humans we know). She also loves to run, so if you've been looking for a workout partner who won't cancel on you, Betty's your girl.

She's available at the Brandywine Valley SPCA's Copeland Center for Animal Welfare at 290 Churchmans Rd in New Castle. Stop by for an introduction. One look at that grin and you'll be filling out the paperwork before you hit the parking lot.

60 🌡️ 42 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 3% | 💨 WNW 13 mph

52 🌡️ 31 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 4% | 💨 NW 16 mph

53 🌡️ 32 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 0% | 💨 E 9 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 46ºF
Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach.

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