Peach Festival Returns For Its 33rd Year

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Let’s get to it

As we celebrate our first full year, you are invited to join us in celebrating our community.  La Fête is hosting a pop-up summer market featuring local vendors, farms, artists, live music and more!.  Join us for brunch during the event, or happy hour and dinner after.  

Reservations suggested for brunch or dinner.  The pop-up is free to attend and family-friendly.

Check out all of our upcoming events on our website.

À bientôt!

La Fête Restaurant
2530 Concord Pike
Wilmington, DE 19803
302.374.0779
lafetedelaware.com

Every longtime restaurant hopes to have that one dish customers associate with its name. One Northern Delaware spot has managed to do exactly that with a rather distinctive soup.

Source: Delaware Online

A long-running autumn tradition is on hold at Milburn Orchards. The farm canceled its pick-your-own apple events for the season, pausing an activity it has offered for more than three decades.

Multiple late-spring frosts wiped out the orchard's apple, peach, and cherry crops. The farm notified customers of the widespread crop loss in an email.

Source: WHYY

Drinking water supplier Veolia filed a lawsuit in Delaware Superior Court against nine companies, alleging they contaminated local water sources with PFAS. The suit claimed the businesses released the chemicals into waterways that supply 100,000 New Castle County residents.

Veolia draws about a third of its supply from the Red Clay Creek, which runs downstream from a former manufacturing facility named in the complaint. The water utility sought compensation to cover a $35 million treatment system it built to filter out the chemicals.

The company stated that recovering the cleanup costs from the manufacturers would help protect ratepayers from rising water bills as new federal testing regulations take effect.

Source: Delaware Business Now

Two New Castle County shopping centers submitted plans for major changes to their properties. Applications filed with the county outlined interior demolitions and new uses for both Concord Mall and Bear's Eden Square.

At Concord Mall, developers proposed demolishing the interior space to create a much smaller retail footprint. Further south at Eden Square, plans called for tearing down a portion of the existing retail space to build an apartment complex.

The proposed change match a broader shift toward mixed-use developments that blend housing with nearby retail stores. Both demolition plans require approval through the county land use process.

Source: Delaware Business Times

The property housing the Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grille in Christiana hit the market for lease. The 6,600-square-foot building on Stanton Christiana Road is advertised as a turnkey restaurant opportunity.

Despite the real estate listing, the restaurant remains open and no closure notices have been posted. Brokers handling the property declined to comment on the status of the current tenant.

The listing follows the closure of the chain's Middletown location in November. Several other Greene Turtle locations in Maryland also closed in 2025 due to downsizing and expiring lease agreements.

Source: Delaware Online 🔒 PAYWALLED

A University of Delaware graduate who built a large social media following for her homemade wrap recipes partnered with M20 Hospitality Group to launch two dining concepts in Newark. Maya Centrella teamed up with the local restaurant group to take over the former Mi Ranchito space on North Chapel Street.

The dual concept location features WRAP'D, a made-to-order assembly line for oversized wraps, bowls, and salads, alongside SPOON'D, a frozen yogurt bar. The two storefronts have separate entrances but connect on the inside, allowing customers to grab a meal and dessert in one stop.

Both restaurants are expected to open in late September or early October, offering dine-in seating, takeout, and delivery options.

Source: Spotlight Delaware

Delaware's recreational marijuana industry generated $53.4 million in its first year of legal sales, falling well below initial state projections of $281 million. The only retail businesses operating were shops that converted from selling medicinal marijuana.

Entrepreneurs struggled to open new cultivation sites and storefronts due to capital shortages and restrictive local zoning laws. Out of 20 social equity licensees for cultivation, only one became active. A third of Delaware municipalities prohibited marijuana shops from opening in their jurisdictions.

Following a legislative vote to loosen zoning regulations, state officials anticipated a new storefront opening in Georgetown. The state marijuana commissioner also announced a partnership with Delaware Technical Community College to offer business classes for licensees.

Source: Spotlight Delaware

A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction to WuXi AppTec, pausing the company's inclusion on a Department of Defense blacklist. The pharmaceutical manufacturer is building a $600 million campus in Middletown.

The Pentagon previously designated the firm as a Chinese military entity, which restricted its ability to work with American companies using government funds. The judge dismissed the government claims, noting mathematical errors regarding stock ownership and mischaracterized research partnerships.

The initial blacklist designation caused several customers and vendors to pause their contracts. Following the court order, the Middletown facility remains on schedule to open in the winter.

The Newark Independent Film Festival opens today and runs through Saturday, August 15, bringing dozens of independent films from Delaware and around the world to the big screen.

This year's lineup spans drama, comedy, horror, documentaries, sci-fi, animation, and more, with several Delaware-made films mixed throughout the eight screening blocks. Stories range from local history and family drama to dark comedy, experimental film, and even a horror movie featuring Danny Glover.

Screenings take place at Chapel Street Players, with today's opening block beginning at noon and additional programs continuing through Saturday evening.

Grab your tickets and see what independent filmmakers are creating beyond Hollywood.

Source: Spotlight Delaware

The Delaware City refinery appealed a nearly $1 million penalty from state environmental regulators over excess air pollution. The state issued the maximum fine allowed after the facility released sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides above permitted levels during equipment repairs in May.

Refinery owner PBF Energy argued in its appeal that the penalty is an abuse of discretion. The company stated that regulators ignored its efforts to collaborate and made demands that showed a misunderstanding of the industry. State officials countered that the refinery has a history of similar violations and financially benefited from keeping equipment running during maintenance.

The state Environmental Appeals Board will hear the case, though a date has not yet been scheduled.

The Rock Orchestra: All Together Now | Delaware Theatre Company. A six-night concert series where The Rock Orchestra performs the entire Beatles catalog chronologically, covering 217 songs from the band's early pop records to their final studio albums. Attendees can purchase a single-night ticket for a specific era or a festival pass for the full run. Playing Monday through Saturday at 8 PM.

Sculpture Garden Happy Hours featuring Vernon James | Delaware Art Museum. An evening of original jazz from Wilmington saxophonist Vernon James Jr, featuring arts-and-crafts vendors, lawn games, local food trucks, and a cash bar. Thursday at 5 PM.

Summer Concert Series: Mothers Highway Junction | Bellevue State Park. A Bellevue Bandshell concert in the 39th annual Summer Concert Series, with local artists and food trucks on site; picnics are allowed. Thursday at 6:30 PM.

Candlelight Comedy Club 2026 | The Candlelight Theatre. A monthly adult comedy night featuring three comedians, with light fare and a cash bar included. Thursday at 6:30 PM.

2nd Friday (August) | Main Street in North East. The August edition of 2nd Fridays on Main has a dog-friendly theme, with live music from Bad Alibi on the Green and additional performances at Elk River Brewing Company and Snatchers Creekside, plus dog-themed treats and specials from downtown restaurants and merchants. Free. Friday 5-8 PM.

Parks on Draft - August | Old Paper Mill Road Park. An outdoor gathering featuring live music by Bella Von, brews, and food from Grotto's Pizza, with proceeds benefiting SODE Cycling. Free. Friday at 5 PM.

Movie Under the Stars: The Sandlot | Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. An outdoor lawn screening where attendees bring their own blankets or chairs, featuring themed trivia before the film and snacks and cocktails available for purchase. Tickets are $15, $12 for members. Friday 7-10:30 PM.

Bar None Entertainment Presents the Comusic Festival: Best Kept Soul Live Band & Comedy | Studio 1. A hybrid show blending stand-up comedy with a live soundtrack. Comedians Keith Purnell, Shanell Renee, and Reverend Bob Levy perform alongside a six-piece band playing a mix of R&B, rock, and Motown. Friday at 6:45 PM.

City Fest Comedy Show: D'Lai, Don't Call Me White Girl & DJ Blaire | The Queen Wilmington. A stand-up performance in The Crown room featuring comedian D'Lai, hosted by Don't Call Me White Girl, with music from DJ Blaire. Doors open at 6 PM. Friday at 7 PM.

33rd Annual Middletown Olde-Tyme Peach Festival | Main Street Middletown. A rain-or-shine Main Street festival that starts with the annual Peach Parade on Broad Street and includes children’s activities, a local artist exhibit, historical exhibits, a peach pie contest, crafts, music, food, games, and peaches. Saturday 8:45 AM - 4 PM.

Murder Mystery Program | Fort Delaware State Park. A murder mystery event where attendees help the O.K. Detectives identify a killer among the fort's community. Tickets are $50. Saturday 5-8 PM.

Summer Concert Series: The 287th Army Band | Bellevue State Park. A live performance by the 287th Army Band at the Bellevue Bandshell. Attendees can bring a picnic or purchase meals from local food trucks. Sunday at 6:30 PM.

More happenings we couldn’t fit in the newsletter.

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

Thursday

88 🌡️ 70 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 5% | 💨 W 0 to 5 mph

Friday

86 🌡️ 67 | 🌧️ Chance Rain Showers | 32% | 💨 N 0 to 5 mph

Saturday

85 🌡️ 67 | ☀️ Sunny | 14% | 💨 N 5 mph

Sunday

85 🌡️ 70 | ⛈️ Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms | 35% | 💨 S 0 to 10 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 79ºF. Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach.

The full events calendar includes live music, festivals, classes, markets, family activities, community gatherings, and dozens more happenings across Northern Delaware.

Submit an event →

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