Wilmington Flower Market Brings Rides And Music

☀️ Rise and Shine, 302. Spring cleaning turned into spring rearranging turned into spring sitting on the porch. Progress is progress.

Your 302 Rundown:

Let’s get to it

Looking for the perfect Mother's Day treat that doesn’t involve a crowded brunch? Join the Forgetful Squirrels on Saturday, May 9th at 7:30pm for our special improv show: "Mother May We?"

We’re serving up high-energy laughs, family-friendly fun, and scenes inspired entirely by YOU (and maybe your mom’s favorite catchphrases). Don’t forget to bring the leading lady in your life! Even better - Mom's ticket is just $7.50, but don't worry - we won't tell her!

Get your tickets at ticketleap.com.

Forgetful Squirrels Improv
Chapel Street Players
643 Creek View Rd, Newark, DE 19711

Certain local foods carry an almost weird level of hometown pride around here. This one has been connected to Wilmington for decades, whether people realize it or not.

Source: Delaware Public Media

The state is moving its automated speed cameras to a new work zone along Interstate 95. With the construction project near Route 896 wrapping up this summer, transportation officials are shifting the enforcement tools north to the Churchmans Marsh area.

The bridge rehabilitation project requires expansive lane shifts for both northbound and southbound traffic. Over the past year, the area has seen dozens of crashes. Officials hope the cameras will encourage drivers to slow down and navigate the split lanes safely.

Once the cameras are installed, drivers will get a 21-day grace period where only warnings are issued. After that, fines will begin, starting at $118 for anyone caught driving 11 miles per hour over the speed limit.

Source: Delaware Business Now

White Clay Creek Country Club, the hybrid public-and-member course on the Delaware Park property near Newark, is scheduled to reopen Friday after its owner-manager abruptly shut it down late last year and asked members to clear out their lockers.

The club is still listed for sale at $3 million, and no new ownership has been announced. The club's website notes a golf academy is planned for the Stanton-Christiana site. The course, restaurant, and clubhouse are separate from the casino and racetrack property, which was sold by the Rickman family to an investment group.

No details have been released on what changed between the closure and Friday's planned reopening.

Source: Town Square Delaware

The Pennsylvania-based restaurant chain Nifty Fifty's has officially opened its first Delaware location on Marrows Road in Newark. The new diner took over the former KFC building situated near The Grove shopping area.

The restaurant features a classic 1950s theme with checkerboard floors, bright red booths, and vintage decor. The menu focuses heavily on traditional American diner food, including fresh beef burgers, hand-cut fries, and milkshakes made from a proprietary homemade ice cream recipe.

The location is drawing crowds of local residents, families, and university students looking for a sit-down meal. The chain currently operates several other locations across Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Source: Delaware Business Now

Construction crews are busy at the Kirkwood Sports Complex in New Castle, where a $10 million renovation project is underway. BPG Sports, the management arm of the Buccini Pollin Group, is overseeing the upgrades at the 65-acre facility.

The site plan trades two of the existing 14 fields to make room for 300 new parking spaces. Other changes include converting four grass fields to synthetic turf, replacing stadium lighting, laying new sod, and renovating the indoor arena. The project is partially backed by a $4 million state grant.

The updated complex is expected to wrap up construction this month. The new layout will be ready for local teams and visiting tournaments as the summer season begins.

Scout Cafe is bringing back its annual Spring Market on May 9, filling the back garden with local artists, makers, flowers, plants, handmade goods, and seasonal treats. Between the coffee, pastries, and outdoor setup, this feels like one of those events where you plan to stop by for 20 minutes and accidentally stay for an hour.

Scout’s full cafe menu will be available throughout the day, along with coffee, tea, and baked goods inside the cafe. It also lands the day before Mother’s Day, which means there’s a decent chance you leave with both a latte and a gift you didn’t realize you needed until you saw it sitting on a vendor table.

Stop by Scout Cafe Saturday morning for a relaxed start to Mother’s Day weekend.

📍 Scout Cafe, 2316 Baynard Blvd, Wilmington
🗓 Saturday, May 9 | 9am-3pm

Source: WDEL

A Delaware lawmaker introduced legislation to clarify the rules for selling hemp products. Senate Bill 298 aims to establish a firm boundary between legal hemp and marijuana after recent police raids left local business owners confused.

State regulations allow shops to sell hemp items with no more than 0.3 percent THC. However, several store owners report facing criminal charges due to a gray area in how the law is interpreted. The new proposal seeks to decriminalize hemp products and create consistent guidelines for retailers and law enforcement.

The bill faces a tight timeline with only a few weeks left in the legislative session. Some lawmakers are asking for more time to review the proposal before a final vote.

Source: Spotlight Delaware

Delaware voters will head to the polls on May 12 for local school board elections. Seven of the state's 19 school districts feature competitive races with multiple candidates vying for open seats.

The elections follow a year of debates over district finances, school overcrowding, and potential consolidation plans. Several competitive races are drawing attention, including a crowded field in the Appoquinimink School District following a recent financial deficit. Other notable contests are taking place in the Delmar, Christina, Red Clay, and Colonial districts.

Polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day. Elected board members will oversee budgets, tax requests, and superintendent contracts.

Source: Spotlight Delaware

A dispute over the partisan makeup of the Wilmington City Council could be heading to court. Council President Trippi Congo recently introduced a resolution to remove Councilman James Spadola from his seat following a recent party switch.

Spadola is considering legal options to fight the removal effort. Congo and several colleagues argue the move from Republican to Democrat violates the intent of the city charter, which guarantees the election of at least one minority party candidate. Spadola maintains the charter only governs nominations and does not prohibit changing parties while in office.

The council will vote on the resolution during a Thursday evening meeting.

Wilmington Flower Market at Rockford Park. A long-running Mother's Day weekend tradition returns with plants, carnival rides, local food vendors, a beer garden, live music, and artisan shopping. Parking is $10 per car, cash only. Thursday 10 AM - 8 PM, Friday 10 AM - 8 PM, Saturday 10 AM - 7 PM.

Spring Concert Series: Frogs in Milk at Academy Lawn. The Spring Concert Series kicks off with Frogs in Milk, a live outdoor performance on the Academy Lawn. Grab a spot on the grass and settle in for a warm-weather evening of live music. Thursday at 7 PM.

John Gallagher, Jr. w/ Hannah Winkler and JD Webb at Elkton Music Hall. Tony Award-winning actor and musician John Gallagher, Jr. takes the stage for an intimate live set, joined by Hannah Winkler and JD Webb for what shapes up to be a singer-songwriter-style evening you won't want to miss. Thursday at 8 PM.

Parks on Draft at Old Paper Mill Rd. Park. Enjoy a refreshing evening outdoors with craft brews and live music in a family-friendly setting. Friday at 5 PM.

Ultimate Diamond: Tribute to Neil Diamond at Elkton Music Hall. This tribute act brings the classic pop and soft rock catalog of Neil Diamond to life, covering beloved hits from "Sweet Caroline" to "Cherry Cherry." Friday at 8 PM.

Bicentennial Celebration at Downtown Delaware City. Enjoy a full day of history and fun with trolley rides, historical displays, and live music featuring the Newark Community Band and The John Hoey Orchestra. Saturday at 12:30 PM.

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

Connor Creative House is a social media agency that brings brands’ digital presence to life through video content creation, ads, and social media posts that capture their personalities and tell their stories.

Founder Krista Connor uses strategy, creativity, and human-centric storytelling to help businesses engage audiences and drive leads, bookings, and sales.

Just ask Above the Canal — Connor Creative House helped bring in more than 1,000 leads and dozens of event bookings in just over one month. *

The latest New Castle County housing market update from The Rosaio Team offers a ZIP-code-by-ZIP-code look at what homes sold for in April and how quickly they moved.

One of the bigger takeaways: homes in many parts of the county are still going under contract surprisingly fast. Newark homes had a median market time of just four days, while Pike Creek, Hockessin, North Wilmington, and several other areas all stayed under 10 days.

The report also breaks down median home prices across Wilmington, Middletown, Bear, Newark, and more.

See the full April 2026 New Castle County housing market update. *

*indicates sponsored advertising content.

Thursday

66 🌡️ 48 | ⛅ Partly Sunny | 8% | 💨 NW 5 to 10 mph

Friday

67 🌡️ 51 | ☀️ Sunny | 0% | 💨 W 5 to 10 mph

Saturday

69 🌡️ 52 | 🌧️ Rain Showers | 77% | 💨 SW 5 to 10 mph

Sunday

79 🌡️ 56 | 🌧️ Mostly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers | 26% | 💨 S 0 to 10 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 55ºF Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach.

Planning something? Tell us about it.

We’ve been getting a lot of love lately (thank you!). But here’s a little behind-the-scenes truth: when you click on things in this newsletter—links, polls, even the little “Read more” button—it tells the internet powers-that-be that Above the Canal is something people care about.

So if you like what you’re reading, tap below and let us know. It’s a small gesture that helps this whole local thing keep growing.

Thanks for reading. Pass this along to the neighbor who waves from the garden but never makes eye contact at Acme.

If Above the Canal adds value to your day, consider supporting it.

Let’s make it official—follow us on Facebook and Instagram!