Wilmington Welcomes Luxury Cruise Ship

☀️ Rise and Shine 302. See what happens. It saves time over predicting everything.

Your 302 Rundown:

Let’s get to it

Above the Canal Experiences has two new events on the calendar, each built around the same idea: give people something enjoyable to do together and create more chances to meet someone new.

🍽️ Oct. 28: North Wilmington Dinner Club matches small groups for dinner at local restaurants. We handle the groupings and restaurant assignments, and you meet your table when you arrive. Registration is $20, with food and drinks purchased separately.

🥢 Nov. 13: Roll With It at Scout Cafe is a hands-on summer roll workshop and Southeast Asian dinner at Scout Cafe. You'll make your own summer roll, enjoy a Cambodian noodle dish, blue mango sticky rice, and a Scout nonalcoholic beverage. Tickets are $75 and include the workshop, dinner, dessert, and drink.

Come solo or bring someone with you.

There's a difference between getting your hair cut and getting a haircut you actually love. But is that difference worth an extra $20, $50, or even $100? We're curious where Above the Canal readers draw the line.

Source: Jeffrey A. Miller Hospitality Group

Willowdale is now open in Kennett Square, where owners Michael and Katherine Bucklin and Jeffrey A. Miller Hospitality Group have turned a former dairy farm into a wedding and event venue. The property sits beside the Willowdale Steeplechase grounds in Chester County.

The venue includes the Yellow House with eight overnight rooms, the Silo Courtyard for outdoor ceremonies, garden and lounge spaces, and The Loft, which can host up to 300 guests for dinner and dancing. The property is now booking weddings and events, with private tours available for couples and hosts.

Source: Delaware Business Now

The Delaware River and Bay Authority marked the two-year anniversary of the American Airlines Landline connection service at Wilmington Airport. Launched in October 2024, the motorcoach route links the local airport directly to the airline's global hub in Philadelphia.

Travelers complete their check-in, luggage drop, and TSA security screening in Delaware before boarding the bus to Pennsylvania. The service operates using coaches equipped with leather seats, Wi-Fi, and power outlets.

The bus connection surpassed twenty thousand total passengers earlier in 2026. The route operates alongside the nonstop flights offered out of the local terminal.

Source: Delaware Business Times 🔒 PAYWALLED

Three commercial office buildings at the Bellevue Corporate Center in Wilmington changed hands at a New Castle County sheriff auction. The properties, located at 200, 300, and 400 Bellevue Parkway, sold for a combined total of nearly $3 million.

The final purchase price represented only a small fraction of the original debt attached to the properties. Prior to the county auction, the defaulted mortgage on the three buildings totaled more than $50 million.

The county handled the transaction through its standard sheriff sale process. The properties went to auction to address the outstanding commercial mortgage.

Source: Newark Post

A two-alarm fire damaged the United Cocoa Processors plant in the Pencader Corporate Center near Glasgow. Firefighters arrived to find smoke coming from the roof and safely evacuated employees who were attempting to extinguish the blaze themselves.

Crews brought the rooftop ventilation fire under control in about 40 minutes, and no injuries were reported. The incident marks at least the sixth fire at the facility since 2015. Two employees had to be rescued from the roof during a previous fire in late 2023, and the federal government fined the company for safety violations in 2020.

The state fire marshal is investigating the exact cause of the blaze.

Source: Newark Post

The University of Delaware celebrated the launch of a new AI Institute for Human-AI Cooperation at its STAR Campus in Newark, backed by a $21.5 million National Science Foundation grant. The institute, known as HAIC, includes Delaware State, Penn, Florida and Princeton, plus dozens of other partners.

Its early work focuses on rehabilitation health care, including stroke, Parkinson’s disease, age-related movement issues, musculoskeletal conditions and lower-limb amputations. Researchers described projects using AI, robotics and patient data to help physical therapists tailor rehab care, while also studying privacy and ethics around the technology.

UD researchers said the institute’s work keeps clinicians involved as AI tools are developed.

Source: State of Delaware News

A luxury expedition ship made a stop at the Port of Wilmington, bringing about 200 passengers ashore for a Delaware welcome. State officials and Enstructure representatives greeted the Scenic Eclipse, its captain, crew and passengers at the port.

Passengers received a commemorative Delaware 250th anniversary challenge coin before boarding buses for outings around Delaware and the Philadelphia area. Stops included Nemours Estate, Longwood Gardens, Historic Philadelphia and other attractions, with the visit wrapping up at an evening gala at Hotel Du Pont.

Officials described the stop as a tourism and port business opportunity tied to Wilmington’s role in travel and trade.

Want your very own movie trailer-style videos to look back on and share with family and friends right after your wedding? 

We document everything you'll want to remember including candid moments, behind-the-scenes details and guest reactions, delivering raw footage within 24 hours and edited recap videos within 72 hours.

View our portfolio and email [email protected] to reserve your date.

(And businesses, we're still creating content for your brands, corporate events and social media, too!)

Source: Delaware Public Media

Delaware created a new Commission on Indigenous Affairs, a nine-member body housed in the Department of State. Gov. Matt Meyer said the panel gives Indigenous Delawareans a voice in state government, after House Bill 365 passed earlier in 2026.

The commission’s work includes advising state leaders on policies tied to Indigenous issues, including bays, beaches, inland waters, possible burial sites, health care, education, housing and social services. It must include at least two members from the Nanticoke tribe, two from the Lenape tribe, and another member of Indigenous descent, all appointed by the governor.

The state expects to spend about $20,000 a year on the commission, with funding in place through 2029.

Source: Spotlight Delaware

Gov. Matt Meyer vetoed legislation aimed at regulating third-party electricity suppliers in Delaware. House Bill 393 would have capped the rates these companies could charge and prohibited cancellation fees for customers.

Lawmakers passed the measure after residents reported facing unexpected rate hikes and steep fees when switching from Delmarva Power. Meyer supported the consumer protection elements but rejected the bill over concerns that a strict price cap would eliminate market competition and ultimately drive up energy costs.

The decision follows a similar legislative push in Maryland, where third-party suppliers largely exited the market after a price cap took effect.

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.

Harrington Theatre Company Presents: Disney's Newsies | UD Pearson Hall. A spirited musical following Jack Kelly and the newsboys of 1899 New York City as they strike for fair treatment. Inspired by true events, the show celebrates courage, solidarity, and standing up against injustice. Opens October 15, runs through October 17.

Cabaret | The Everett Theatre. A musical set in a 1920s Berlin nightclub following the romance between an English singer and an American writer as the Third Reich emerges. Tickets are $22 for adults and $18 for students. Playing October 16 through October 25.

Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue | The Playhouse. An adult-themed comedy imagining the classic sitcom characters in 2026, featuring Sophia out on bail and Blanche and Rose running a senior sex app. VIP tickets include a post-show meet-and-greet and a photo opportunity on the living room set. 18+. Single performance October 17.

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

Some dogs bound into a room and demand all the attention, but this handsome tan pup takes a much more refined approach. The shelter staff describes Frisbee as wonderfully polite with his new human friends. He is a 3-year-old mixed-breed dog who packs a surprisingly gentle soul into a large-breed frame.

When it comes to canine companions, he prefers hanging out with low-key dogs who share his calm outlook on life. As a special bonus, his adoption fee is completely waived for military veterans.

If you have a quiet spot on the couch for this sweet boy, head to the Brandywine Valley SPCA at 290 Churchmans Road, New Castle, DE 19720 to introduce yourself to Frisbee this week.

Tony "Big Cat" Smith - Music in the Plaza | Brandywine Mills Plaza. The final concert of the season featuring live music by Tony "Big Cat" Smith. Tuesday 5-8 PM.

Levitt AMP Wilmington Music Series: Lao Tizer Band | Tina Betz Urban Artist Exchange. A free live music performance by the Lao Tizer Band as part of the Levitt AMP Wilmington Music Series. Wednesday 7-8:30 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.

Monday

74 🌡️ 57 | ⛅ Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny | 50% | 💨 N 5 mph

Tuesday

77 🌡️ 63 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 1% | 💨 SW 0 to 5 mph

Wednesday

80 🌡️ 60 | ☀️ Sunny | 2% | 💨 W 5 to 10 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 65ºF. 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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