- Above the Canal
- Posts
- Wilmington’s Christmas Parade Returns to Market Street
Wilmington’s Christmas Parade Returns to Market Street
The Wilmington Jaycees parade kicks off the season, Diamond painting becomes a favorite new pastime, Blitzen Bar begins its limited holiday run
Above the Canal
November 27, 2025
☀️ Rise and Shine 302. If you spent yesterday chopping and stirring, you’re ahead of the game. If you haven't opened the cookbook yet, you're in good company. Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with good food and even better company.
Your 302 Rundown:
Wilmington hosts its annual Christmas tradition downtown
Diamond painting takes off among older adults
Blitzen Bar opens for the holiday season
Let’s get to it
SPONSORED BY WONDER
A Delicious Break From the Kitchen
Wonder is handing out $30 in savings to new customers who start with the code MICHAEL35754, and it is a wonderful reason to skip the grocery run. Their restaurant concepts offer plenty of choices, and everything arrives ready to eat. The deal is temporary, so grab it while it lasts.
The Diamond Painting Boom Among Older Adults
Diamond painting is exploding in popularity among older adults who want a relaxing craft that still keeps the mind active. The mix of focus, pattern spotting, and tiny hand movements offers real cognitive benefits. If you want to try it while the deals are good, Black Friday is the perfect time to explore diamond painting on Amazon. Bonus: a quick look also helps support the newsletter.
NEWS YOU CAN USE
📚 Delaware Day trivia goes statewide
Delaware Day trivia is getting a bigger stage this year. The state is hosting a one hour virtual trivia night on December 4 and you can play from home on your phone or head to one of six host locations, including Autumn Beer Project in Newark and UD’s STAR Campus.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., trivia runs from 7 to 8 p.m., and the first fifty people at each site get a Delaware 250 swag bag. Breweries will have specials, and the campus sites are offering free pizza and soda. Prizes are 1st place $1000, 2nd place $500, 3rd place $250, plus four $50 door prizes. It is a simple format and an easy way to join in on a little statewide fun.
🎄 Blitzen Bar opens for the season in Wilmington
Wilmington has its own way of marking the start of the holidays, and it is not the first parade float or the tree lighting. It is when Blitzen Bar flips on the lights. The Christmas pop up, known as The Den, is back at 220 W. 9th St. with its wall-to-wall décor, photo friendly corners and a cocktail menu built for December evenings.
Hours run Wednesday through Saturday, making it an easy stop after the Wilmington Jaycees Parade on Nov. 29. Downtown boosters are hoping people make a day of it: parade in the morning, shopping and lunch on Market Street in the afternoon, and Blitzen in the evening.
Blitzen has grown from a fast turnaround idea in 2019 into one of the city’s most popular seasonal spots, often drawing lines on peak weekends. It will operate through the holidays with limited hours, so checking ahead is smart.
🎂 Dana Herbert is back on TV
Newark’s own Dana Herbert is in the holiday spotlight again, appearing on Food Network’s Sweet Empire Winter Wars. The series brings fourteen pastry chefs together to build desserts, recruit teammates, and battle for a $50k prize.
Herbert told The Review that jumping back into competition mode came with real physical demand, since the timed bakes keep everyone moving. He also loved tapping back into the creative side of pastry work and learning from the other chefs.
UD students are getting in on the fun too. Perkins Student Center is hosting watch parties for the show, which feels pretty surreal for Herbert since he used to live right across the street as a freshman.
If you want a closer look at his return to television, it is highlighted inside The Review’s behind the scenes piece about the series.
🎄 Free weekend parking returns to Newark
Newark is bringing back one of its most popular holiday perks. The city will turn off its meters on Saturdays, Sundays, city holidays, and New Year's Eve for an entire month, starting December 20. You can see the full plan in this update on free weekend parking from WDEL, but the short version is simple: park, shop, and linger without watching the clock.
City officials hope this becomes a standing holiday tradition, especially after a few years of trial runs with mixed results. Weekdays still follow regular rates, and University of Delaware lots are not included, so stick to city meters and garages. It is a small gesture that makes Main Street feel a little more welcoming.
🚆 Wilmington train station is packed for holiday travel
If you are heading out for Thanksgiving, you are not imagining it. The Wilmington train station is buzzing, with Amtrak seeing higher ridership and more travelers opting for rail over unpredictable flights. According to this look at Wilmington’s travel rush, many people are choosing the train because it feels easier than dealing with airports or long drives.
More than 21,000 riders passed through the station during last year’s holiday window, and this season is already trending busy. Over at ILG, the airport is also gearing up for holiday crowds. They are reminding travelers to arrive two hours early, check their security rules, and take advantage of the cellphone lot for pick ups. Parking is $11.50 per day, which is still cheaper than the big hubs.
Delaware is opening its annual sale of low digit surf fishing plates. Bidding runs Nov. 25 through Dec. 11 and includes 14 specific numbers, from 48 to 777, plus eight choice categories where the top bidder can select any unsold number in that range.
Bids start at 250 dollars, and numbers 1 through 200 can only be used on Delaware registered vehicles. The plate is for display only, so a current surf fishing permit is still required. Proceeds support Delaware State Parks, and these auctions usually draw steady interest from longtime surf anglers.
A community lift for UnWined on the Water
Perryville turned out in a big way for the UnWined on the Water team after a fire shut the restaurant down earlier this month. A benefit at Grounded Coffee Company packed the house with around three hundred fifty people and raised at least ten thousand dollars for the displaced staff. The night had everything from live sets by Exit 93 and The Amigos to silent auction tables that stayed busy from the moment doors opened.
Owner John Bragg took the stage to thank everyone and got emotional talking about his team, which tells you exactly what kind of workplace it is. He also shared that rebuilding is already underway and the goal is to reopen by Memorial Day, a comment that earned loud cheers.
IN BUSINESS
🏦 Fulton expands again with North Jersey acquisition
Fulton Financial is making another move in the region. The company announced an all stock deal to acquire Blue Foundry Bancorp. The transaction is valued at $243 million and gives Fulton a larger foothold in northern New Jersey.
Fulton already operates seven branches in Delaware and has been growing steadily, including last year’s acquisition of assets from the failed Republic First Bank. Blue Foundry brings about $2 billion in assets, and both boards have signed off on the agreement. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approvals.
🛋️ Value City Furniture’s parent files for Chapter 11, Bear store stays open
A major furniture name with a local footprint is restructuring. American Signature, the parent company of Value City Furniture, filed for Chapter 11 in Wilmington. The company is pursuing a sale process and expects a stalking horse bidder to set the initial floor price.
Stores and websites remain open, and customer orders will continue to be fulfilled. That includes the Bear location at Governor’s Square, which is not on the closing list. Some stores elsewhere have already begun clearance sales, but the Bear store is operating normally as the process plays out.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
🏠 Delaware may curb nominal $1 and $10 property sale listings
A long running real estate quirk could be on its way out, according to Spotlight Delaware. Lawmakers are reviewing whether to ban the use of nominal prices like $1 or $10 on deed records. New Castle County officials say the practice makes property reassessment harder because assessors rely on accurate sale data to calculate values.
The true price is still recorded for tax purposes, but it is not visible to the public, which lets high end or commercial deals stay opaque. County leaders called the proposed fix simple and overdue, and Senate Democratic staff said it is one of several options under consideration.
It is early in the process, but if lawmakers move forward, Delaware deeds could soon show what properties actually sell for rather than placeholder numbers.
🚌 DART cuts more bus service as ridership lags
Spotlight Delaware reports that DART has made another round of bus service cuts, reducing or eliminating service on 15 routes as costs rise and ridership stays below pre-pandemic levels. This is the second year of significant changes, following last year’s elimination of six routes statewide.
DART says operator salaries and fuel costs have climbed even as the agency’s budget remains flat. Several lines lost Saturday or weeknight service, including Line 28, which many Nemours employees relied on for weekend shifts. Riders interviewed by Spotlight Delaware said the cuts will force longer walks, schedule changes or expensive ride share trips.
While most changes were reductions, DART did add Sunday trips to eight routes and plans a new Seaford to Dover line in the coming years. Public comment is accepted before each schedule change.
🚦 DelDOT outlines major changes for South Chapel Street
DelDOT is moving forward with a full redesign of the South Chapel Street and East Chestnut Hill Road intersection. The design phase runs through late 2026, and construction is slated for 2027.
The project targets two long standing issues: rear end crashes from the current yield conditions on both right turn lanes and backups caused by short left turn lanes. Under the proposal, the yield turns would become signal controlled dual right turn lanes. Southbound left turn lanes would be extended, and the northbound right lane would be lengthened to give drivers more time to merge.
A new crosswalk with a flashing beacon is planned near Newark Christian Childcare, along with improved lighting and a shared use path for pedestrians and cyclists. DelDOT is accepting public comments by phone or email.
THE HAPPENINGS
Multiple Days
Holiday Sip and Shop at The Little Treasure Shoppe. Enjoy sips, treats, and festive inspiration while browsing local artists and vendors with special discounts throughout the shop. Friday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, a cozy way to ease into holiday shopping.
Thursday
🦃Happy Thanksgiving! Wishing you full plates, warm laughs, and absolutely no dish duty.
Next year I’ll include all the 5Ks you can sign up for. People voluntarily do this. Including me.
Friday
Fourth Friday, Art on the Town at New Castle Historical Society brings an inviting mix of open shops, galleries, and local art displays throughout historic New Castle. Stroll, browse, and explore creative work from community artists on Friday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Saturday
Winter Bazaar and Vendor Event – Newark United Methodist Church at the venue in Newark. Join in on Saturday from 10 AM–2 PM for a festive shopping day supporting local crafters and vendors, featuring handmade goods, warm soup, and baked treats.
Jingle & Mingle Artisan Fair at Elkton Alliance, Inc. Building takes over the space with a festive lineup of local makers offering handmade gifts and seasonal finds. Stop in on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM to browse unique creations and support small businesses on Small Business Saturday.
Wilmington Jaycees Christmas Parade on Market Street. Enjoy marching bands, floats, community groups, cartoon characters, and a festive Santa visit as the parade moves up Market Street in the heart of Wilmington. Saturday at 11:00 AM, complete with free downtown parking and elves collecting letters for Santa.
Centreville Holiday Stroll in Centreville. Wander through this charming village event with festive shops, seasonal treats, and twinkling decorations that set the perfect small town holiday mood. Saturday from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, great for a relaxed afternoon of browsing and celebrating.
Photos With Santa at Battery Park, Delaware City. Santa makes a grand entrance by fireboat before settling in for free photos, harbor cruises, and a kids winter coat giveaway while supplies last. Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00 PM.
Sister's Christmas Catechism at The Baby Grand brings a playful twist to the nativity story as Sister dives into the long standing mystery of what happened to the Magi's gold. Expect quick wit, audience participation, and a lighthearted holiday whodunit that keeps the laughs coming. Saturday at 3:00 PM.
Sunday
Jingle Bell Jamboree – The Grand Opera House. Celebrate the holidays with the Delaware Symphony Orchestra’s joyful mix of carols and classics, from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Sunday at 2:30 PM. Perfect for families and friends looking to share a festive afternoon of music and cheer.
Lion's Club Tree Lighting at Pell Gardens. Welcome the season as the community gathers for the annual tree lighting, complete with a cheerful visit from Santa. Sunday from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, a simple and warm way to kick off the holidays in Chesapeake City.
Nothing in this section is sponsored. Just things worth knowing. I’ll always flag sponsors clearly.
FORECAST AT A GLANCE
Thursday
45 🌡️ 30 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 0% | 💨 W 18 mph
Friday
43 🌡️ 29 | ☀️ Sunny & Windy | 1% | 💨 W 20 mph
Saturday
43 🌡️ 29 | ☀️ Sunny | 1% | 💨 NW 9 mph
Sunday
49 🌡️ 35 | 🌧️ Light Rain | 72% | 💨 SSE 11 mph
💧🌡️ Water temperature = 52ºF Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach.
THE NOT SO SHORTLISTS
(Still evolving to make browsing easier)
Quick favor? It helps more than you think 🙏
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.
Poll: |
APPRECIATE YA!
Thanks for reading. Send it to the family member who insists on taste testing everything.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up
Want your business featured in Above the Canal? Partner with us!
Interested in promoting your music? Feature your band!
Got a live show or event I missed? Just hit reply and let me know!
If Above the Canal adds value to your day, consider supporting it.
Reply