Ways to #ShopSmall This Holiday Season in Downtown Wilmington DE

We rely on our local businesses to create thriving neighborhoods for our residents and visitors every day. We need to help our small businesses get through this time of crisis. Support these small businesses, and their staff, by shopping local not just this holiday season, but every day.

Ways to #ShopSmall in Downtown Wilmington DE:

• Dine Downtown Deal - Support Downtown Wilmington DE eateries and you’ll get rewarded! Dine-in or take out 5x between 10/1/20 and 12/31/20, text your receipts to 302-502-6003, and you’ll receive a gift card in the amount of 20% of the total meals purchased (before tip) to the business of your choice in the Wilmington Downtown Business Improvement District (BID)!

• Free Holiday Shipping - Several Downtown Wilmington DE businesses are offering FREE shipping for all online purchases made through the end of the year. Simply shop online between 11/1/20 and 12/31/20 at participating businesses, and they’ll ship your purchases anywhere within the United States for free!

• I Made an Impact Contest - Enter to win awesome local prizes through Wilmington Made’s I Mad an Impact Contest! Simply text your receipt to 302-433-6078 from any participating business or restaurant dated between 11/28/20 and 12/24/20 for your chance to win!

• You can also support your favorite small businesses by purchasing a gift card, buying the staff a round, making a donation, following them on social media, spreading the word about their offers, and posting a positive review.

It is even easier to visit Downtown Wilmington this month and shop small with the City’s free holiday metered parking program and free Market Street valet both in effect through January 2nd, 2021.

Every small purchase makes a big difference - now more than ever!

Festive Fun For The Whole Family

Get in the spirit with these family-friendly events in Downtown Wilmington DE this holiday season!

As a reminder, free parking options are available all holiday season long in Downtown Wilmington! Click here to learn more.

Caroling on the Square | December 3 | HB Dupont Plaza

It's Time Wilmington for the annual Caroling on the Square & Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony! This event is FREE and fun for the whole family, with a special appearance from Santa & his elves. The festivities kick off at 6pm. In keeping with the holiday spirit, attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items, new or gently used children’s coats, new toys for the Mayor’s Holiday Toy Drive, and/or blankets and adult socks for the homeless.  All items will be donated to local charities.

Storytime & Fun with Perry the Superplum Fairy | December 5 & 14 | Wilmington Public Library

Head to the library for a sugary sweet time as Perry leads storytime, a festive craft, and more fun activities to get your little ones moving! There will also be a meet and greet with Perry and plenty opportunities for pictures. Costumes are encouraged!

The Nutcracker | December 7 - 8 | The Playhouse on Rodney Square

Join Wilmington Ballet for their 53rd Annual performance of The Nutcracker at The Playhouse on Rodney Square! The production will run for four magical performances Dec 7 & 8, in which Victorians party, mice and soldiers battle, snowflakes swirl, and sugarplums delight.

Gingerbread DECO-rating Party | December 8 | DECO Food Hall

You provide the imagination and Spark’d will take care of the rest! Spark’d Creative Pastry will provide the fully assembled gingerbread house, tons of frosting, and all the candy you will need to create the sweet house of your dreams.

The Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays | December 13-15 | The Playhouse on Rodney Square

The mind-blowing spectacular of THE ILLUSIONISTS – MAGIC OF THE HOLIDAYS showcases the jaw dropping talents of the most incredible Illusionists on earth, alongside special guests Light Balance. THE ILLUSIONISTS has shattered box office records across the globe and dazzles audiences of all ages with a powerful mix of the most outrageous and astonishing acts ever seen on stage. This non-stop show is packed with thrilling and sophisticated magic of unprecedented proportions.

Willingtown Square Lights Display | 505 N Market St

Stroll through Willingtown Square for a merry & bright holiday lights display this season! Open to the public 7 days a week, Willingtown Square’s holiday lights are lit up for all to enjoy from dusk until dark, but gates to the square are locked at 9pm. Willingtown Square’s holiday lights are on display until February 2020!

Riverfront Rink Ice Skating | Constitution Yards

The Riverfront Development Corporation of Delaware is pleased to reopen The Horizon Services Riverfront Rink for its 6th season. This family-oriented, outdoor ice skating rink provides fun for all ages! The 2019/2020 season will operate through March 1, 2020 with a number of special events throughout the season.

FREE Holiday Parking in Downtown Wilmington DE

Enjoy the holidays in Downtown Wilmington without the added hassle of city parking with FREE PARKING this season!

Beginning Friday, November 29, through Thursday, January 2, 2020, metered parking downtown is FREE in the Downtown Business District as well as the Riverfront Business District. From noon until 6:00 p.m. each weekday and all day on weekends and holidays, the City will not require payment at any of the parking meters. All other parking regulations will also remain in effect during this time, so be sure to pay attention to time-limits, posted restrictions, and tow-away zones.

Colonial Parking also offers free parking in their surface lots on nights, after 5pm, and weekends all year round. Click here for a map of all Colonial Lots in Downtown Wilmington.

With plenty of free parking in Downtown Wilmington DE, we hope to see you out and about at one the many festive, family-friendly activities this holiday season!

Shop Downtown and Enjoy Free Holiday Parking in Downtown Wilmington, DE

Mayor Mike Purzycki and Department of Finance Director Patrick Carter also remind citizens that the City of Wilmington’s holiday season parking meter policy will be in effect from Friday, November 23, through Monday, December 31, 2018. To support holiday shopping during this period, from Noon to 6:00 p.m. each weekday, the City will not require payment at parking meters in the Downtown Business District (defined as the area bounded by 2nd Street to 12th Street, and by French Street to Washington Street) and in the Riverfront Business District. Official holidays such as Christmas Day (December 25) remain free all day. A two-hour parking limit will remain in effect, however.

Exceptions to this temporary parking policy involve streets designated as “tow-away zones,” where no stopping is allowed at those meters at the times posted. All applicable traffic regulations, other than those requiring payment at parking meters, will be enforced, including time-limited parking (two-hour or one-hour parking as designated by signage) or overtime parking, bus stops, fire hydrants, double-parking and parking too close to pedestrian crosswalks, etc.

FREE Holiday Parking Downtown After 12 PM!

Enjoy FREE Holiday Parking Downtown and on the Riverfront After 12PM!

Looking to do some holiday shopping Downtown? Or heading into town for a show at The Playhouse on Rodney Square or The Grand followed by some fine dining at one of the many highly rated restaurants? 

Here are the holiday parking regulations: From 12PM-6PM each weekday through 12/29, the City will not require payment at parking meters in the Downtown Business District (2nd St. to 12th St., and French Str. to Washington St.) and in the Riverfront Business District.