Dazzling Holiday Lights Display in Willingtown Square

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!

Willingtown Square is located at 505 N Market Street directly across from the Delaware History Museum. The holiday lights display is proudly sponsored by Downtown Visions.

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

Listen to Free Live Music Any Night of the Week in Wilmington

Did you know you can enjoy free live music throughout Wilmington any night of the week? From rhythmic drumming to contemporary covers and everything in between, find out where you can listen to live performers in the City through our day by day itinerary below!

Kick off your week with Sunday morning brunch at the Starbucks on Market St with wonderful acoustic acts.

Check out Live! in the Parks for a relaxing evening of music on Mondays and Wednesdays in Rockford Park & Brandywine Park respectively!

If you’re more interested in making the music than listening to it, then the Rock Lot’s Drumming Circle is for you! Check it out every Tuesday evening.

Enjoy delicious food, creative cocktails and a side of live music during Wilmo Wednesdays at DECO.

Take your lunch outside on Thursday afternoons at Nemours Plaza and break up your day with live music.

Be serenaded by the sweet sounds of street performers on Thursday evenings at various locations along Market Street as part of the Music on Market series.

You can also catch live entertainment on Thursdays evenings down on the Riverfront in Dravo Plaza as part of the Shipyard Summer Concert series.

Start your weekend early and stop by I.M. Coffee during lunch on Fridays for craft coffee and good music.

To round off your week, head to Wilmington’s best kept secret, Nomad Bar, for live jazz music on Saturday nights!

Two Family Friendly Ways to Ring in the New Year in Downtown Wilmington, DE

Celebrate 2019 with the entire family at either of these engaging events in Downtown Wilmington, DE. After the kids are worn out, head to one of the many new restaurants on Market Street for an unforgettable meal.

*Event information provided by VisitDelaware.com

Noon Year’s Eve Celebration at the Brandywine Zoo
December 31, 2018
11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Celebrate the New Year Zoo-style by ringing in the New Year at NOON! We’ll have games, crafts, and a celebratory atmosphere and of course a sparkling cider toast as the clock strikes 12 (Noon that is!) Program takes place in the zoo so dress for the weather! Fee: $5/person for ages 3+, advanced tickets available online. DZS members free.

New Year's Rockin' Noon at The Delaware Children’s Museum
December 31, 2018
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Let the countdown begin! Ring in 2019 at the DCM with a special New Year's Eve countdown celebration that won't conflict with your kid's bedtime. The DCM is ready to ring in the New Year with confetti and YOU! Enjoy live music, take a final 2018 family photo at the DCM photo op, and help us countdown to the New Year and our annual confetti cannon blasts! 

9 Awesome Moments for Downtown Wilmington, DE in 2018

It has been a great year for our city and we want to take a moment to celebrate some of the major milestones. While we are only referencing events within the Downtown Visions Business Improvement District, there have been many, many more city-wide impactful moments as well.

1. When Out & About Magazine Took Over and Enhanced the Wilmington Art Loop

2. Stitch House Brewery’s Grand Opening

3. The Launch of the It’s Time Campaign

4. The Reinvention of the Hotel du Pont

5. Margaux’s Grand Opening

6. When Wilmington Green Box Reached their $15,000 Sponsorship Milestone

7. Bardea’s Grand Opening

8. The Residences at Mid-town Park, Burton Place and Mid-town Garage Opening

9. The Grand Opening of Eat Clean Juice Bar

Thank you to the City of Wilmington’s major game changers for their immense contribution this year. Organizations such as the Wilmington Renaissance Corporation, NewMarketWilm.com, DE.TV, INWilm, and many, many more are making sure Wilmington continues to grow and thrive for generations to come. To all those individuals and businesses, the Downtown Visions team is extremely grateful for you!

All the Details on Small Business Saturday in Wilmington, DE

Photo Credit: https://www.gathersf.com/blog/2015/11/22/small-business-saturday-lip-bar-free-gifts-and-more

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Kick off the holiday season and make your weekend merry and bright by enjoying the Small Business Saturday festivities in Downtown Wilmington, DE. All the details and deals you will need for the entire day are below!

Parade:
The Wilmington Jaycees’ 55th Annual Christmas Parade will be held in conjunction with Small Business Saturday on November 24th. Start the shopping season by supporting local businesses that create jobs, boost our economy, and preserve neighborhoods around our country.

11AM Wilmington Jaycees Christmas Parade
www.wilmingtonjaycees.com

The Parade route beings at 5th and King Streets, and ends at Rodney Square. Children at the parade are encouraged to write a letter to Santa and drop it off when Santa passes along the parade route. (Children should provide their complete mailing address, including zip code, if they would like a reply.) The Wilmington Jaycees will work with Santa and his elves to make every effort to answer each letter.

Live Entertainment:
Enjoy live entertainment from 12PM-1:30PM at our Downtown businesses: 
LOMA Coffee: Jessica Graae blends her folk-rock style and classical training to create haunting, soulful songs. Her “evocative, lush, exquisite vocals, accompanied by elegant and impressive guitar playing” create a “meditative backdrop” for her music.
Starbucks on Market: LisaJeanette is a folk/pop singer-songwriter and performer from Philadelphia.
Margaux Restaurant: David Wilson is a singer/songwriter who blends folk, country, and americana music to create his original sound.

Restaurant & Small Business Specials:

#SHOPSMALL at our Downtown businesses after the parade and grab dinner while you're here! 

218 Grille: 25% off each order

Al's Sporting Goods: $10 off minimum purchase of $60 or $20 off minimum purchase of $110 with coupon. 

Delaware History Museum: Delaware History Museum will be open with “Pay what you wish” admission!

Ernest & Scott Taproom: 1/2 priced tacos and $3 coronas all day on Small Business Saturday 

Poppycock Tattoo: For every $100 gift certificate get an extra $25 added. Plus 10% off body piercings sale AND a fun $80 Sailor Jerry tattoo flash special only on Nov 24th!

Lafate Gallery: 50% OFF on Framed and Unframed Limited Edition Prints! Also, gift certificates as holiday "Art Class Gifts" to children & adults are available for purchase.

The Mill Space: SBS #shopsmall market from 9AM-1PM on the 4th floor of the Nemours building. Several small businesses will be offering anything from jewelry & apparel to services like photography. Following the close of the SBS market get access to the shop small social at Tonic Bar and Grille!

The Residences at Mid-town Park: Get ½ month free rent through the holiday.

Starbucks on Market & ResideBPG: FREE hot chocolate and coffee 
samples during the Christmas Parade outside of Starbucks!

Tonic Bar and Grille: Filet special for Small Business Saturday – 6oz for $20.00, 8oz for $24.00, and 10oz for $28.00 starting at 5pm and Happy Hour from 2pm-5pm!

The Sold Firm (1st floor at Artist Ave Station): Original artwork at Big Deals! 

UDairy Creamery: FREE Christmas sprinkles with any ice cream purchase for the parade. Plus $5 gift card for any $20 spent on Small Business Saturday! 

Stay Downtown all night long & enjoy the FREE LIGHT SHOW!!!
Our friends at The Grand Opera House, Wilmington DE will have a holiday-themed light show to add to the festivities on Small Business Saturday. Three different shows will take place at 5PM, 5:30PM & 6PM on November 24th! 

The Playhouse on Rodney Square
Cirque Dreams at 2PM
https://www.thegrandwilmington.org/productions/5640-cirque-dreams-holidaze 

The Queen
Ben LeRoy & The Snap at 8PM
http://www.thequeenwilmington.com/EventDetail?tmeventid=02005526AEF1A8AB&offerid=91241

Tell your friends you are attending by visiting the Facebook event.