Over 45 Things to do in Delaware This November

From comedy shows to holiday festivals to the arts, here’s what’s happening this month.

 

Whether you’re looking for a fun day with the kids or a night out on the town, we’ve got you covered. Here’s what’s happening in The First State this month, sorted by week.

 

Week of Nov. 1-7

Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival

Nov. 1-Nov. 11 • Lewes

If you haven’t been yet, this year marks more than 20 years of thriving independent film. That’s worth the price of admission alone, right? For more about the festival, read our Q&A with Sue Early, The Rehoboth Beach Film Society’s executive director.

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Hayride Express

Nov. 2, Nov. 9 • Wilmington

Ever seen a train converted into a hayride? Don’t miss your chance at the Wilmington Western Railroad.

Kevin Bielicki

Nov. 2-Nov. 30 • Wilmington

Sculptor Kevin Bielicki makes works—often large-scale ones—that exist on the wall. But often they cascade off the flat plane and into the space of the viewer. This exhibit in the Mezzanine Gallery features these works, utilizing new colors and patterns on wood forms, and complemented with a series of paintings inspired by his sculptural installations.

Linda Ford: The Journey Continues

Nov. 2-Dec.1 • Greenville

New work by artist Linda Ford includes encaustic paintings, oil pastels and raku pottery.

18th-Century Market Fair

Nov. 3 • Dover

First State Heritage Park re-creates the autumn market fairs held in Dover in the mid-1700s. Kick it old school, much?

Dover Spouses’ Club Craft & Holiday Show

Nov. 3 • Harrington 

The Delaware State Fairgrounds hosts more than 6,000 hunters of fine craft and holiday goodies at the DSC’s annual event to benefit Dover Air Force Base and surrounding local (and national) charities.

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An Evening With Sutton Foster

Nov. 3 • Wilmington 

Younger fans, you don’t have to hold your breath—here we have a situation where our darling Sutton Foster can act completely her own age. Join the award-winning veteran Broadway and small-screen actress for an intimate evening at The Grand.

Night at the Museum & Star Party

Nov. 3 • Wilmington

Enjoy a family-friendly Saturday evening at the Delaware Museum of Natural History’s after-hours event featuring live bird encounters presented by Animal Behavior and Conservation Connections. At 6 p.m., things will go dark as the Delaware Astronomical Society leads a discussion about why we need the dark, how to mitigate light pollution and what you can do to help. Then, head outdoors in hopes of viewing fall/winter constellations like the “great square of Pegasus” and bidding a sweet goodbye to the “summer triangle.” Snacks and drinks (including wine and beer) will be available for purchase.

Holiday Fair

Nov. 3- Nov. 4 • Rehoboth Beach

Make an artistic dent in your Christmas shopping. The Rehoboth Art League hosts more than two dozen artists selling their wares including jewelry, pottery, woodworking and more.

Holidays & Snowdays

Nov. 3- Jan. 6 • Chadds Ford

While the fine folks at the Brandywine River Museum of Art appreciate sweater weather—the breeze off the Brandywine begs for a snuggly cardigan—they also appreciate the fine art of getting a jump-start on holiday programming. That’s why you’ll find the beautifully curated exhibit “Holidays & Snowdays: Illustrations for Three Children’s Books” running early this month through the new year. Check out the artistry of an unexpected snowstorm, the vibe of the holidays in 1920s Harlem and a celebration of the spirit of Hanukkah.

Politics and Paint

Nov. 3- Feb. 3 • Wilmington

While we don’t suggest talking politics around the Thanksgiving dinner table, the subject of “Politics and Paint: Barbara Bodichon and the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood” might just make you overly chatty. Early Pre-Raphaelite painter Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon was a woman ahead of her time—the tireless reformer and champion of women’s rights helped send women to college and to keep their property, regardless of their marital status. Smash the patriarchy at this exhibit at the Delaware Art Museum.

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Pirate Adventure Day

Nov. 4 • Chadds Ford

Your cutie-patooties will discover bountiful booty when the Pirates of Fortune’s Folly sail into the Brandywine River Museum of Art for this free family event. Create pirate-themed crafts, hunt for treasures and enjoy a swashbuckling performance.

Wanda Sykes

Nov. 4 • Wilmington

She ranks among Entertainment Weekly’s 25 Funniest People in America. Lucky for you, her smart-witted stand-up makes a stop in Delaware. Get “syked” at The Grand.

Steamin’ Days

Nov. 4, Nov. 24 • Yorklyn

Chug on out to the Marshall Steam Museum at Auburn Heights Preserve for tours, rides, demos and other activities. Check in at the end of the month for a special Thanksgiving-themed day of fun.

 

Week of Nov. 8-14

Jigsaw Jones

Nov. 8 • Wilmington

Move over Cam Jansen and Nancy Drew—Jigsaw Jones is on the case. After Athena Lorenzo is slimed, it’s clear: There’s a practical joker on the loose in Ms. Gleason’s class and it’s up to Jigsaw (Theodore) Jones and his pal Mila to catch the clown. Brimming with music, charm and humor, this ArtsPower production, based on the book by renowned author James Preller, will make audiences laugh and think as they learn the secret codes Jigsaw must decipher to solve the mystery. See it at The Playhouse.

The Tempest

Nov. 8- Nov. 11 • Wilmington

The Wilmington Drama League presents this Shakespeare story about magician and former duke Prospero, who has been exiled on an island with his daughter for years. That’s a lot of time to plot revenge on the brother who usurped his throne, especially when you have an assist from magical island creatures.

Woman in Mind

Nov. 8- Dec. 2 • Newark

This black comedy of domestic madness stars Susan, locked in a loveless marriage, with a miserable sister-in-law and a son who’s disowned her to boot. Midlife crisis, anyone? After an accident, though, her life is changed, and she can’t decide which grass is greener. The Resident Ensemble Players set the stage at the University of Delaware.

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

Nov. 9 • Wilmington

The Delaware Symphony Orchestra gets down with Beethoven—his third symphony, “Eroica,” takes center stage at The Grand. Pocket this tidbit for your next trivia night and then thank maestro David Amado later—the symphony was originally dedicated to Napoleon before being rededicated to the heroic spirit of the French Revolution. (In today’s parlance, it was a tweet-then-delete type situation.)

The Delaware Antiques Show

Nov. 9- Nov. 11 • Wilmington

Check out one of the nation’s most acclaimed antique shows, right in your own back yard, at the Chase Center in Wilmington.

Willy Wonka

Nov. 9- Nov. 11 • Rehoboth Beach

Golden Tickets! Get your Golden Tickets! The Spotlight on Young Performers will take the stage at Clear Space Theatre Company, bringing to life Roald Dahl’s classic about the wonderfully weird Willy Wonka and his fantasy factory. It’s the perfect antidote to the “I-ran-out-of-Halloween-candy” blues. (PS: Stick around to usher in the holiday season with “A Christmas Carol: The Musical,” starting Nov. 23.)

Jim Norton

Nov. 10 • Wilmington

If you’re a fan of comedian Jim Norton’s “Mouthful of Shame”—an unrestricted jaunt through a gleefully filthy mind—then his show at The Queen is the perfect excuse to step away from the remote and check him out in real life. He’ll offer his personal perspective on, well, whatever the hell he wants.

Megan Marino

Nov. 11 • Wilmington

OperaDelaware welcomes back mezzo soprano Megan Marino for an intimate recital at the OperaDelaware Studios.

Delaware Today’s Home Design Awards

Nov. 13 • Wilmington

Join us at the Delaware Art Museum as we announce the winners of our second annual Home Design Contest

A Christmas Carol, in Prose, Being a Ghose Story of Christmas

Nov. 13- Dec. 30 • Odessa

Join a heartwarming holiday tradition decades strong in Odessa, in which the town highlights classic literature. This years, it’s a Dickens of a Christmas display at the Corbit Sharp House as the town pays homage to the English writer.

 

Week of Nov. 15-21

Lewis Black: The Joke’s on Us

Nov. 15 • Wilmington

Spoiler alert: Lewis Black is pissed off. And it’s hilarious. If you’ve never seen Lewis Black live, his performances provide a cathartic release of anger and disillusionment. But don’t worry—he’s PO’d, but optimistically so. See his particular brand of funny at The Grand.

Up Front with First State Ballet Theatre

Nov. 16-Nov. 17 • Wilmington

This intimate, limited-seat opportunity to bask in beautiful and evocative highlights of contemporary ballet’s greatest hits list—followed by a meet-and-greet with the dancers themselves—is on pointe. The show goes on at The Baby Grand.

Sarah McRae Morton

Nov. 16-Dec. 15 • Greenville

Come check out the painter at the Somerville Manning Gallery.

American String Quartet with the Diaz Brothers

Nov. 17 • Lewes

Internationally recognized as one of the world’s finest quartets, the American String Quartet has spent decades honing the luxurious sound for which it is famous.

Girl Scouts: Animals and Me

Nov. 17 • Wilmington

Do you wear your Girl Scouts sash with pride? Then we’ve got just the thing for you—a Girl Scouts afternoon at the Brandywine Zoo. Learn which animals make the best pets, and meet some animals up close.

The Rock Orchestra: An Evening of The Who

Nov. 17 • Wilmington

If you were among the lucky who rocked out at The Grand for Beatlefest, you might know why The Rock Orchestra scored a yearlong residency. They kick it off with “An Evening of The Who” and celebrate the music of one of rock’s most influential bands.

Sava IV

Nov. 17 • Wilmington

Score unique pieces,small-batch style, at the Small Art Buying Adventure, hosted by The Delaware Contemporary. At $25 a pop, the anonymous-until-sold 6×6 treasures are a steal. Hello, best stocking-stuffer ever.

Artisans Show

Nov. 17- Nov. 18 • Yorklyn

The Center for the Creative Arts features regional artisans offering original work in various media during its annual fine craft show.

Scrooge the Musical

Nov. 17-Dec. 9 • Wilmington

If you’re going to kick it at the Delaware Children’s Theatre this season, there is no better show in town than this essential Christmas story. Forget the movie version on Netflix—come support live, local theater.

She Loves Me

Nov. 17-Dec. 23 • Ardentown

Budapest or bust! Stop in to the exotic setting for “She Loves Me,” a 1930s romantic story with endearing innocence: Two shop clerks always at odds are unaware that the other is the pen pal with whom they’ve been exchanging love notes. With a total of 21 Tony noms, it’s considered by many to be one of the most charming musicals ever written. See it at The Candlelight Theatre.

Yuletide at Winterthur

Nov. 17-Jan. 6 • Wilmington

You haven’t seen the holidays until you’ve seen them at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. Breathtaking trees, dazzling room displays, plus special events, performances and workshops throughout the season.

Winslow Homer: Photography and the Art of Painting

Nov. 17-Feb. 17 • Chadds Ford

To continue its focus on the visually stunning, the Brandywine River Museum of Art hosts an in-depth examination of American painter Winslow Homer, whose work demonstrates the relationship between photography and painting.

Holiday Art Market

Nov. 20- Dec. 29 • Newark

Discover the flair of local artists at the Newark Arts Alliance, just in time for the holidays.

 

Week of Nov. 22-30

A Longwood Christmas

Nov. 22- Jan.6 • Kennett Square

Wait until you get a look at this place—you won’t believe your eyes. Twinkling lights (only, say, half a million of them), thousands of poinsettias, trees galore, lit fountains, daily concerts and more await visitors to the gardens.

Southeastern Delaware Artists Studio Tour

Nov. 23- Nov. 24 • Sussex County

Get inside real artists’ studios during this annual Thanksgiving weekend event.

Holidays at Hagley

Nov. 23- Jan. 1 • Wilmington

Eleutherian Mills, the 1803 du Pont ancestral home, puts on the ritz for the holidays—du Pont approved.

A Brandywine Christmas

Nov. 23-Jan.6 • Chadds Ford

The year would not be complete without a stop aboard “Brandywine Christmas,” the choo-choo-rific seasonal model train celebration at the Brandywine River Museum of Art. Catch a ride through the new year. 

Cirque Dreams Holidaze

Nov. 23- Nov. 25 • Wilmington

Don’t miss a show The New York Daily News calls a “delicious confection of charm, sparkle and talent by the sleighload.” With more than 300 imaginative costumes, 20 astonishing acts, and a talented curation of singers, original music and seasonal favorites, it’s the perfect way to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.

Cider Fest

Nov. 24, Dec. 1, Dec. 8 • Wyoming

Get a head start on that wish list for Santa when you get to meet the Mr. and Mrs. at Fifer Orchards. What’s more, there will be all the freebies you need this fall: apple cider, farm tours, marshmallows by the bonfire, and, if the weather cooperates, snuggly sweaters and boots, boots, boots.

A Sign of the Times

Nov. 28-Dec. 23 • Wilmington

Don’t miss the regional premiere of “A Sign of the Times.” Set in 1965, in an era fueled by women’s liberation, the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War, one woman marches from middle America to the bright lights of New York City on the journey of a lifetime. Curtains up at the Delaware Theatre Company. 

 

Throughout November

Delaware Shakespeare Community Tour

Through Nov. 18 • Wilmington and beyond

In 2016, the folks at Delaware Shakespeare kicked off a professional production of “Pericles” at community centers, homeless shelters, detention facilities and other nontraditional theater locations across the state as part of its mission to bring the arts to the underserved. Guess what? It worked. This year’s installment is “The Merchant of Venice,” the multilayered drama about the corrosive impact of anti-Semitism.

Rehoboth Art League

Through Nov. 25 • Rehoboth Beach

Art goes to the dogs with “Animal Farm,” a members’ showcase exhibition Oct. 19 through Nov. 25. Fur babies not your thing? Then check out “Street Photography—Humans in Their Environment,” running concurrently, a Coastal Camera Club exhibition that explores the human condition.

The Shape of Things

Through November 30 • Ocean View

Gallery One artists interpret this month’s theme.

Follies: Architectural Whimsy in the Garden

Through Jan. 5, 2020 • Wilmington

There’s no excuse not to step into the imaginative and entertaining world of garden follies at Winterthur—it’s only on display now until 2020! Explore a fantastic display of contemporary and historic architectural features—from a Gothic-inspired tower to American summerhouses to a faerie cottage and more—all set within the majestic beauty of Henry Francis du Pont’s 60-acre garden. This irresistible exhibition, featuring 13 unique vignettes, offers a one-of-a-kind outdoor experience with a twist of fancy fun.

 

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