Events Initiative

,

Small Business Saturday

,

Thank you for shopping Small with us on Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday season! As always, we encourage customers to stay Downtown and shop local for great deals! Who knows, you may even get to visit with Santa! 

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2023 - SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

The Downtown Christmas Parade by the Wilmington Jaycee’s will kickoff at 2nd and Market Streets at 11 AM. The Parade will feature local celebrities and dignitaries, marching and string bands, community organizations, floats and attractions, your favorite cartoon characters, and of course Santa Claus. Don’t forget that Elves will be accepting Letters to Santa!

  • Chelsea Tavern, 821 N Market Street
    Buy One Gift Card Get One FREE. Deal valid on Christmas Eve ONLY from 10am-5pm. Online cards will be available this year for the first time, but will only be available as Buy One $100 Get One $100 Card FREE (fees apply).

  • Delaware Historical Society, 505 N Market Street
    10% off all membership levels. This discount is only available Friday, November 24. Visit dehistory.org/membership and enter code “BlackFriday” to get the deal.

  • Faire Cafe, 216 W. 9th Street
    10% off of coffee with purchase of food November 25th through the November 30th.

  • Girard Craft and Cork, 224 West 9th Street
    Discount offers include a choice of a 5% off purchase of beer or spirits (liquor) or 10% off purchase of wine. Must show 12 Days of Christmas coupon when making purchase. This discounted rate expires on Friday, December 29, 2023.

  • Herbert Studios, 219 N. Market Street
    All photographic prints $50 off until 12/23/2023

  • Huxley & Hiro, 419 N Market Street
    10% in-store discount on both Saturdays and Sundays between Thanksgiving and New Year's.

  • LaFate Gallery, 227 N Market Street
    Original artwork starting at $100, Mini Framed Prints 50% off and Coffee Mugs with images of the Art of Eunice LaFate Buy One, Get One at 50% off. Offers valid from November 25-December 30th.

  • The Mill, 1007 Orange Street (Nemours Building)
    FREE First Month of a Community Membership at the Downtown Wilmington location with a six-month agreement. Scan QR Code in the graphic to fill out a form to redeem this discount.

  • Spaceboy Clothing, 205 N Market Street
    Get Free shipping on all online orders until the end of the year and save 20% when you shop in-store.

  • Theatre N, 1007 Orange Street (Nemours Building)
    FREE medium popcorn on Sundays and Wednesdays with each ticket.
    Visit TheatreN.com and sign up for our Weekly Email! We'll send a new 'code word' each week! Mention the 'code word' when purchasing your ticket at Theatre N. The '12 Days of Christmas' promotion runs from November 26 - December 27.

  • Tonic Seafood & Steak, 111 W 11th Street
    Receive a  $25 bonus gift card with in-store purchase of $100 gift card between November 24 through December 24. Card can be used at Tonic Seafood & Steak or Park Café.

  • Town & Shore Handcrafted, 221 N Market Street
    25% off on seasonal wood dough bowl candles by KC Essentials for the entire month of December. 

DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY MARKETS & EVENTS:

Downtown Visions is partnering with DE.CO to bring the Downtown Winterfest holiday market to Downtown Wilmington. The Holiday Market will run on Saturday, November 25 and Downtown Winterfest will be on December 2, 9, 16 & 23 from 11am-4pm.

Patrons can expect a holiday market, DE.CO food vendors, make your own bloodymary bar, Holiday music, entertainment, face painting, kids’ characters & more! #ShopSmall at DE.CO Food Hall offering a variety of local items, unique gifts and more from our small business vendors.

Shop Small this season! Save the dates for all the Downtown holiday happenings.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2023

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2023

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2023

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2023

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2023

We invite you to the return of the popular Light Up the Square tree-lighting celebration. This cherished holiday tradition will take place on Tuesday, December 5, at 6:00 p.m. in Rodney Square, at 10th and Market Streets. The public is encouraged to join in singing traditional holiday songs with live performances by the 287th Army Band, Jea Street Jr., Rachel Schain, Orisha Watson, and more. Santa Claus and Rudolph will stop by, and there will also be FREE food, a children’s book giveaway, and face painting! DE.CO Food Hall, at 111 West 10thStreet, will host a holiday pre-party beginning at 4:30 p.m. with food and drink specials and live music by Son of Sinatra.

,

City Sounds Block Party

,

A lot is going down in Downtown Wilmington DE

The sun is shining. Temperatures are rising. What better way to enjoy the season than by dining outdoors in Downtown Wilmington, DE? Now through October 2023, residents and visitors can enjoy:

  • Live music on selected nights at different Downtown locations (through October 31st)

    • Thursday, July 20 - The X Band Xperience live on the 200 block of Market Street (2nd & LOMA)

    • Friday, August 18 - Fuzaholics live on the 900 block of Market Street (Wilma’s)

    • Friday, September 8 - Nic Snow live on the 200 block of W 9th Street (MKT Place Gallery & Faire Cafe)

    • Thursday, October 12 - Spokey Speaky live on the 1300 block of N Washington/Stockton Street (Dorcea)

    • Tuesday, October 31 - DJ Hermy Potter live on the 800 Block of N Tatnall Street (The Sold Firm)

Outdoor Dining

Enjoy your meal with a side of sunshine at any of the 23 area restaurants - including some James Beard award winners. Check out our list of all Downtown restaurants that offer outdoor seating so you know exactly where you can enjoy your meal with a side of sunshine!

Participating Curbside Wilmington restaurants include:

City sounds block parties

Enjoy live music on select nights from 5:00-8:00pm in Downtown Wilmington DE at different Downtown locations. Free admission - only good times (and good vibes) required!

  • Thursday, July 20 - Live music on the 200 block of Market Street (2nd & LOMA)

  • Friday, August 18 - Live music on the 900 block of Market Street (Wilma’s)

  • Friday, September 8 - Live music on the 200 block of W 9th Street (MKT Place Gallery &
    Faire Cafe)

  • Thursday, October 12 - Live music on the 1300 block of N Washington/Stockton Street (Dorcea)

  • Tuesday, October 31 - Live music on the 800 Block of N Tatnall Street (The Sold Firm)

Check our Facebook Event for an up-to-date list of upcoming musicians and locations.

Free Parking Nights & Weekends

The City of Wilmington also offers metered parking through ParkMobile throughout the Central Business District. Metered parking is free on weeknights after 6pm and on weekends.

Download the Downtown Wilm DE app in the app store for parking information, including a parking directory listing of garages and surface lots.

About Curbside Wilmington

Downtown Visions together with Mayor Purzycki, the City of Wilmington, and The Committee of 100 introduced expanded outdoor dining to support local businesses and encourage patrons to return to the rejuvenated Downtown District during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Expanded outdoor dining allows Downtown restaurants to expand their patio spaces and outdoor dining into former parking spaces directly in front of their businesses, thereby allowing more seating at safely spaced distances in accordance with Governor Carney’s guidelines. Also, curbside pull-in spots have been designated throughout the Downtown area for all businesses, both retail and restaurants, to use for pick-up and curbside delivery. 

Downtown Visions provided additional tables and chairs to restaurants as needed, and custom-made railings created by the Challenge Program for both safety and esthetical purposes.

Since the launch of expanded outdoor dining, the City has expanded the initiative outside of Downtown Wilmington DE to Union Street and Trolley Square’s Dining on Delaware through “It’s Time to G.O.A.T (Get Out Around Town)". Learn more here.

It's Time Wilmington, Gable Music Ventures, Downtown Visions and InWilm have teamed up to bring us the BEST in outdoor dining and entertainment through the citywide campaign "It's Time To G.O.A.T. (Get Out Around Town)". It's Time to Live A Little - so come on down and join us as we chow down and enjoy live music!

The kickoff festivities took place on June 10, 2021 with Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki on the 800 block of N. Market Street. Immediately following was a live performance by Aziza Nailah.

Afterwards, the 400 block of N. Market Street was closed to traffic for the summer's first weekly Curbside Wilmington Happy Hour by Downtown Visions with live music by Sunset Riders.

SPONSORSHIP

A special thanks to our presenting sponsor JPMorgan Chase for making this celebration and event series a possibility.

, , ,

Downtown Farmer's Market

, , ,
Downtown Farmers Market Wilmington DE

The 2024 season of the Downtown Wilmington Farmers Market at Rodney Square will operate every Wednesday, rain or shine, from May 1st through October 30th from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM.

The Downtown Farmers’ Market opens for business every Wednesday in the 1000 block of North Market Street, adjacent to the newly renovated Rodney Square. Centrally located, Rodney Square has been the center of great events such as the annual Clifford Brown Jazz Festival and is the perfect compliment to the Market. The Downtown Farmers' Market comes to life each Wednesday with an array of the freshest local produce, plants, herbs, flowers, crafts and prepared food.

The Market also offers a large assortment of beautiful handmade items, including arts and crafts, unique jewelry and delicious home baked goods. Stroll the Market and then relax under an umbrella at one the many café tables. Enjoy a delicious breakfast or lunch while listening to a variety of free live entertainment.

The Downtown Wilmington Farmers’ Market is produced by Downtown Visions, a private, non-profit company which manages Wilmington's Downtown Business Improvement District and is facilitated by the City of Wilmington. We are dedicated to the goal of a more vital, vibrant Downtown for all.
 

History of the Market

The original Farmers' Market in Downtown Wilmington was an eight block stretch on King Street, one of our major thoroughfares. This Market consisted of local farmers selling produce and other goods from the back of their vehicles and dated back to the early 1900s. With the advent of suburbanization and the modern day supermarket, this practice virtually disappeared in Wilmington.

Trying to revitalize this disappearing but critical part of urban life, the City of Wilmington officially sanctioned a Farmers' Market about 25 years ago, relocating it to a small surface parking lot on Orange Street. Over the years the number of vendors fluctuated, but steadily declined until only two vendors remained. At this point, in 2002, Wilmington Mayor James Baker asked Downtown Visions, the management company of Wilmington's Business Improvement District to assume management of the Farmers' Market. At this point there were only about 9 vendors. Downtown Visions was able to recruit new farmers and other vendors but soon determined that the location lacked the critical pedestrian traffic and accessibility to support the Market and to service the community at large.

Continuing to partner with the City, the Market was moved to a beautiful, but underutilized city-owned public space, Rodney Square. This square is centrally located, flanked by a myriad of Downtown corporations and within easy walking distance to others as well as to Market Street, Downtown's main shopping street.  Nearby Downtown residents were now able to walk to and participate in the Market and it transformed into a true public market where, every Wednesday, from May to October, people can find an average of forty vendors selling fresh produce, handmade crafts, baked goods, lunch foods and more. Customers can have lunch at outdoor tables, enjoy free entertainment and obtain a variety of information at the Downtown Visions information tent.

 

 

For more info Contact:
Tucker Casey
Market Manager
tcasey@downtownvisions.org
409 N Orange St.
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-425-0196