The “Ye Olde Colonial Soap Maker,” Ron Bessette of Dover, helps out a visitor at last year’s Dover Days.
(Submitted photo/C.M. Baker Photography)
The 80th annual Dover Days planning committee announced this week that applications are now open and online for the 2013 Dover Days Festival, set for May 3-5.
The following participants are needed:
· Crafts vendors, artists and artisans; resellers, home and trade show, nonprofits and food vendors;
· Parade participants including marching bands, drill teams, floats, dignitaries, civic groups, youth organizations, marching units and more;
· Pet parade participants including costumed and non-costumed pets, rolling units and floats;
· Colonial and Victorian demonstrating artisans;
· Re-enactment groups (World Wars, Civil War, Revolutionary War);
· Car show participants for a 26-trophy, judged car show;
· Corn hole tournament players; and
· Plein air artists for two plein air competitions with cash and prizes.
Applications are now online on the official festival website. Each application has registration information, deadlines and details. Applications can also be mailed, emailed or faxed by calling Kent County Tourism, producers of the event, at 302-734-4888 or 800-233-5368.
"In addition to traditional activities such as maypole dancing by 300 costumed school children, historic re-enactments and demonstrating artisans," said Lorraine Dion, festival coordinator, "Dover Days is a unique blend of old and new, such as our fireworks show on Friday evening, our lecture series and plein air arts competition."
In 2012, the event was named a "Top 100 USA Event" by the American Bus Association, the first event in Kent County to receive the honor. It is the largest festival in Kent County; in 2012, more than 38,000 festival-goers enjoyed this free-admission event, which celebrates the history and heritage of the First State's capital city.
To celebrate the 80th anniversary, the event will officially open on Sunday, April 28 with a special visit by William Penn, an historical interpreter from the American Historical Theatre of Philadelphia. It was he who chartered Kent County and ordered his surveyors to lay out the town in 1683. A lecture, workshop and performance series will follow Monday through Thursday, May 2.
Friday, May 2 events get under way at 6 p.m. with entertainment on Legislative Mall followed by fireworks. Saturday kicks off with Dover's largest parade, pet parade, more than 300 crafts and food vendors, Colonial and Victorian crafts demonstrators, entertainment stage, reenactments and more; Sunday will continue with a plein air arts competition, arts, crafts and food vendors, a vintage baseball game, corn hole tournament and a judged car show.
For more information including vendor/exhibitor registration forms, car show entry forms, pet parade registration forms or weekend lodging packages, visit the website, follow them on Facebook or call Kent County Tourism, producers of the event, at 302-734-4888 or 800-233-5368.
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