THURSDAY, OCT. 1
Emerging jazz star Esperanza Spalding will perform at the Grand Opera House in Wilmington at 8 p.m. Spalding has been hailed as everything from melodic and joyful to irresistible and perceptive during her relatively young career. Tickets are $27 to $42 and can be purchased at www.ticketsatthegrand.org, or by calling 302-652-5577.
FRIDAY, OCT. 2
Tree of Life Lutheran Church will sponsor a Blessing of the Animals at 2 p.m. at the dog park at Levels Park in Middletown. Bring your furry, finned, feathered or scaly friends or pictures for a blessing. Snakes, bugs and other non-traditional pets are invited to come caged and will be blessed through the cage. All Animals must be restrained and up-to-date on shots. Special awards will be given for dog tricks, best behaved and bad breath.
The Achiever’s Club of the M.O.T. Jean Birch Senior Center will host an October Harvest Dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. All ages are welcome. There will be baked ham, roasted turkey, kielbasa and sauerkraut, roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, mixed vegetables, cole slaw, rolls, beverages and home-made desserts. There also will be a 50/50, Chinese auction and live music. Attendees may bring beer or wine. Tickets are $10 per person, $5 for children ages 4 to 10 and free for children 3 and younger. Take-outs are available. Advance ticket sales will earn three free tickets for the auction.
SATURDAY, OCT. 3
The Dutch Country Farmers Market will sponsor a Community Flea Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Dutch Country Market will sponsor Outdoor Community Yard Sale to support Middletown Fire Company at the Middletown Square Shopping Center in Middletown.
Chestertown will host its Historic House Tour from 1 to 6 p.m. in Chestertown, Md. Ticket holders will enjoy a self-guided walking tour, dropping in on colonial merchants’ mansions, craftsmen's cottages restored for contemporary living and graceful Victorians. Tour tickets are $25 for advance purchase; $30 the day of the tour; $12.50 for children 12 and younger and 10 percent off for groups of 25 or more. For more information, call 410-778-3499 or email director@kentcountyhistory.org.
The Mount Harmon Plantation Bull and Oyster Roast will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. at 600 Mount Harmon Road, Earleville, Md. Enjoy bushels of freshly shucked oysters and traditional barbeque, Manor House Tours, a silent auction and live music. n Bull & Oyster Roast Tickets are $50 per person. Proceeds benefit Mount Harmon. For event tickets and information call Friends of Mount Harmon at 410-275-8819 or email info@mountharmon.org.
Priapi Gardens will host their Fall Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 5996 Augustine Herman Highway, Cecilton, Md. Sit on a brand new John Deere, watch a blacksmith at work or see "The Comedy Magic of Chris Capehart and Rabbit.” There also will be hayrides, face-painting, free plants, balloons, cotton candy, live music and more. Stroll the grounds for landscaping ideas for your home and garden. Admission for adults is $5 and children get in for free. For more information, go to www.priapigardens.com or call 410-275-9438 for more information.
The Farm Sanctuary will host the “Walk for Farm Animals” at 10 a.m. in Glasgow Park on Route 40 in Newark. Registration begins at 9 a.m. The event is designed to raise awareness about animal welfare issues associated with factory farming. The Walks also raise vital funds to support Farm Sanctuary’s rescue, advocacy and education programs. For more information, go to www.walkforfarmanimals.org or www.farmsanctuary.org.
A craft fair will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Hall, 345 Bear-Christiana Road – Route 7, Bear, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Featuring new crafters, polish pottery, raffles and a bake table. Breakfast and lunch will be available for purchase. For more information, call Rose at 302-266-6365.
The Port Penn Historical Society will host its annual Marshlan-A-Fare Benefit from 11 a.m. to noon at the Port Penn Fire Hall, 26 W. Market St. The menu will include snapping turtle soup, crab cakes or chicken salad sandwiches, dessert and beverages. A cash bar will be available, and music will be provided by Crabmeat Thompson. A silent auction will benefit the Historical Society. The cost is $15 per person and free for children 5 and younger. For reservations, call Linda Beck at 302-834-7525.
The Road Aces Car Club will host its last monthly Cruise Night of the 2009 Season from 5 to 9 p.m. at SportZone Restaurant and Sport Club at 235 Stadium St., Smyrna. A trophy will be awarded to the SportZone’s Pick of the Night. Cruise Nights will be held the first Saturday of the month from May through October at SportZone. 50/50 tickets will be on sale. Music will be provided. For more information, go to www.roadaces.net, email roadaces@comcast.ne or call Bruce or Patty at 302-653-8214, Dave at 302-736-9916 or Joe at 302-670-1996.
The Dickinson Theatre Organ Society will present Ken Double and Skip Stine in a “Salute to the Big Bands” Pops Concert at 7 p.m. at John Dickinson High School on Milltown Road in Wilmington. Tickets are $14 at the door. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For group prices or more information, call 302-995-5630 or go to www.dtoskimball.org.
SUNDAY, OCT. 4
The Chesapeake City Bridal Show will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at Pell Gardens in Chesapeake City, Md. There will be more than 45 wedding professionals to help make your wedding a dream come true. There will be a fashion show with the latest attire, door prizes, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. To purchase tickets, go to www.chesapeakecitybridalshow.com, email jhewlett@makeamemoryde.com or call 302-731-4140.
The Delaware City Fire Hall will host Basket Bingo at 2 p.m. There will be food and beverages, door prizes and a raffle. The cost is $20 for 20 games and $5 for an additional $20. Only those 18 and older will be admitted. The doors open at 1 p.m. For more information, call Sharon Hart at 302-836-8878 or Carla Miklus at 302-834-5260.
Members of the Blackbird Community Center will host their annual Basket Bingo at the Community Center, 120 Blackbird Forest Road, south of Townsend, just west of Route 13. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. Games will begin at 1:30 p.m. The cost is $20 for advanced orders, $25 at the door. For more information, call Ruby at 302-545-6208.
MONDAY, OCT. 5
The pilot year of the “Clifford Brown Year Round” series will kick off with bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding at 8 p.m. at The Grand Opera House in Wilmington.The City of Wilmington Cultural Affairs Office, Christina Cultural Arts Center and The Grand Opera House are combining forces to build greater year-round interest in jazz in Wilmington, the hometown of legendary jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown. Tickets are $27 to $42. For more information and tickets, go to www.TicketsAtTheGrand.org, call 302-652-5577 or stop by The Grand's Box Office located at 818 N. Market Street, Wilmington.
TUESDAY, OCT. 6
The M.O.T. Duplicate Bridge Group will start from 9:30 to 12:30 p.m. at the M.O.T. Jean Birch Senior Center, 300 S. Scott Street, Middletown. This is an ACBL sanctioned game and master points will be rewarded. You do not have to be a member of ACBL to play, come and enjoy the fun. The cost is $6. For information and to sign up, call Cheryl Shields at 302-602-1638.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 7
The Middletown-Odessa Rotary will host its 56th Annual Rotary Auction at 6:59 p.m. at the Middletown Memorial Hall on West Green Street. The auction will feature a week in the Outer Banks during the off-season, a complete orthodontic package valued at $6,500 – starting bid $4,000, teeth whitening treatments, an airplane ride with a local pilot, 2010 pre-season Eagles tickets, plants, vegetables, restaurant gift certificates, automotive services, golf packages, baskets filled with goodies, jewelry, furniture, beauty services and much more. To make a donation to the auction from your business or to find out more about the auction, call Ceil at 378-4758.
THURSDAY, OCT. 8
Alfred G. Waters Middle School will host a 5K Fun Run/Walk and Fall Festival.The 5K Run/Walk begins at 6 p.m., and the Fun Run for Kids 9 and younger starts at 7 p.m. Registrations begins at 5 p.m. Entry fees for the 5K Run/Walk are $10 until Friday, Oct. 2, and $15 after Oct. 2 and on race day. The Fun Run for kids 9 and younger is free. There will be food, music, vendors and free giveaways, food, music, and free activities for kids of all ages. Awards will b e given for the top the runners in several age groups. All who pre-register are guaranteed to receive a T-shirt. For more information, email Christy Payne at Christine.payne@appo.k12.de.us or call 302-373-2662. To register, go to www.races2run.com or www.active.com. Make checks payable to AGW PTA.
FRIDAY, OCT. 9
Friends for Responsible Pet Care will host a Basket Bingo Friday, Oct. 9, at Aetna Fire Hall in Newark. Doors open at 6 p.m. Games start at 7 p.m. There will be 20 games plus three specials. The cost is $20 in advance, $25 at the door. There will be filled baskets and door prizes. This event benefits animals. Call 302-750-6228 to pre-register.
The Gilbert W. Perry Jr. Center for the Arts in Middletown will hold an opening reception for its exhibit, “A View Through My Window,” Friday, Oct. 9, at 6 p.m. The exhibit will run through Saturday, Nov. 7. This exhibit features canvas windows representing the messages of individuals who have experienced domestic violence first-hand. Artwork included in this exhibit was created in shelters and support groups in all three counties of Delaware. Poignant works of art by children who have been affected by domestic violence will also be on display. For more information, call The Gibby Center at 449-5396 or VSA arts of Delaware at 302-857-6699.
SATURDAY, OCT. 10
A Relay For Life of Middletown Country Barbecue will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. at 818 Union Church Road, Townsend, to raise money for The Messengers team. The cost is $25 per person, which includes hayrides, live music, good food and a bonfire. For tickets, call Debbi Craig at 378-7234, Sandy Buckworthat 378-2755, Dave Carter at 302-270-6816 or email themessengers@aiellos.net.
The Dover English Country Dancers will host their called dance at 7:30 p.m., at the Capital Grange Hall, 911 S. Governors Ave., in Dover. All dances are called before danced. No experience is necessary. Singles and couples are welcome. Casual clothes and comfortable shoes are suggested. Beginners instruction is at 7 p.m. The cost is $4 for members and $5 for non members. For more information, call 302-697-7858 or 302-697-8366.
Miss Heather’s School of Dance will host its Third Annual Halloween Party from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Silver Lake Elementary School. There will be prizes and games for all ages, snacks, pizza and drinks. The cost is $6. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the dance studios at 449-2800 or 302-659-3000.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 14
The Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce will host a “Making Connections” mixer from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Immediato’s Bistro and Purple Sage Herbs & Gifts on West Main Street in Middletown. The first mixer for non-members is free and subsequent mixers are $15. RSVP to 378-7545.
