The Unofficial Guide To Firefly Weekend Every Delawarean Needs
By Kim Magaraci|Published June 09, 2017
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Kim Magaraci
Author
Kim Magaraci graduated Rutgers University with a degree in Geography and has spent the last seven years as a freelance travel writer. Contact: kmagaraci@onlyinyourstate.com
Since it first began in 2012, Firefly has been Delaware’s largest festival and one of the biggest events in the entire Mid-Atlantic region. There are 140+ bands playing on 9 stages over 4 days, right here in our capital city, Dover. The Woodlands at Dover International Speedway fill up with campers who choose to spend the weekend for the full festival experience, but there are also thousands and thousands of festival-goers who stay in local hotels, or just come in for the day. This year, the festival is being held from June 15 – June 18.
For locals, Firefly is both a blessing and a curse. There’s no question that it’s great for Delaware’s economy, and lots of Delawareans are excited to have such a prestigious music festival right in their own backyard. For others, who aren’t interested in the music or the festival experience, Firefly is a weekend of traffic and crowds that they’d rather avoid. Whether you’re going, or planning to avoid it, this is the unofficial guide to Firefly Weekend that every Delawarean needs.
If You're Going:
Double check the list of what you can and cannot bring
You don't want to be turned away at the gate and have to trek all the way back to your car because your backpack is too big! Double check the list of prohibited items here.
There are a lot of cool things you can bring into the festival, like inflatable hammocks, regular hammocks, camelbacks, hula hoops, and more.
Getting to Firefly early ensures that you won't be scrambling or rushing to find the bands you wanted to see. If you're meeting someone there, be sure to make a plan ahead of time. When so many people are in one area, cell phone lines tend to get jammed, and service can be spotty.
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Be sure to explore all that the Woodlands has to offer!
Firefly is so much more than just a music festival! VisitDelaware has a beach volleyball court set up, Toyota will have activities in their tents all weekend, and the food vendor lineup is out of this world.
We'll be at Firefly, of course, and we'll be documenting the festival on Instagram! Follow us @onlyindelaware, and tag your best Firefly Festival photos with #onlyindelaware for a chance to be featured.
Move from stage to stage - it's easy to get up close at such a large festival
If this is your first festival experience, you're in for a real treat. Because of the nine stages and variety of acts on each stage, crowds will be pretty fluid, and it's not very hard to get up close to the stages. Of course, the largest headlining acts draw the biggest crowds, so if you want to get up front for their performance, head over a few bands earlier.
Be prepared to meet some great people, make some once-in-a-lifetime memories, and have the time of your life.
Firefly Festival is one of the best music festivals in the country, and the crowd that it draws is amazing. You'll be hard pressed to find more music and art loving people in one spot! You'll meet a lot of cool folks, experience some once-in-a-lifetime moments, and make unforgettable memories. Don't forget, too, that you can plan out your weekend ahead of time and schedule in all of your favorite bands with the Firefly Festival app.
Delaware's quietest places will be even quieter when the crowds flock to the Woodlands! If you're looking to getaway, now is the time to do it. The Inn at Montchanin, outside of Wilmington, has everything you need to get away from it all. There's a spa, a world class restaurant, beautiful gardens, and quaint cabin-style rooms. The Inn is located at 528 Montchanin Rd, Wilmington, DE 19710. Call them today at (302) 888-2133 to make a reservation or learn more about the retreat they can help you plan.
If you've never explored the historic Delaware city of Georgetown, here's your excuse! When crowds head north, head south and stay at the Brick Hotel on the Circle. Not only will you find incredible restaurants and beautiful scenery, but you can finally find out, up close, what makes Georgetown one of the most unique towns in the country.
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Bethany Beach would be an amazing destination for the weekend, as well.
If the beach is more your thing, check out Bethany Beach during Firefly Weekend. It's a quieter beach town but there's always plenty to do, so you can keep busy and have a blast with the sand on your toes and fresh salt air.
Firefly Weekend is a great excuse to go for a scenic drive in the First State.
Did you know that Delaware is home to 6 National Scenic Byways? While you're avoiding traffic anyway, take the scenic route and see some of the best views in the first state. Personally, the Red Clay Valley Scenic Byway is my favorite drive when I want to relax and spend some time on the road.
It's also a great time to visit our wineries and breweries.
Any of these 12 Places in Delaware For People Who Hate Crowds could be your ticket to a relaxing weekend. Rent a cabin in one of our state parks and enjoy the sounds of nature as a treat to yourself.
Only In Delaware will be at Firefly this year, and we’ll be documenting the festival on our Instagram! Be sure to follow @onlyindelaware and tag your best Firefly Weekend shots – whether you’re at the festival or escaping from the crowds – with #onlyindelaware. We’ll be featuring the best fan photos all weekend long.
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