Guest Post: Linda Parkowski, Summer Events Will Boost Local Economy and Community Spirit

Delaware Governor: Jack Markell

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Written on: May 24th, 2012 in Guest Posts

Guest post by Linda Parkowski, Director of Tourism.

Booking requests are up compared to last year, the arrival of warmer weather earlier in the year will draw people north sooner than expected and, based on what we’re seeing, consumers are planning to travel more than they did in 2011.

What’s really exciting is that the extremely favorable forecast was made before news that the Firefly Music Festival would be coming to Delaware.

In case you’ve been sequestered in a tiny rural B&B off the beaten path somewhere, here’s the lowdown on Firefly: Big names such as Jack White, The Killers, The Black Keys, John Legend and The Flaming Lips headline a lineup of more than 40 acts from July 20-22 at Dover International Speedway.

It’s the biggest weekend music festival that Delaware has ever hosted, and hopefully it’s going to be a lucrative one for the First State’s economy: the Tourism Office estimates the festival has the potential to bring in $12.6 million in tourism dollars.

There’s so much more going on this summer that will ensure Delaware tops its annual tourism draw of 7.1 million visitors. On Wednesday, the Delaware Tourism Office unveiled its enhanced Delaware Wine and Ale Trail with a tweet-up event,
Tweet The Trail, in Milford. The trail now boasts a passport and prize system similar to the Delaware History Trail – those who visit at least eight of the dozen sites on the trail and send the passport in will receive their choice of a Wine and Ale Trail wine glass or beer mug. We also made several digital enhancements to the Delaware Wine and Ale Trail, including a promotional video, links to dining suggestions near the sites, a Twitter hashtag, #TweetTheTrail, tips on Four Square and a board on Pinterest.

Things don’t slow down after Memorial Weekend.

NASCAR gets its motor running with its first race of the year, headlined by the “FedEx 400 benefitting Autism Speaks” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, on June 1-3; the Wilmington Greek Festival runs June 5-9; St. Anthony’s Italian Festival brings Sicily to Wilmington June 10-17; the Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival at Rockwood Park Rockwood Park July 7-8; the Delaware State Fair unfurls July 19-28 in Harrington (with Sugarland, Larry the Cable Guy, Miranda Lambert and Cheap Trick and Styx on the Grandstand stage); and the Wyoming Peach Festival blossoms on Aug. 4.

In addition to those standing events, there’s also the Delaware Tourism Office’s Delaware History Trail, the Delaware Geocaching Trail and the aforementioned Delaware Wine and Ale Trail, which allow visitors to plot their own event itinerary.

Make Delaware your destination this summer! Get started by visiting www.visitdelaware.com.