Your guide to the weekend at the Delaware beaches

Shannon Marvel McNaught, Delaware News Journal
Updated ·5 min read
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Please don't use the f-word at the Delaware beaches this weekend.

I'll say it once for the sake of clarity: fall.

Summer runs through September, so there's still plenty of time for sand, surf, sun and everything else the Delaware beaches have to offer. Until then, keep your pumpkins to yourself, OK?

Each week throughout the summer, Delaware Online/The News Journal offers this weekend guide to the Delaware beaches, with information on weather, events, news items and anything else locals and visitors in the area might need to know. Here's what's happening this weekend.

A president among us

In case you've been living under a rock: U.S. President Joe Biden has a home in North Shores near Rehoboth Beach.

And he apparently so enjoyed his vacation there last week, he returned this weekend. He flew into Gordons Pond State Park aboard Marine One on Friday.

Since becoming president, Biden hasn't ventured far from his home when in the Rehoboth Beach area, so it's very rare that his presence disturbs residents and visitors. He'll probably attend Mass at St. Edmond's Roman Catholic Church Saturday evening. He may ride his bike on the Gordon's Pond trail or relax on the private North Shores beach.

More: How to vacation like a president at the Delaware beaches. Here's what the Bidens did

Last week, in an uncommon occurrence, he and wife Jill Biden went for dinner at Matt's Fish Camp and then the Movies at Midway.

Regardless, there will be a large Secret Service and police presence in the North Shores area all weekend, especially around Ocean Drive and Farview Road. If the president decides to go out into the greater Rehoboth area, there will be traffic issues as he travels.

Weather, flies and jellyfish

Another beautiful summer weekend is predicted for the Delaware beaches. According to the National Weather Service, it will be sunny with temperatures in the 80s on Saturday and Sunday.

August is delightful for not only humans, but some wildlife - and not the cute kind. This time of year, you may encounter biting flies and jellyfish at the Delaware beaches. You can click the links below for the whole rundown on these beach day-ruiners, but here's some solid advice for dealing with each.

Keith Bayha and Allen Collins were two of the scientists that discovered bay nettle, seen here, was a species separate from the Atlantic sea nettle.
Keith Bayha and Allen Collins were two of the scientists that discovered bay nettle, seen here, was a species separate from the Atlantic sea nettle.

There's a little rhyme to remember for the flies. "If the wind is from the west, staying home is best. If the wind is from the east, it's a good day for the beach." There's little you can do to fight the flies besides staying home. Winds blowing toward the beach bring the flies. Winds blowing away from the beach drive them away.

As for jellyfish, there's no magic way to keep them away from where you're swimming. If you get stung, according to jellyfish experts Keith Bayha and Allen Collins, the best thing to do is rinse the area with salt water and then vinegar.

Jellyfish: Types you'll see at the Delaware beaches and what to do if stung

Biting beach flies: There's little you can do, but here are a few tips

Things to do

The 41st Annual Zap Pro/Am World Championships of Skimboarding will be held in Dewey Beach on Friday through Sunday. In addition to competitive skimboarding, there will be music and food on the McKinley Street beach. It's free to watch over 200 skimboarders of all ages and skill levels signed up to compete. Everything starts at 9 a.m. daily and ends between 3 and 5 p.m.

If music is your thing, Freeman Arts Pavilion near Selbyville will host jazz singer Diana Krall on Friday night and an ABBA tribute band Saturday night, while the Bottle & Cork in Dewey Beach will offer jam band The Disco Biscuits on Sunday night.

Skimboarder’s from all over the country came to Dewey Beach to compete in the 40th Annual Pro/Am World Championships of Skimboarding.
Skimboarder’s from all over the country came to Dewey Beach to compete in the 40th Annual Pro/Am World Championships of Skimboarding.

There's plenty of mind-bending entertainment this weekend, too. Dickens Parlour Theatre in Ocean View will feature magicians Mark Phillips and Randy Forster. The Milton Theatre will have psychic medium Deanna Fitzpatrick on Friday night, a U2 tribute Saturday night and a Michael Jackson tribute Sunday night.

Clear Space Theatre Company in Rehoboth Beach offers a rotating schedule of performances all summer. This weekend is your chance to check out the award-winning musical "Kinky Boots."

Most of the beach towns offer free concerts at least one night a week during the summer. Check your town's website for details.

More: How to enter photos in the annual 'Rehoboth Reflections' contest. See last year's winners

Things to know

Beach closures: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finished replenishing the Delaware beaches in July, so there are no more periodic closures, just nice, wide beaches.

A water quality advisory was issued for Bethany Beach Thursday, but will likely be lifted Friday. The beach isn't closed but swimming isn't recommended while the advisory is in effect.

More: Temporary water quality advisory in Bethany Beach. Swimming not recommended.

Water quality advisories are most often issued in August. The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control tests all guarded beaches, among others, for Enterococci bacteria. When levels are above the standard, a water quality advisory issued.

Enterococci indicates fecal matter in the water and the potential for disease. Above-standard Enterococci levels are usually caused by "wildlife sources and increased rainfall, waves or wildlife feeding near the surf (shorebirds, marine mammals or other warm-blooded animals)," according to the department.

Helen Saunders and Dan Palese, of Wilmington, relax and try their luck from the fishing pier at Cape Henlopen State Park.
Helen Saunders and Dan Palese, of Wilmington, relax and try their luck from the fishing pier at Cape Henlopen State Park.

Curfews: Police are enforcing curfews in Bethany and Dewey beaches. In Bethany Beach, the curfew is 11 p.m. for anyone under the age of 18. It's the same in Dewey, except on Fridays and Saturdays, when the curfew begins at midnight.

Surf-fishing: The new surf-fishing reservation system, for weekends and holidays, has been in operation since May, but if it's your first time back at the Delaware beaches since last year, you may still be unaware.

You still need a permit to surf-fish on drive-on beaches, available at most state park offices. Now, if you want to drive on the beaches on a weekend or holiday, you also need a reservation.

Reservations are $4 per vehicle, per day and can be made at www.destateparks.com/SurfTagSales. The online system opens at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays for Saturday reservations and 11 a.m. on Wednesdays for Sunday reservations. Make them as soon as possible. The most popular drive-on beaches will sell out.

Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on Sussex County and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Weekend guide to the Delaware beaches: Skimboarding, jellyfish and Biden