In most cases, separation is not a cause for celebration.
But Delaware goes its own way in many things.
Since 1976, Delaware has had a tradition of celebrating its birthday in New Castle on the second Saturday of June each year.
The celebration is known as Separation Day and features lots of festivities Friday and Saturday.
Cindy Snyder, site manager for New Castle Courthouse Museum, said to her knowledge there were only two times in the last 40-plus years when that didn’t happen. That was in 2020 and 2021, due to the pandemic.
This weekend, the party is back on for Delaware’s birthday and the public is invited to blow out all 246 candles.
“The purpose of Separation Day is really to celebrate Delaware’s independence from Great Britain and Pennsylvania,” said Julie Wegner, manager for Event Allies, which is producing the celebration for the city of New Castle. “It’s notably one of the longest running events in the state.”
Parade, festival and live music
On Friday, a kickoff party (6-9:30 p.m.) for Separation Day gets underway on Delaware Street featuring food trucks and craft beer with bartender tips benefitting Goodwill Volunteer Fire Department, according to press materials.
On Saturday, the entertainment will beef up with a parade (at noon) traveling along Delaware Street into Courthouse Square, which will include re-enactors, bands and classic cars.
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Following the parade is the Separation Day Festival in Battery Park. The free event will feature a Vintage Market, live music, vendors, rides for kids, food trucks and a beer garden. Children’s rides will cost a fee, according to materials.
The musical lineup on the main stage includes Blues Reincarnation Project (2 to 3:30 p.m.), Blue Cat Blues (4 to 5:30 p.m.), Jimmy Pritchard Band (6 to 7:15 p.m.) and Big Package (8-9:30 p.m.).
The night will get capped off with fireworks over the Delaware River at about 9:30 p.m.
‘It’s a huge birthday party’
On June 15, 1776 – Delaware declared its own independence at what is now known as the New Castle Courthouse Museum. This moment occurred just a few weeks before the Declaration of Independence was introduced.
At that time, all of the states were in revolution against Great Britain and wanted to become their own free states. But that wasn’t enough for the Small Wonder. If they were going to remove themselves as a British subject, they figured they might as well separate from Pennsylvania, too.
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Prior to that, Delaware was known as the three “Lower Counties of Pennsylvania,” since the time of William Penn, which was in 1682, Snyder said.
Snyder is glad Delaware gets to have another birthday bash after a two-year hiatus.
“It’s really exciting because this event is very much a part of New Castle, Delaware and our history. We are celebrating the event of becoming the Delaware state right where it happened,” she said. “It’s a huge birthday party.”
Separation Day events will be held around Battery Park (New Castle Battery Park, 1 Delaware St., New Castle) from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday (kickoff party) and from noon to 9:30 p.m. Saturday; Admission is free. For more info, visit separationdayde.com.
Andre Lamar is the features/lifestyle reporter. If you have an interesting story idea, email Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com.
