Delawareans have various reasons to shout-out Small Wonder next month, including obvious ones like Aubrey Plaza, Joe Biden and the beloved “Fight Club.”
Folks can embrace all the things they love about the First State at the free and official 302 Day celebration at Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton on Saturday, March 4.
While the holiday will be celebrated on the weekend, 302 Day technically is on Thursday, March 2. The brewery will release its new 302 Lager, a collaborative brew, with a party at the brewery that day.
An invite to a 302 Horseshoe Crab beer party
The 302 Lager — which creators say includes notes of sweet grits, grapefruit and passionfruit — is a collaboration between Dogfish Head and the lifestyle brand 302 Horseshoe Crab. The latter company sells apparel that features the horseshoe crab, the state’s official marine animal.
The lager can features the Dogfish logo and the armored horseshoe crab. Additionally, the 16 oz. cans come in a 4-pack and that sells for $15.
The lager release party will include a fireside chat about the new beer at the Brewery, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Guests can register to attend.
At that event, guests can hang out with Sam Calagione, founder of Dogfish, and Dogfish brewing manager Bryan Selders.
The Dogfish crew also will be joined by husband-and-wife team Keith Mosher and Karlin Maull of Lincoln, the owners of 302 Horseshoe Crab.
What are the origins of 302 Day?
Mosher and Maull founded 302 Day, which first launched in 2018 at Arena’s Deli & Bar in Milford. Mosher said the reason he and his wife created the holiday was simple.
Their Horseshoe Crab brand uses the 302 area code, so they thought it’d be interesting to start a celebration on a day that played off those numbers in March, the third month of the year.
One of their early 302 Days featured a screening of the film “Fight Club,” which offers hints that it was set in Delaware.
Last year, Dogfish Head hosted the holiday celebration for the first time, drawing over 1,000 guests, Mosher said.
“I think everyone’s got a love for the 302,” he said. “We don’t have a major sports team around here. But I feel like people come out to represent Delaware, and the 302, like their favorite sports team.”
What’s on tap for 302 celebration?
302 Day will feature local libations and food trucks, live music, lawn games and a Delaware Spirit Costume Contest.
There also will be a raffle to benefit Friends of Delaware State Parks. Last year’s event raised $4,000 for that nonprofit, Mosher said.
Calagione said in a statement that Mosher and Maull “have been integral in the collaborative beer process” for 302 Lager, along with Selders.
The idea to feature a horseshoe crab on the beer can was inspired by Mosher and his wife’s business.
“The can features both of our well-known logos loud and proud, and I know this is going to be a really sought-after limited-edition can release,” Calagione said.
The 302 Lager release party is at (Cannery Village Center, 6 Village Center Blvd., Milton) from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 2. Guests can register by visiting checkout.xola.
The 302 Day celebration will be held at Dogfish Head Brewery from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 4. Free admission. For more info, visit dogfish.com or (302) 684-1000.
Andre Lamar is the features/lifestyle reporter. If you have an interesting story idea, email Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com.
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