The coastal towns of Southern Delaware are a hustle and bustle of activity during the summer months, but it’s when this frenzy gives way to the serene shoulder seasons that this hidden gem really has a chance to shine.
“We’re embracing winter,” says Alyssa Weaver. “It brings a very different energy having a big crowd coming into the beach in the middle of winter.”
Weaver is the events manager of the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce, which is the driving force behind the area’s winter holiday shop local initiatives, annual Fire & Ice Festival in January and general promotion of the one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants that keep their doors open in the offseason.
Trademarked the Quiet Resorts by the chamber, the region includes 10 towns: Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island, South Bethany, Ocean View, Millville, Selbyville, Dagsboro, Roxana, Frankford and Clarksville.
“Marketing ourselves and getting that Quiet Resorts brand for the communities that we serve is really helpful for people who aren’t local,” says Emily Mais, membership and programming director of the chamber. “It’s a tourism brand we use to promote all of our festivals and events in those communities.”
Shop local for the holidays
“‘Tis the season of holiday shopping initiatives,” Mais says with a smile. “And it’s tax-free shopping. That’s a big reason people will stop to shop here.”
There is one holiday shopping event held across all of the Quiet Resorts–Shop Local Extravaganza. Those who shop at participating locations during the event can enter to win store prizes or a $250 Visa gift card grand prize. The extravaganza kicks off on Small Business Saturday, the weekend after Thanksgiving, continuing on Saturdays, Dec. 6 and 13. Last year 35 businesses took part, and this year the chamber is expecting even more to get involved.
Specific to Bethany Beach is the Weekend Wonderland initiative on Dec. 6, 13 and 20. There are trolley tours to take in the local Christmas decorating contest, an Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt, visits with Santa Claus and, of course, plenty of discounts and deals.
“It all kicks off with the town tree lighting,” Mais says. “There’s a lot of holiday fun those Saturdays in Bethany Beach.”
While out and about taking advantage of tax-free shopping at the many local boutiques and shops in the Quiet Resorts, shoppers can also indulge in the varied local cuisine. There are off-season specials each day of the week showcased on the chamber’s website, and there’s everything from seafood and barbecue to empanadas and homemade ice cream.
“We have fine dining to as casual as it can be,” Mais says of the varied dining options.
Fire & Ice Festival
For nearly a decade, the Quiet Resorts have played host to the Fire & Ice Festival in late January, a concept that was born out of trying to build up business during a traditionally very slow weekend. This year, festival organizers are expecting more than 15,000 attendees.
“Our small mom-and-pop shops are looking for that extra boost to keep them going and carry them through after the holidays have passed and before the spring season begins,” Weaver says. “Now it’s turned into this super exciting pop of energy right in the winter time.”
The ninth annual festival will be held Jan. 30 to Feb. 1 in 2026 and is themed “In the First State” to celebrate Delaware’s 250th anniversary. The weekend includes a bevy of free entertainment, including inflatables, a synthetic skating rink, jugglers, live music and campfires.
And then there’s the ice sculptures—approximately 200 blocks of ice weighing in at about 60,000 pounds. The Ice God out of Baltimore is this year’s Fire & Ice Festival vendor, and the company employs some of the most elite, internationally known ice carvers. The sculptures are scattered throughout the Quiet Resorts and can be seen via a self-guided walking tour, and there are also four live carvings over the weekend.
“The festival will have over 75 total sculptures and each host site has one giant sculpture that is carved in front of an audience. It’s a spectacular thing to see,” Weaver says.
While the majority of the weekend’s festivities are free, there are also some ticketed events all benefiting local nonprofits and charitable ventures. On the weekends leading up to the Fire & Ice Festival, the event’s annual Drink Competition featuring bartenders from local restaurants will be held on Jan. 18, and this year’s Wing Competition is set for Jan. 25.
Ticketed events during festival weekend include:
- Taste of Bethany, a self-guided walking tour of Bethany Beach with savory and sweet samples from a dozen businesses along the way;
- A Chili Cook-Off with beverages and delicious chili;
- The Drink Tasting Tour, where guests can taste up to 15 cocktails from this year’s Fire & Ice Drink Competition’s participating restaurants, with each hosting an ice sculpture and special festival menu items, too; and
- A Chicken Dinner with presold tickets being distributed at John West Park
Last year the chamber boasted over 90 Fire & Ice Festival partners in local businesses and nonprofits.
“It’s a full community labor of love and it does benefit a lot of different groups,” Weaver says. “There’s something for everybody.”
The Quiet Resorts
(302) 539-2100
TheQuietResorts.com
