REHOBOTH BEACH – DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation will host the 4th annual “Boo-Que By the Sea,” a two-day barbeque cook-off competition and family festival beginning 6 p.m., Friday, Oct. 19 and continuing Saturday, Oct. 20 at Delaware Seashore State Park.

The Boo-Que is a three-part festival – a professional barbeque competition sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), a local BBQ pork competition hosted by La Vida Hospitality, and activities for the whole family on Friday and Saturday.

The event features a wide variety of family-friendly activities and all proceeds from the event will benefit the Delaware Children in Nature Endowment Fund, which affords opportunities for young people to participate in outdoor experiences.

KCBS is a competitive cooking organization and the world’s largest non-profit group of barbeque and grilling enthusiasts, with more than 20,000 members worldwide. Every year, KCBS sanctions more than 450 barbeque contests worldwide, with the mission of recognizing it as “America’s Cuisine,” and “to celebrate, teach, preserve and promote barbeque as a culinary technique, sport, and art form.”

From 6–9 p.m. on Friday, join the Kansas City Barbeque Competitors for a spooky evening, with trick-or-treating, kids’ costume contest, and an opportunity for visitors to sample and select the “people’s choice award” winners for chicken wings. Craft beers will also be available on tap for adults.

From 2-7 p.m. on Saturday, come out for “everything BBQ,” with a professional and amateur BBQ Competition to see who will be crowned the champion. Twenty amateur & professional BBQ’ers will be cooking up their best pulled pork recipes and serving them up. It will be an event for the entire family with kids’ activities, live music by Sweet Leda, and food from area vendors.

For event details or to enter either the professional or local BBQ competitions please visit www.boo-bq.com/ .

For more information, contact Caroline Kane at 302-739-9185

Contact: Beth Shockley, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 274

REHOBOTH BEACH – DNREC’s Delaware Seashore State Park will host its first-ever “Big Truck Day” from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6 at the Indian River Marina. Children of all ages will have the opportunity to get up-close and personal with some of the park’s heavy equipment and special-use vehicles at this family-friendly event.

All types of vehicles will be featured, including a beach sweeper, front-end loader, minibus, DNREC dump truck, forklift, a Parks Natural Resources Police vehicle, and an ocean rescue truck. Marina staff will be on hand to greet visitors and answer questions, and children will be able to climb in the drivers’ seats.

If conditions allow, one of the vessels from the U.S. Coast Guard Station Indian River will dock at the marina. Also, a demonstration will be held of marina equipment in action, hauling large boats through the boatyard.

In addition, a car seat check station will be available, where a certified car seat safety technician will perform car seat safety inspections, free of charge.

The event is free with paid park entry. For more information, contact the Indian River Life-Saving Station at 302-227-6991.

Contact: Beth Shockley, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 261

DOVER – Hours and locations for lifeguarded ocean swimming beaches in DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation’s state parks will change beginning Aug. 20.

On Monday, Aug. 20, Delaware Seashore State Park’s Tower Road beach will be unguarded during the week, but will remain guarded on weekends including Labor Day.

Beginning Monday, Aug. 27 through Friday, Aug. 31, Fenwick Island State Park’s Fenwick Lot will be unguarded during the week but will remain guarded on the weekends including Labor Day.

All other state park guarded swimming beaches, including the main beach at Cape Henlopen State Park, and the South Indian River Inlet side of Delaware Seashore State Park, will be guarded every day through Labor Day with limited staff. Smaller or limited swimming areas will be available through Labor Day.

Lifeguard hours will not change, and will be 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily.

Reductions in hours are necessary due to season-long staffing shortages, and as a result of lifeguards leaving the area to return to high school, college, and school sports camps.

For more information, call the Division of Parks & Recreation’s Operations Section at 302-739-9200.

Contact: Beth Shockley, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 220

DEWEY BEACH – DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation’s Delaware Seashore State Park will host “Paddlefest” for the second year in a row, beginning 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25 at Delaware Seashore State Park.

“Paddlefest” was created to celebrate the park’s wildlife-rich salt marshes, as well as the park’s 50th anniversary last year. Due to its success, both participants and staff agreed that it would become an annual event due to popular demand. Last year, 200 paddlers participated.

The event is specifically geared toward the experienced kayaker. The course meanders through four miles of salt marsh creeks where heat, wind, and tide are all factors that can make it a challenge, even for the experienced paddler. Park staff will be stationed throughout the course to discuss wildlife and local history, as well as to provide water and snacks to participants.

At the end of the course, kayakers will be presented a certificate of completion, and photo opportunities will be available. A food truck will also be on hand with food for purchase. A state parks shuttle bus also will be circulating to take participants back to their cars since “Paddlefest” is a one-way course.

Advance reservations are required. Participants may bring their own kayaks, or they may rent from Coastal Kayak in Fenwick Island. For more information or to register, call the Indian River Life-Saving Station at 302-227-6991.

Contact: Beth Shockley, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 219

DEWEY BEACH – For nearly 40 years, Delaware Seashore State Park has hosted an annual Sandcastle Contest, and it has become one of the park’s major events. At 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 14, some 30 teams – totaling around 100 visitors from in and out of state – are expected to participate.

The event is family-friendly. In addition to the sandcastle building action, hands-on, beach-themed activities will be offered for kids.

The Sandcastle Contest will take place at the South Inlet Day Area beach, near the bathhouse. Judging begins at 1 p.m. and prizes will be awarded shortly thereafter. The contest is free to enter, with park entry fees in effect. Pre-registration is not required.

For more information, visit destateparks.com, or call the Indian River Life-Saving Station at 302-227-6991.

Contact: Beth Shockley, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 183