Lewes, DE

Delaware has such rich resources, Delawareans are encouraged to purchase locally and support home grown goods. This is a great time of year to support your local agricultural farmers and other goods producing industries.

Buying local not only helps create jobs in Delaware, but helps save fuel by not having to transport goods from other states and locales.

Shop Delaware stores, food markets and other markets for:

• Frozen and canned vegetables from The PictSweet Company, Hanover Food Corporation, J. G. Townsends Inc. and Vlasic Pickles, all of which contract with local farmers and provide processing jobs for Delawareans

• Quality poultry from Allen Family Foods Inc., Mountaire Farms, and Perdue Farms that provide jobs for Delawareans who process poultry grown by Delaware/Delmarva poultry growers.

• Delaware's famous scrapples and sausages from Rapa in Bridgeville, Kirby and Holloway in Harrington, and Hughes, and Haass, both of Dover.

• Local fresh greens, sweet potatoes, herbs, apples, ciders, pumpkins.

• Local wines, beers, ales and other spirits from Nassau Valley Vineyards in Lewes, Pizzadili Winery in Felton, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton and other local breweries as they list.

Check the Delaware Department of Agriculture's Food Trader and Ag Trader websites frequently for other available products as the season progresses. And don't forget, Delaware is the home of Tax-Free Shopping!

The Lewes Christmas Parade is postponed until Sunday, December 6, at 5pm. Still traveling down Savannah Road. See you there!!

Lewes, Delaware, is jump-starting the Holiday Season with Christmas Weekend in Historic Lewes 2009. The festivities begin with the 23rd Annual Lewes Hospitality Night on Thursday, December 3rd, 6-9pm, in the Historic Commercial District surrounding Second Street. Shops will be open late and live musical entertainment will fill the streets with the sounds of the season. Beebe Medical Center will also hold its Holiday of Lights on Thursday at 5pm.

Saturday, December 5th, the fun continues with the Lewes Historical Society House Tour (http://www.historiclewes.org/events/christmas.html), the Old Fashioned Christmas Parade (5pm along Savannah Rd.), Tree Lighting and Caroling in Zwaanendael Park and a Reception in the Historic Fisher-Martin House. Also this weekend, the Annual Children's Beach House Preview Reception, Art Show & Sale will be held (www.cbhinc.org).

Whether this would be your first experience of Christmas Weekend in Historic Lewes or it is an annual tradition, this is a time-honored way to Celebrate the Season. Enjoy! For more information, log onto www.leweschamber.com.

December 3, 2009 - Hospitality Night, Lewes, Delaware

In Lewes, Delaware, the locals support local businesses. I have lived all over the country and that is not always the case. Here, the local merchants here are also local residents - that makes a big difference I think. I saw statistics that I can't exactly recall, but the point is that when you spend your money with a local business, much more of it stays in your local community. Shopping at WalMart is not the same as shopping at Kids Ketch, for example, an independently-owned toy store that really offers the best toys available. The clothing at Acquamarine on Market is unique and not the same as anything at Marshalls or the Outlets. When you visit Blooming Boutique you'll find one-of-a-king gifts and accessoriess that will make you smile. The last time I was there I had to pick up a cap with Loo-is on it - everyone always asks how Lewes is pronounced so they turned it into shirts and caps!

On Thursday, December 3rd, don't miss Hospitality Night in Historic Lewes. Local merchants will be open from 6 - 9 pm with complimentary refreshments, entertainment, comraderie and great local merchandise for your holiday shopping.