All aboard for Train Day! Whether you’re a lifelong railfan or just looking for a family-friendly day out, Train Day has something for everyone, including:
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Pontoon Tour (Reserved Seat) at Alapocas Run
Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the cypress swamp during this 1-hour guided tour aboard our 28-foot pontoon boat. These tickets are for individual seats on the pontoon boat. Online registration ends 48 hours prior to the pontoon tour. To make a reservation for your family/household group, please call the Baldcypress Nature Center directly at 302-875-5163. Adults $8, Children (Age 12 and under) $4.
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Nature Babies Session 2 at White Clay Creek
For ages birth to 2. Bring your little ones out for their first nature programs at the park! Cost includes one parent /guardian with child.
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Nature Nuggets Session 2 at White Clay Creek
For ages 2-4, we’ll spend about 45 minutes with the preschoolers and their adults investigating a variety of nature topics.
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Cape 75 Bird Walk Challenge at Cape Henlopen
Celebrate 75 years of DE State Parks by collecting biological data at Cape using eBird during these monthly guided walks. Continue on your own using the app to try and find 75 or more species in the park each month. For ages 7+ with an adult. Pre-register by calling (302) 645-6852.FREE with park entrance fee.
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Tulip Tuesday at Longwood Gardens
Tulip Tuesdays
April 21, April 28, May 5
10:00 am–6:00 pmIf you’re looking for even more spring color, join us for three special Tulip Tuesdays. Enjoy extended Tuesday hours, peak tulip beauty, and the kind of vibrant, once-a-year scenery that makes spring at Longwood unforgettable.
Get Ready for Spring at Longwood Gardens
Spring wasn’t just a change on the calendar—it felt different. The Gardens began to wake, color returned in waves, and every pathway seemed to carry the quiet promise of renewal. This season invites you to slow down, look closer, and let the world surprise you again.
As you explore, you’ll find drifts of tulips glowing in the sun, quiet corners perfect for reflection, and wide-open vistas that feel like a breath of fresh air you didn’t know you needed. Spring at Longwood means fresh blooms, fresh joy, and endless possibilities waiting around every turn.
Spring is one of our most popular seasons. During Spring Blooms, all Members require timed reservations daily from open to close.
Gardens Premium Members and Innovators may visit without reservations. -
Stroller Ramblers at White Clay Creek
Do you want to hike stroller-friendly paths with a Naturalist? Come explore our parks, learn about and share the nature we encounter with your little ones, and meet other caregivers and parents. Free program, pre-register and get meeting location by calling 302-368-6900 by the day before.
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Keeping Track with Bellevue Staff at Bellevue
Join park staff for a refreshing walk around the iconic Oval Track. In addition to park naturalists, we will be joined by employees from other departments like administration and maintenance to discuss our favorite parts of park history and answer your questions. Walk-ups welcome, no registration required. Meet at the bathrooms at the top of the main parking lot. Free!
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Little Nature Explorers (Wednesday Session) at Brandywine Zoo
Do you and your child love playing outdoors? This multi-week series allows children aged 2 to 5 and their guardians to make discoveries outdoors together. Each 45-minute class includes nature-based, child-directed activities, singing, and a storybook. Each week will learn about a different animal at the Zoo. Sign up for Sunday or Wednesday classes. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Due to limited space, a maximum of 2 adults can attend class per family. Class is limited in size and will take place outdoors, so dress for the weather. Ticket Fee: $15 per child for each class.
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A Capitol Experience at First State Heritage Park
Tour Delaware’s current functioning capital building with a First State Heritage Park tour guide! Walk through the halls where Delaware laws are made and learn about the history of the First State.
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Stories of the Green Walking Tour at First State Heritage Park
The Dover Green has been the heart of this capital since its 18th-century founding. Led by a historic interpreter, experience the stories of the sites and people that have defined the First State experience.
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Beach Driving Clinic at Delaware Seashore
Learn park rules, licensing requirements, and tips from park staff to maximize your safety while driving on the beach. Then, follow park staff out to the beach to practice driving on the sand. Participants must have a valid surf tag and the required equipment to do so. Online registration ends 24 hours prior to program. After that, please call 302-227-6991. $20 per person
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Wilmington Flower Market 2026
Wilmington Flower Market 2026 – Wilmington, Delaware
Dates: May 7 – May 9, 2026
Location: Rockford Park, Lookout Drive, Wilmington, Delaware
Hours:- Thursday, May 7: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Friday, May 8: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday, May 9: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Admission: Free (parking available for a fee)
A Spring Tradition in Wilmington
The Wilmington Flower Market returns to Rockford Park in 2026 for three days of spring festivities celebrating flowers, community, and charitable giving. Held annually during Mother’s Day weekend, the event has become one of the most popular seasonal traditions in Wilmington and the surrounding Brandywine Valley.
The outdoor market brings together thousands of visitors to browse plant sales, shop with local vendors, enjoy entertainment, and take part in a variety of family-friendly activities throughout the park.
Flowers, Vendors, and Festival Fun
At the center of the event are the flower and plant sales, where gardeners can purchase seasonal plants, flowers, and gardening items. Alongside the horticultural displays, the market features a lively festival atmosphere with dozens of vendors and attractions.
Visitors can expect:
- Garden plants, flowers, and landscaping items
- Craft and retail vendor tents
- Local food vendors and specialty treats
- Carnival rides and games for children
- Live music and entertainment
- A beer garden for adults
These attractions combine to create a vibrant outdoor festival environment in one of Wilmington’s most scenic parks.
Supporting Delaware’s Children
The Wilmington Flower Market is more than a community festival—it is also one of Delaware’s longest-running charitable events. Organized entirely by volunteers, the nonprofit event raises funds to support organizations that benefit children across Delaware.
Founded in 1921 by Mrs. A. Felix duPont, the Flower Market began as a small fundraising effort to support children’s health programs. Over the decades, it has grown into a major philanthropic tradition, contributing millions of dollars to children’s charities throughout the state.
A Classic Wilmington Festival
Today, the Wilmington Flower Market remains one of the most anticipated spring events in northern Delaware. With blooming plants, carnival rides, live entertainment, and community spirit, the three-day celebration offers a welcoming atmosphere for families, gardeners, and festival-goers alike.
Visitors often bring blankets or lawn chairs to enjoy the entertainment and relax in Rockford Park while exploring vendor booths and sampling local food throughout the event grounds.
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Rockford Tower: Flower Market at Rockford Park
Rockford Tower opens for the season during the annual Flower Market, a spring tradition in Rockford Park. Climb this historic structure and see the Flower Market and the city of Wilmington. Free!
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Discover Battery 519 at Cape Henlopen
Tour the underground Battery 519 to discover how Fort Miles planned to defend the east coast from the anticipated threats of WWII. Tours meet at the Fort Miles Museum in Battery 519. Recommended for ages 7+. $6 per person. Online registration ends 24 hours prior to the program. After that, please call 302-644-5007.
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Mansion Tour at Auburn Valley
Come explore one of the best examples of a Queen Anne-style Victorian mansion that Delaware has to offer with a one-hour tour, at 1 p.m. every Thursday and Friday. The mansion is the former home of the Marshall family whose history and legacy of industry and innovation filled the home with the antiques and furnishings you will see there today. You will get to explore two floors of Auburn Heights with a small group (maximum 10 people). A discounted joint tour to the Marshall Steam Museum and Mansion is only available by paying day of for your tour. If you pre-book you will not get the dollar off each tour discount. $8 per adult, $4 per child.
