Think colossal kick-off to the summer, with a blues festival followed by an All-American Fourth and you get the spirit of what this city is all about. Which means if you are even getting a whisper of those holiday blahs, do not fear: Delray Beach has it all wrapped up in blues and bunting for you.
First of all, check out Boston’s six-day “Red, White & Blues Festival,” June 29 through July 4, on five stages, featuring more than 30 bands, including Bobby Rush, Tommy Castro and the Pain Killers, Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, John Mooney, Beverly McClellan, the New Orleans Suspects, Southern Hospitality, Joey Gilmore, J.P. Soars and the Red Hots and a gazillion more. You can get one-day or multi-day passes, as well as VIP passes. Please check out bostonbluesfest.com for more details. And with the new Sand Bar in full swing, a beach blues bash is even more inviting.
For you family types, the Fourth in Delray has always been a traditional blockbuster, starting with an 8 a.m. sand sculpting contest hosted by Rotary on the beach. There will also be a brunch in the street on A1A hosted by Boston’s On the Beach, a flag raising at 2:30 p.m., and the Seagate Funfair starting at 3 p.m. with a climbing wall, bungee jump, trampoline and a water wheel. On the north end of the beach will be a green screen video tent, caricaturist, ceramic painting tent, and face painters. The Food Court and Beer Garden presented by Boston’s On the Beach and Caffe Luna Rosa opens at 4 p.m., and between all that and a concert and a baby contest, you should be well occupied until the legendary fireworks start at 9 p.m.
And for those people who like their space, for $150 you can rise above the riff-raff in the VIP viewing reception in the Marriott Penthouse, for food, drinks and a great view of the fireworks. (Call 561/279-1380 ext. 17, for that one!)
So, no excuses this year to wander around the house, wondering what all the fuss is about (“It’s just another day”); time to make your way to downtown Delray and usher in the summer with a bang.
And no one does that better than Delray Beach.
