By Craig Horleman

It may be a little smaller than in years past, but Milford’s annual Bug & Bud Festival returns later this month for the first time in three years.

One of Delaware’s most popular events, the 17th edition takes place April 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hosted by Downtown Milford Inc., this rain-or-shine festival will take place along Walnut Street, Park Avenue and the Mispillion Riverwalk in downtown Milford.

“It’s probably about half the size of what it would have been in past years. If we had a little more time for planning and things ... but we just wanted to get it up and running,” said Janne Collins, executive director of Downtown Milford Inc.

“We’re only shutting down Walnut Street and half of Park Street and I think normally we also shut off some of Washington Street. So it’s a smaller footprint that we have to work with this time.”

The festival will still include the always-popular spring costume parade featuring adults, children and pets dressed as ladybugs and trees. This year, the ladybugs and trees have graciously invited the bees, butterflies and flowers to join in the parade as a show of springtime solidarity.

The walking parade will be down the Riverwalk and throughout downtown Milford. Paradegoers should assemble by 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Bridging the Gap thrift store at 21 SW NW Front St..

Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Milford Mayor Archie Campbell will be the parade grand marshal.

“It should be fun. I don’t know how big it’ll be. But it’s a walking parade. And we’ll just walk down the Riverwalk and hoot and holler and carry on,” Ms. Collins said.

There will also be diverse local entertainment throughout the day; food vendors including funnel cakes and cotton candy; a Kids Zone with games and activities; art- and nature-related hands-on activities; white oak seedling tree giveaways for the first 300 people; and a petting zoo.

“It’ll be closer in size to the Holiday Stroll, but with more vendors. And we have some of our farmers and vendors are going to be there to premiere their products as well as many of the community nonprofits and small businesses and crafters that are going to be out in the street showing everybody what they’re doing these days,” Ms. Collins said.

The festival is in honor of Arbor Day, Milford’s Tree USA designation and the town’s history in helping the ladybug become the state bug of Delaware.

“Everyone was kind of waiting with bated breath to see what would happen. It looked like the pandemic was getting ready to take off and it did for a little bit. So there was kind of a holding pattern in place,” Ms. Collins said.

“And then through the pandemic, although we have some really great volunteers who have hung on through everything, they’re getting kind of tired. And then we had some other partnerships that didn’t feel like they had the time to invest in it at such short notice. So they pulled out and that left us with saying we think we’ll just need to do a smaller event. And at least we’re doing something to bring things back to life.”

Ms. Collins said those in Milford and the surrounding area are happy that Bug & Bud is coming back in any form.

“We just did a spring plant sale that we do every year over at the Santa House and had a chance to talk with some of the folks that were coming by to pick up plants and ask them if they were planning on coming to the Bug & Bud Festival and everybody was enthusiastic about it,” she said.

“The townspeople love it. The people outside of the town love it. So, just about everybody I talked to said ‘Oh yes, I remember that. Oh, I can’t wait to see it come back.’ So that part of it was really exciting.

“I imagine there will be people who come by and say ‘Oh, what happened?’ We’re kind of prepared for complaints. And so we’re just going to handle those. We really wanted to do the big deal but we just didn’t have enough time or enough volunteers really. And so if you want to come help us make it come back bigger and better next year, that’s exactly what we want to do. We’re working in that direction, but it’s taking some time.”

Ms. Collins said it’s not only the people who are excited but the sponsors.

“Some of them have come without us even contacting them and said, ‘Hey, we heard you’re doing this and we just want to sponsor it.’ We’re like, Wow. When you have the enthusiasm behind you, you know you’re doing the right thing,” she said.

Corporate partners are Bayhealth, The Milford Chronicle and WSFS Bank.

Anyone wishing to sponsor this or any other Downtown Milford Inc., event should contact the DMI office at 302-839-1180. More information is available at here or contact director@downtownmilford.org.

‘Murder’ in Milford

As we told you last week, Second Street Players in Milford premiere Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” tonight.

Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed multiple times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, the passengers rely on detective Hercule Poirot to identify the murderer – in case he or she decides to strike again.

All performances will be at the Riverfront Theater, 2 S. Walnut St. in Milford and are scheduled two weekends to include today through Sunday and April 29 and 30 and May 1. Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7 p.m. and Sunday shows begin at 2 p.m.

Seats are $20 with a $1 discount available to seniors, military, students, and our members. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit here. Patrons who need assistance with the ticketing website or with other questions may email info@secondstreetplayers.com, or leave a message at 302-422-0220.

‘Guide to Love & Murder’

Also starting tonight, Possum Point Players welcome spring with a look at a farcically dark subject, numerous murders, the musical comedy “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder.”

The show runs today through Sunday and April 29 and 30 and May 1.

Tickets are $27 for adults and $25 for seniors and students. Order tickets here or by calling the ticketline 302-856-3460. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Possum Hall is at 441 Old Laurel Road, Georgetown.

When a low-born Englishman finds that he is ninth in line for an earldom in a lofty-born and pretentious family, he must consider his options for attaining that earldom over eight other D’Ysquith limbs of the family tree.

Aaron Lewis in Dover

Country star Aaron Lewis is coming to Bally’s Dover Casino Resort to showcase his new set, “Frayed At Both Ends, The Acoustic Tour” today at 9 p.m. Tickets range from $75 to $150.

Mr. Lewis grew up in Springfield, Vermont, listening to his grandparents’ country 8-tracks.

This background inspired him as the multi-platinum Staind founder to return to his roots for the No. 1 Billboard Country Album debut, “Town Line” and “Sinner.”

For tickets, visit here.

Sakura Mini Matsuri

The Kent County Public Library will present its annual Sakura Mini Matsuri (Mini Cherry Blossom Festival) on Saturday, from 1:15 to 4:30 p.m. The matsuri will include Japanese-inspired crafts, traditional cultural arts and music.

The event is free and will be held at the library located at 497 S. Red Haven Lane in Dover.

The matsuri will include an ikebana demonstration by the Sogetsu Brandywine Study Group. Ikebana, the art of flower arranging, is one of the most revered traditional cultural arts of Japan. The demonstration will incorporate several different ikebana styles, along with an exhibition of arrangements.

Philadelphia’s KyoDaiko community drum troupe will make a return appearance.

Family-friendly, Japanese-inspired crafts will also be available while they last. Japanese/Asian-inspired clothing and family-friendly cosplay welcome.

What Women Want

Finally, The W3 What Women Want Fest is returning to Wild Quail Golf & Country Club in Wyoming this year with a day of friends, fashions and shopping.

The event is being held Saturday,, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and is presented by the Delaware State News and sponsored by Hawkins & Associates at Merrill Lynch. The Central Habitat for Humanity is the charitable fundraising partner.

This event will include vendors, light refreshments, a signature cocktail by Wild Quail, a fashion show presented by Talbots of Dover, door prizes and giveaways in a festive, relaxed atmosphere. Plus, there will be a special keynote speaker this year: fashion illustrator/creative director/author Dallas Shaw.

Tickets for the event are on sale here. They are $10 in advance or $15 at the door the day of the event. A VIP experience is being offered this year for $45. It includes a seated lunch, a watercolor workshop with Dallas Shaw, VIP swag bag and more.

Now Showing

New this weekend in theaters is the animated “The Bad Guys,” the fantasy film “The Northman” and Nicolas Cage in the “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.”