Each year, dozens of festivals, races, walks, parades, and other special events are hosted within the Rehoboth Beach city limits. These events add flavor to our community, enhance residents’ and visitors’ quality of life, and contribute to the economic vitality of the city. The City of Rehoboth Beach is proud to assist community organizations in bringing outdoor community events to public spaces.
If you’re interested in hosting a special event on a public space in Rehoboth Beach – that is, on the beach, boardwalk, bandstand, roadways, or parks – you must obtain a special event permit from the city. If you’re interested in renting the convention center and hosting an event there, please visit this section of our website. In addition, special events at Grove Park require that organizers also complete a park pavilion rental application.
Obtaining A Special Event Permit
Familiarize yourself with the city’s special event guidelines
Terms and conditions for hosting a special event are provided in our Special Events Guidelines.
Complete the Special Event Permit Application
Submit your completed Special Event Permit Application via email. Generally, applications should be submitted eight weeks prior to the event date and minimally at least 30 days before an event.
You also may mail your application as well as your $50 application fee to:
City of Rehoboth Beach
ATTN Special Events
229 Rehoboth Avenue
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
Checks for the application fee should be made payable to: City of Rehoboth Beach. Credit card payments for the application fee are accepted over the phone at 302-227-6181, ext. 522; a 2.5% service fee will be added, bringing the cost to $51.25.
Include routes and event layout details with your application
Use these maps and facility layouts to aid you in providing route and event layout information.
Extra-duty police officers may be required
Due to an event’s size or nature, extra-duty police officers may be required. The pay rate for each
extra-duty officer is $90/hour with a minimum of three hours/officer. If extra-duty officers are
needed, you will be required to complete the Extra-Duty Police Employer Agreement and submit
it via email or fax at 302-504-6207.
Application review by the city
The city sends out an invitation to submit event applications to previously approved event
organizers at the end of the year and reviews submitted event applications in January. However,
event applications are accepted throughout the year. After the initial review in January, event
applications may take up to 30 days to review. City staff will contact you with any questions or
concerns and/or with an approved permit.
After receiving your approved permit
The city must be in receipt of your application fee and a certificate of insurance naming the City of Rehoboth Beach as an additional insured before your event takes place. Organizers must inform the City of Rehoboth Beach of any event changes.
Have a great event
We wish you a fun, successful event. Thank you for bringing your event to the City of Rehoboth Beach!
Following your event
Thank you for cleaning up after your event. Following your event, if appropriate, you will receive an invoice from the city for extra-duty police and usage of the bandstand. Some larger events also receive an invoice for extra public works support (with trash, raking the beach, etc.).
Organizations with outstanding invoices may not be approved for the following year’s event.