Lewes to host All-American Night of Jazz as part of Delaware 250 events

Coastal Concerts and the City of Lewes will host “Swingin’ History: An All-American Night of Jazz” on June 16 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Stango Park, featuring the Delmarva Big Band as part of Delaware’s 250th anniversary celebrations. (Photo courtesy of Coastal Concerts.)

Coastal Concerts, in partnership with the City of Lewes, will host a free outdoor performance on June 16 at Stango Park as part of statewide celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of Delaware.

The event, titled “Swingin’ History: An All-American Night of Jazz,” will run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and feature the Delmarva Big Band performing music inspired by the 1920s through the 1940s.

Organizers say the program is designed to blend live music, narration, and historical storytelling as part of the broader Delaware and Lewes 250 commemorations.

Lewes City Council member and local historian Trina Brown-Hicks will serve as narrator for the evening, sharing historical context and stories focused on the region’s cultural and community history, including the African American experience in Southern Delaware during the era highlighted in the performance.

The concert will take place at Stango Park, located at 101 Adams Avenue in Lewes. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs and arrive early to secure seating before the performance begins.

The first 500 attendees will receive a complimentary commemorative booklet related to the anniversary celebration.

The event is part of a wider series of programming recognizing Delaware’s 250th anniversary, supported in part by a DE250 grant. Additional information on statewide and local anniversary events is available through lewes250.com, delaware250.org, and coastalconcerts.org.