Poseidon Festival
The Town of Bethany presents the Poseidon Festival 2026!
MAY 22 – 25, 2026: Save the date for the 1th Annual Bethany Beach Poseidon Festival! Celebrate the sea and get valuable information to help prepare for coastal emergencies. Enjoy live music, pirates, mermaids, marine scientists, and more in a beautiful beachfront location!
Caiso Steel Band
Friday, May 23
5:00 – 9:00 pm
The CAISO Steeldrum Band (pronounced ki-e-so) has been playing and entertaining together since 1979. Its seven members, all formerly with the Trinidad & Tobago Steel Band of Washington, DC, have performed previously with well-known groups in Trinidad and the West Indies. The group’s varied repertoire includes popular music, Jazz, Rock, Calypso, Latin American and original compositions. For years CAISO has performed in the Baltimore-Washington, Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania region.
Community Kite Fly
Friday, May 23
5:30 – 8:00 pm
The community is invited to fly a kite on the beach with the sounds of the steel drums filling the air. Kites will be given to the first 100 attendees, and designated areas on the beach will be marked off. Tidepool Toys will also be selling special Poseidon theme-related kites leading up to the event, and the Nature Center will be hosting a kite build on the Saturday before (5/17).
Pirates on the Plaza
Saturday, May 24 1:00 – 5:00 pm
Sunday, May 25 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Captain Jack and his crew will descend upon the Bandstand Plaza and lure you into the Age of Piracy when the seas were full of adventure and rules were more like guidelines. See live sword demonstrations and learn about the ways of pirate life in exciting swashbuckling shows throughout the day.
Mermaid Mania
Saturday , May 24 1:00 – 5:00 pm
Sunday, May 25 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Discover a world of live mermaids as you mingle with them and watch them perform underwater tricks. Get up close and personal with unique photo opportunities and engaging stories.
Costume Parade and Contest
Saturday, May 24
2:00 – 2:30 pm
Come dressed as a pirate, mermaid, or your favorite maritime creature for your chance to win prizes in our costume contest. Lineup begins at 1:45 on the boardwalk in front of the Bethany Beach Ocean Suites and parades down to the Bandstand stage.
3 Hour Tour
Saturday, May 24
1:00 & 3:00 pm
3 Hour Tour is Delmarva’s premier Yacht Rock band, playing all the smooth melodic hits from the mid-‘70s to mid ‘80s and featuring some of the region’s top musicians. All hands on deck for this party!
Super Jam Bash
Saturday, May 24
5:30 – 7:00 pm
Join Bethany Surf Shop on the beach off Garfield Parkway for demonstrations of skim boards and body boards and get some tips from Pro-riders.
Aloha Summer Luau Show
Saturday, May 24
7:30 pm
Say Aloha to summer with an enchanting journey through the Polynesian islands complete with pulsating drums, exotic dancers and a fire knife performance. See a revue of dances from Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, and New Zealand. You’ll even learn how to dance the hula.
Marine Science
Sunday, May 25
1:00 – 5:00 pm
Gain an appreciation for our marine life and environment in a fun open-classroom setting by the sea. New Logic Marine Science Camp presents this award-winning program that will explore shark anatomy, fossils, and sea giants through interactive hands-on activities.
M.E.R.R.
Sunday, May 25
1:00 – 5:00 pm
Learn about the mission of The Marine Education, Research, and Rehabilitation Institute (MERR) through an interactive exhibit illustrating their marine mammal and sea turtle rescue efforts.
Chris Sacks Band
Sunday, May 25
1:00 & 3:00 pm
The Chris Sacks Band is best defined as a swirling blend of red-blooded American music and the blue seawaters of the Caribbean for a night of upbeat and fun beach music. Chris has opened for national acts such as Michael Ray, Joe Diffie, Lorrie Morgan, Pam Tillis and Mo Pitney. He has also shared the stage with Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band members Doyle Grisham, Nadirah Sakoor, and Roger Bartlett. Bring your grass skirts for this trip to the islands!
First Responder Meet & Greet
Sunday May 25
5:30 – 7:00 pm
Get to know our Town lifeguards, police, and fire personnel in a casual meet and greet. Pick up valuable information on how to prepare for a potential coastal emergency. Also, see the Sussex County Command Post and water rescue vehicles up close.
U.S. Navy Country Current
Sunday, May 25
7:30 pm
The United States Navy Band Country Current is the Navy’s premier country-bluegrass ensemble. The group is nationally renowned for its versatility and “eye-popping” musicianship, performing a blend of modern country music and cutting-edge bluegrass. This seven-member ensemble employs musicians from diverse backgrounds with extensive high-profile recording and touring experience in the music scenes of Nashville, New York, New Orleans and more. In the tradition of country music, each member is a skilled performer on multiple instruments.
Memorial Day Service
Monday, May 26
11:00 am
Join the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7234 as they honor the true meaning of Memorial Day.
Date
- May 22 - 25 2026
Time
- All Day
More Info
Location
Downtown Bethany Beach
- Bethany Beach, DE
