The leaves are mostly down in Bear, DE, and the lights are going up. It’s finally November, one of the best months to live in this part of the state.
Here is our breakdown of the coolest November events* worth getting on the calendar before they fill up.
What is the best fall race near Bear, DE in November?
- 54th Annual Newark Turkey Trot: Saturday, November 21 at Handloff Park, 1000 Barksdale Road, Newark. It’s Delaware’s oldest consecutive road race.
- Registration opens at 8 a.m., the 10K starts at 9 a.m., and the 5K starts at 10:30 a.m. Rain or shine.
- Shirt and bib pickup is Friday, November 20, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Newark Municipal Building, 220 South Main Street.
- Proceeds go to the James F. Hall Scholarship Fund, which covers Newark Parks and Recreation programs for kids who could not otherwise attend.
What opens the weekend after Thanksgiving in Bear, DE?
- Holidays at Hagley: November 27, 2026 through January 1, 2027, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
- Home and garden tours of Eleutherian Mills, decorated in the du Pont family’s French holiday traditions.
- Family activities each weekend, plus annual gingerbread house contest entries on display in the Hagley Barn.
- Santa stops by on December 5, so there is a reason to come back.
Where can you get outside before it gets cold in Bear, DE?
- Lums Pond State Park is right here in Bear, with more than 17 miles of trail around Delaware’s largest freshwater pond.
- The Swamp Forest Trail loops the water on boardwalks and bridges through black cherry, sweet gum, and maple.
- The Little Jersey Trail runs 8 miles and suits every pace, including strollers.
Is there a Renaissance faire near Bear, DE?
- Delaware Renaissance Faire, 375 Saw Mill Branch Road, Townsend. Runs October 31 and November 1, November 7 and 8, and November 14 and 15.
- Each weekend has its own theme. Halloweekend opens the run with trick-or-treating for kids, Celtic Weekend brings Irish music from Triantán and Róisín plus Celtic magic, and Fantasy Weekend closes it out with wand making in the Kids Kingdom and fae creatures wandering the village.
- Five stages of professional shows run all day, plus an artisan marketplace, food vendors and a locally sourced pub.
- Archery, axe throwing and dagger toss if you’d rather do than watch, and you can take on a knight in one-on-one combat.
- Costume contests every day, so there’s no such thing as overdressed.
- Tickets are on sale now.
Check out our 2025 recap from our Instagram below:
When does the holiday season actually start around here?
- Yuletide at Winterthur: November 21, 2026 through January 3, 2027, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Holiday Market opens the season on November 21, with firepits, seasonal cocktails, and the self-paced house tour.
- Holiday Nights start Friday, November 27, Fridays and Saturdays until 8 p.m.
- Included with admission, and advance reservations are strongly recommended.
What is Twinklefest in Odessa?
- 2nd Annual Twinklefest: Saturday, November 21, 1 to 5:30 p.m. on the grounds of the Corbit-Sharp House, Main Street, Odessa. About 20 minutes south of Bear.
- More than 30 decorated Christmas trees, themed around classic children’s literature and built by families, school kids, and community groups.
- Hay wagon rides along the Appoquinimink Creek, plus the Freedom Seekers program at the 19th-century Muskrat Skinning Shack, where interpreters bring the Delaware Underground Railroad to life.
- Santa and his antique sleigh are set up in the 1806 Wilson Barn for photos.
- Write letters to Santa with quill pens and India ink in the Quaker classroom, make ornaments in the apprentice shop, and enter an ugly sweater contest for a chance to win prizes.
Where is the Wilmington Jaycees Christmas Parade?
- 62nd Annual Wilmington Jaycees Christmas Parade: Saturday, November 28 at 11 a.m., starting at 2nd and Market and ending at 11th and Market near Rodney Square.
- Floats, marching and string bands, antique cars, and local celebrities and dignitaries.
- Elves collect letters to Santa along the route, so have the kids write one before you go.
- Free to watch, and it runs alongside Small Business Saturday downtown.
Live Close to It All
Reybold’s communities in Bear put Lums Pond, Glasgow Park and Christiana Mall within a short drive, with Newark and Wilmington just up the road. The new Terrace Apartments at St. Andrews are available now in one, two and three-bedroom floor plans, each with an assigned garage spot.
*Dates, hours, and ticketing change. Check each event before you go.