Here’s something people who live at the beach already know: September is really good here.
The weather is still warm. The ocean hasn’t gotten the memo that summer is over. Restaurants, shops and the boardwalk are still going, but the pace starts to change.
And then the fall events begin.
If you’re thinking about one more trip to the Delaware beaches in 2026, September gives you plenty of reasons to come back. Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach and Lewes are all close enough to experience in the same trip, and Canalside Inn makes an easy home base for all three.
Here is the full rundown of September events in Rehoboth Beach for 2026, plus what is worth the short drive to Dewey and Lewes.
September Events in Rehoboth Beach 2026 at a Glance
- September 16 – Leashed dogs allowed back on the Rehoboth beach and boardwalk when lifeguards are off duty
- September 17–19 – Polkamotion by the Ocean, 42nd year (Rehoboth Beach Convention Center)
- September 19 – Delaware Seafood Festival (Schellville)
- September 20–25 – Rehoboth Beach Cocktail Week (downtown Rehoboth)
- September 25–26 – Dewey’s Golden Jubilee (Dewey Beach and Rehoboth)
- September 25–27 – History Book Festival (Lewes)
Polkamotion by the Ocean | September 17–19
Yes, Rehoboth has a polka festival.
And it has been doing it for more than four decades.
Polkamotion by the Ocean celebrates its 42nd anniversary in 2026, bringing several days of live music and dancing to the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. There’s even a welcome party the night before the main festival begins.
See the 2026 Polkamotion schedule
This is one of those Rehoboth events that makes us smile. Beach town outside, full-on polka party inside.
Delaware Seafood Festival | September 19
This one requires very little explanation.
Seafood. At the beach.
The Delaware Seafood Festival returns September 19 at Schellville with steamed crabs, crab cakes, shrimp, oysters, lobster, live music, vendors and family activities.
Learn more about the Delaware Seafood Festival
Our suggestion: make the festival part of the day, not the entire day. Spend the morning in Rehoboth, hit the festival, and come back into town for dinner or a walk on the boardwalk.
Rehoboth Beach Cocktail Week | September 20–25
Rehoboth has become a legitimately good food-and-drink town, so this event fits.
During Rehoboth Beach Cocktail Week, participating restaurants feature specialty cocktails throughout downtown, along with a cocktail competition during the week. The 2026 event is being presented by Rehoboth Beach Main Street.
See Rehoboth Beach Main Street’s September event information
The nice part about doing this from Canalside? You can leave the car parked.
We’re less than a mile from the beach and boardwalk and just off Rehoboth Avenue, so downtown restaurants, shops and nightlife are easy to work into the trip.
Explore Rehoboth from Canalside Inn
History Book Festival | September 25–27
A completely different kind of beach weekend happens just up the road in Lewes.
The History Book Festival runs September 25–27 and brings more than 20 presentations by authors of historical fiction and narrative nonfiction to locations throughout historic Lewes. Most presentations are free and open to the public.
See the 2026 History Book Festival
We like this event because it gives you a reason to experience a different side of the Delaware beaches. Do the festival, walk Second Street, grab lunch in Lewes and then come back to Rehoboth for the evening.
Dewey’s Golden Jubilee | September 25–26
Now for one of our favorites.
Hundreds of Golden Retrievers.
On the beach.
Dewey’s Golden Jubilee returns September 25–26, with gatherings that traditionally include a Rehoboth parade, Saturday beach romp and beach bonfire. Organizers say previous gatherings have brought close to 400 Goldens together.
See Dewey’s Golden Jubilee details
And 2026 makes this weekend even better for dog owners. Rehoboth’s updated rules now permit leashed dogs on the beach and boardwalk beginning September 16, provided lifeguards are not on duty.
That opens up the whole season, and we keep a longer list of dog-friendly fall activities in Rehoboth Beach if you are planning around your dog.
If you’re bringing your dog, Canalside welcomes dogs of all breeds and sizes and provides dog-friendly amenities including bowls, towels and an outdoor rinse area.
See our pet-friendly accommodations
Our Favorite Part of September
You don’t have to choose between a beach trip and a fall getaway.
September gives you both.
Go to the beach in the afternoon. Ride a bike into town. Spend an evening at a festival. Take a day trip to Lewes. Bring the dog. Eat somewhere you’ve been trying to get into all summer.
And you can do most of it without July’s pace.
At Canalside Inn, our 13-room boutique hotel sits in a quiet Rehoboth neighborhood along the canal while keeping you close to downtown. Guests have complimentary parking, bikes, beach chairs and umbrellas, along with our seasonal pool, hot tub and guest spaces.
Staying past September? Our October events guide covers Sea Witch, the Jazz Festival and Greyhounds Reach the Beach.
September isn’t the end of beach season.
For a lot of us, it’s when one of the best parts begins.
Stay Local. Stay Comfortable. Stay Canalside.
