Great Outdoor Month in the Mid-Atlantic Region

May is a great outdoor month in Delaware and among the Mid-Atlantic states. It is the beginning of spring and a summer outdoor activities. After a winter of indoor living, cabin fever brings us outdoors to rediscover the outdoor world beginning with May Day celebrations. Indeed, the end of May Memorial Day Holiday is the tradition start of summer with the opening of swimming pools across the East Coast. However, in Delaware and the Brandywine Valley, May is the start of the best outdoor recreation, festivals and adventures. There is kayaking, baseball, fishing, racing, golfing, biking, hiking, and horse riding, hunting, as well as motor or sail boating.

Baseball gets serious in May with The Wilmington Blue Rocks ball club at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington Delaware. The Blue Rocks team opens with their first game in April, but May is when the fans really come out to cheer. May starts the family promotions with fireworks and promotional give-a ways at the stadium.

Outdoor festivals start in May, with picnics and great music all over the region. The Brandywine River Blues festival at the Chaddsford Winery in Pennsylvania begins on the weekend of May 23 to May 25 is a great holiday weekend event. The winery host wine tasting and winemaking education in their cellars. Then it is a relaxing picnic on the grounds to two live Blues Bands. Admission is $25 per person and includes wine tasting, souvenir wine glass and two concerts.

The Chaddsford Winery also begins there Summer Nights under the Stars Outdoor concert Series in May. Beginning May 29 through September, the winery hosts a series of summer concerts ranging from Rock'n Roll to Classical and Jazz. Two special nights of Opera and Cabaret highlights the events. Picnics on the grounds, with bottle of wine from the winery, and relax under the stars while listening to your favorite music. Admission is $22 per person and reservations is recommended for events.

Along those same lines, Longwood Gardens host the annual Wine and Jazz festival on May 2^nd held on the grounds of this famous landmark in Pennsylvania. The highly anticipated Wine and Jazz fest is centered around Longwood's glorious outdoor stage overlooking the meadows and gardens. Admission is $40 for Ages 21 & over and includes a souvenir wine glass.

Along with the Jazz festival, the garden begins its annual festival of fountains in May. It is a breathtaking presentation of fireworks and fountains. Starting on May 24, the entertainment includes the music of famous pop vocals and musicians to provide a special evening of shows. Tickets are $34 per person for ages 16 and over.

Of course, Mother's Day weekend (May 9 and 10) is a great reason to get out and visit Longwood Gardens. The garden estate goes all out to shower Mom's all over the region is appreciated featuring live piano music, buffet luncheon and gardens full of spring flowers in bloom.

May is the start of May of the cultural festivals throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. The region festival season begins with the Scottish games at the Fair Hill Race Track Maryland on May 16. The annual event displays highland dancing, piping, drumming, sheep dog demos, vendors featuring British and Scottish food, and athletic games. The games feature everything from Hammer throw to Caber toss. The Scottish games also host the annual fiddling competition and the highland clan gathering and ceremonies.

On May 16, Delaware celebrates its wetlands with a geocaching adventure event. The event is a hands-on activity that helps families discovers the benefits and value of wetlands. The Wetlands are some of Delaware's most valuable resources that help improve water and air quality as well as help protect property and lives from storms and flooding. The wetlands are also home to many of Delaware's for wildlife species and nursery grounds for fish, and beautify our landscape.

The Delaware Division of Parks and Recreations hosts a dozen adventures races throughout the summer season. The races feature biking, running, kayaking, and orienteering for teams and individuals of any age. Each of the state parks hosts one of the races, with the Cape Henlopen State Park hosting a May 30 race. Racers take to the beach for a run and then ocean kayaking. The race finishes with a road bike ride through the park. Kayaks are provided and participants are limited to 100 participants.

May is also the Month for the Delaware Marathon. On May 17, racers arrive for Delaware's biggest racing event. This annual event includes a Running Festival, a Marathon, Half marathon, and a 4-person team relay. The racecourse takes racers through the Wilmington Riverfront and through the Tubman Garrett Riverfront Park area. The Delaware Marathon has become one of the 50 State Marathon Club's qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

For the horse lovers, Delaware's Annual Winterthur Point to Point steeple race held May 3on the Winterthur estate. This wonderful event that traditional opens a spring season of events and festivals. The Point to Point is a fun-filled two days of steeplechase racing, tailgating, picnicking, shopping, auctions, antique carriages and historical autos. In addition to the many racing awards, there is a tailgating competition resulting in a cash award and trophy.

Sightseeing walk through Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island is a great way to enjoy the May spring. Starting with a short ½ -mile ferry ride from Delaware City to Pea Patch Island, you will be guided through the fort with one of the best living history programs on the east coast. It is a fun-filled day with hands-on history. There are blacksmith demonstrations as well as weaponry demonstrations. The fort as food vendors, but it is also a great place for a family picnic. Tables and grills are available in the picnic areas. If following history trail is the ideal outdoor activity, then traveling on to Fort Mott State park in NJ or Finn's Pont National Cemetery (the final resting place of Fort Delaware Confederate prisoners) is a just a short distant away.

Whatever the sporting or outdoor recreational interest, you will find a lot to do and see in May and throughout the summer in Delaware and the surrounding Mid-Atlantic states. Whether it is a paddling down the Brandywine River in an adventure race or strolling along the many sightsee historic tours, May is a great month to get outdoors and enjoy the sun and warm weather.