Arts and Culture

First State Ballet Theatre—Delaware’s professional ballet company—has written an unparalleled chapter of artistic, educational and financial achievement in Delaware dance history and is the only major Delaware performing arts company to have presented a statewide season with regular performances in theaters and schools in all three counties from Wilmington to the Beach.

The Wilmington Drama League, a nonprofit performing arts center with a focus on diversity, inclusion and youth arts education, provides volunteers with opportunities to use and develop their talents, serve the community and present high-quality theatrical productions.

Bar hop and people watch inside Wilmington's busiest bar scene, where the music is live and local most weekends.

All hail her royal highness, The Queen! Originally built in the 1800s, “The Indian Queen Hotel” was a popular place for traveling sailors to spend the night. From 1916-1959, the hotel was repurposed into a movie theater and brought joy to thousands of locals. Sadly, it was abandoned and sat dormant for over 50 years. With water pouring through the ceilings, the walls caving in, and the façade crumbling, this majestic theater had become a faded memory of Market Street’s vibrant past. However, as all good leaders do, The Queen found her way back to the throne and reopened her doors to the people on April 1st, 2011. Today, a full-scale live music venue, she stands as one of the most historic buildings and theaters in Wilmington, Delaware.

Founded in 2012, The Ladybug Festival continues to be the LARGEST celebration of Women in music in the country, with a 100% female-fronted lineup, proudly empowering and giving platforms to women in all areas of music event production.

Toscana, one of the area’s most popular and creative Italian restaurants is the beating heart of Trolley Square, the vibrant hub of Wilmington’s nightlife.

For over 30 years, Toscana has been one of Wilmington’s favorite restaurants serving unfailingly fresh “Really Good Food”. If we didn’t make it, we don’t serve it.

OperaDelaware is a professional non-profit opera company with a reputation for excellence in both opera and arts education. OperaDelaware opens the door to bold, vibrant and creative operatic programming that enriches the community, transforms audiences, and encourages dialogue.

Old Swedes Historic Site, a cornerstone of Wilmington since 1638, is a vital gathering place where residents and visitors explore the continuing history of the community surrounding the site and its people. We share these stories through tours, educational and public programs, exhibitions and archives, preserving an important National Historic Landmark and keeping the history of the site and neighborhood alive.

Take a tour of Wilmington's most famous historic sites, including Fort Delaware, Chadds Ford Historical Society, the Hale-Byrnes House, Historic New Castle, Newark History Museum, and many more memorable sites.

For more than 140 years, The Grand Opera House has been delighting the citizens of Wilmington, Delaware, and the greater Brandywine region with the finest live entertainment the country and the world have to offer. In 2015, we assumed operation of The Playhouse on Rodney Square (formerly the DuPont Theatre), adding the best of touring Broadway to our roster. With more than 120 performances a year, our three venues offer the very best entertainment options, something to please every taste.

The Grand and Playhouse are more than just the wonderful shows on stage. We provide a wide variety of community engagement programs for children, adults, and adults in the region.

Over the last ten years the business has grown and the team has worked tirelessly to create and find opportunities for musicians in Delaware. Nationally, the business is best known for their work creating and running the popular yearly summer event the Ladybug Music Festival which has grown to become the largest celebration of women in music in the Country.

Conveniently located on North Union Street in Wilmington, Delaware

The Amstel House & Dutch House are open for tours:

Fri - Sat, 10 am to 4 pm
Sun, 12 pm to 4 pm

DuPont Environmental Education Center (DEEC) is located along the Christina River and on the edge of the Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is 212 acres of freshwater tidal marsh adjoining the Christina River and is home to wildlife such as American Bald Eagles, Wood Ducks, American Beavers, dragonflies, river otters, and Eastern Painted Turtles. DEEC is open to the public year-round and features a Visitor Center with panoramic river and marsh views, a 10-acre ornamental garden, a quarter-mile handicap-accessible pond loop extending into the marsh, and trailhead access to the newly completed 5.5-mile-long Markell bike/hike trail from Wilmington to New Castle.

The mission of Delaware Theatre Company is to create theatre of the highest professional quality in Delaware and thereby enrich the vitality of the area through artistic programming, education and community service.

The mission of the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame is to celebrate the history, preserve the legacy, and honor the heroes of sports within Delaware and those who have brought recognition to Delaware by their accomplishments elsewhere. The membership strives to educate young and old about athletics, sportsmanship, and work ethic while providing inspiration to maintain active and healthy lifestyles through sports.

We envision a Delaware where people from all walks of life celebrate and explore their shared humanity through the lens of Shakespearean works.

We’re out to open new worlds for our kids. The worlds of science, math and technology. Worlds of wonders for them to explore. At the Delaware Children’s Museum. Children’s museums light creative sparks that last a lifetime and result in objective and quantifiable learning. They create safe, enriching places where kids and their families can share inspired fun and see new possibilities unfold.

A gathering place for aficionados of natural and local foods.

The Delaware Art Museum connects people to art, offering an inclusive and essential community resource that through its collections, exhibitions, and programs, generates creative energy that sustains, enriches, empowers, and inspires.

Each year, Wilmington, Delaware remembers a brilliant trumpet player, unforgettable composer, and dynamic entertainer whose name and legacy are celebrated at the annual Clifford Brown Jazz Festival. A legend - our legend - whose work offers a moment to laugh, dance, sing, eat, love and experience the ultimate joy music brings.

The mission of Christina Cultural Arts Center Inc. (CCAC) is to change the trajectory of a child's life by making affordable arts, education, career pathways, gallery exhibitions and live performances accessible to all in a welcoming environment.

Christina produces the only comprehensive arts and education program in Delaware with a core mission to utilize arts education to promote school success, career training, and positive social behavior.

The Chase Center and the Riverfront of Wilmington has a proud and unique heritage that attracts guests throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions each year.

Originally a Shipbuilding facility during World War II, we later became a world-class Arts Center, hosting exhibitions from around the world. Today we have been transformed into the area's premier Event and Meetings venue.