by Bill Powell –
Join us for the re-starting of the Deltaville Maritime Museum (DMM) and Holly Point Nature Park’s extremely popular annual “Scary Halloween in the Park” happening Monday, Oct. 31, from 6-8 p.m. This is the actual date of Halloween and the official date to observe Halloween as set by the County of Middlesex. All area families are welcome. The museum is at 287 Jackson Creek Road.
“Scary Halloween in the Park” offers a safe, spacious park for all on the Middle Peninsula to come and enjoy Halloween. You will find plenty of convenient, lit, parking, a less “scary” area in the “Perilous Pavilion” where volunteers and businesses hand out candy to all, hayrides through the ghosts, goblins and illusions of the “Field of Screams,” and the very, very, scary paths through the “Wailin’ Woods” for the stout of heart. There is always plenty of candy, candy, candy for all. Hot dogs and hot chocolate available in the pavilion kitchen.
All businesses, organizations and individuals are welcome to come out and staff their own table to hand out candy, either as a promotion or just plain fun. Interested? Then please call Kristen or Joy at the DMM office at 804-776-7200. Tables for serving candy are provided.
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A Taste of Middlesex
I feel the need to reach out to our community about one of the most fulfilling and satisfying events we have had at the maritime park. Everywhere I looked there were people enjoying themselves.
I am talking about this past Saturday, Oct. 15, “Taste of Middlesex” festival at DMM.
First I want to thank the more than 1,200 members of our community, friends and folks from all over who came, ate lots of food, listened to music, shopped, visited the boats and, from what I could see, had a great time.
David Moran, Rip Tide and Ray Pittman and the “Revival” kept the music flowing and going all day in the open events pavilion.
Captain Pete Cardozo took out four of the free creek cruises on the deadrise “Jennie May” and local Marie Wilding, who took her grandkids commented, “The Captain was awesome!”
The F.D. Crockett had more than 150 visitors and the boat shop with its two boats abuildin’ did about the same. Steady all day!
The folks from Colonial Seaport Foundation, in colonial costume, had the “Luna” on full display at the Deltaville Boatyard. They did not get the attention they well deserved so, please, make sure you all see them at the Urbanna Oyster Festival on Nov. 4 and 5. They will be at the bottom of Virginia Street at the Urbanna Town Marina.
Special shout out to Steve from the Deltaville Raw Bar and David and Roy from Delta Pie. Both of these restaurants came right into our events pavilion and served their own signature food right there next to our volunteers serving food from other area restaurants. It was wonderful to see them working with us side by side all day.
Farah Owen from J&W Seafood made a special appearance bringing, preparing, and frying her fried oysters right next to where I was cooking my “Kickin’ Chowder.” She had already prepared the shrimp salad and cole slaw we served.
At the bistro serving counter the volunteers were serving up “Ray’s Special Chili” from Virginia Street Café in Urbanna, also, Crystal from “Something Different” sent us her over the top buttermilk pies, Pam at the Galley made a special batch of her pulled pork on a ciabatta roll, Mike at Top’s China provided our General Tso’s chicken, egg rolls and pork fried rice, Chad and Allison from the Deltaville Market worked overtime to get their “everybody’s favorite” fried chicken to us, Santana at “Café by the Bay” went out of her way to prepare her tasty “Sailor Sandwiches” so I could assemble them onsite.
All in all we served more than 1,000 individual servings provided by local restaurants in about six hours selling out a little after 2 p.m. The Raw Bar and Delta Pie kept on truckin.’
Thanks and tip a hat to the “Bistrobunch” volunteers working out at the craft beers and bar. For all the “Bunchers” a special thanks. Not going to name anyone in case I miss someone. All the volunteers know how hard you worked. Bless you all.
It was an immensely satisfying warm and fuzzy day.
