Beach & Bay Cottage Tour set for 32nd year | Arts & Entertainment

One of the most highly anticipated events of summer in Southern Delaware is the Beach & Bay Cottage Tour, and this year’s tour is here! The Cottage Tour is produced by the Friends of the South Coastal Library (FOSCL). It is the group’s major annual fundraiser and the principal source of FOSCL’s funding for 2024 and 2025. As in the past, all net proceeds directly benefit the library’s operations.

This year’s tour has both in-person and virtual components. The virtual portion of the tour, featuring 10 homes in a variety of styles and personalities, is taking place now and will continue through Aug. 4. Six of the homes, which have been pre-selected, will be presented for in-person viewing on July 24 and July 25.

The homes are located along the shore from Fenwick Island to North Bethany and downtown Bethany Beach, and inland, including canal and bay views. Holders of combo tickets will be able to view the six pre-selected homes in person, as well as all 10 virtually. Each of the 10 homes features a professionally-produced video, which allows tour patrons to view each home as often as they want from anywhere during the three-week Virtual Tour period. The video presentation is sponsored by Schell Brother–Bridgewater.

The 32nd Beach & Bay Cottage Tour is being presented by Leslie Kopp and the Leslie Kopp Group.

Virtual only tickets, at $35, and Combo tickets, at $50, may be purchased only through the Cottage Tour’s website at beachandbaycottagetour.com.

“We will only sell 1,000 Combo Tickets this year, and they may be used on either Wednesday or Thursday,” said Kathy Green, tour chair. “And, holders of Combo Tickets will receive a printed booklet covering all 10 homes, a hang-tag sponsored by Pohanka of Salisbury and a 32nd Anniversary tote bag.”

Tote bag sponsors for 2024 are Annie Powell, the Town of Bethany Beach, PNC Bank, Sea Colony Recreational Association, G&E Hockers Supermarkets and Marnie Custom Homes.

No Cottage Tour would be complete without the raffles, and this year’s raffle is sponsored by Nally Homes. The winners of the Dinner Raffle will be able to dine in style at either the Café on 26, DiFebo’s restaurant, DiFebo’s Market, Dining at Dickens Parlour Theatre (Flavor), Fins, Good Earth Market, Mancini’s, Melissa’s Dinner & Lounge, Off the Hook, Rosenfeld’s Jewish Deli, Sedona, SoDel Restaurants, The Parkway or Touch of Italy.

The Art Raffle, featuring local artists, offers framed artwork from Tara Funk Grim, Laura Hickman, Claire Howard, Wayne Lyons, Jeanne Mueller, Damon Pla, Deb Rose, Amanda Sokolski and Cheryl Wisbrock. Tickets for both raffles cost $1 each and are available online only at beachandbaycottagetour.com. Winners will be selected on Aug. 5 and notified on that day.

With the Adopt a House program for hostesses, many organizations will be involved in the 2024 tour. Participants this year are Alpha Alpha Sorority, Barefoot Gardeners, Bayside Ladies, Bishop’s Landing Ladies, Coastal Gardeners, Friends of Eileen Giaquinto, Gardeners by the Sea, Heather’s Home Works, Ladies of Bay Forest, Ladies of Windhurst Manor, Lord Baltimore Women’s Club, Millville by the Sea, Reserve’s Beach Gals, Salt Air Gardeners, Salt Pond Women’s Club and Women’s Civic Club of Bethany Beach.

“I want to thank all of the hundreds of volunteers that make this tour a success,” said Green. “In particular, I would like to recognize our Tour Committee for the efforts that they have put into this tour since last year. And, of course, our tour would not be possible without the cooperation of the homeowners who have agreed to share their homes with our community.”

To purchase tour tickets or raffle tickets, or to make a donation, go to beachandbaycottagetour.com.