Sussex County Return Day

The 103rd Return Day will be Thursday, November 8th, 2018. Held every other year since 1812, that makes this event 206 years old! 

Since as early as 1811, Sussex Countians have celebrated Return Day, a unique-to-Delaware State Holiday and celebration held two days after each November election when voters gather at the Circle in the charming and historic county seat of Georgetown to hear the Town Crier announce election results. The gathering, attended by local and state politicians and officials as well as voters and, occasionally and delightfully, Joe Biden, includes a party complete with top hats, a colorful parade with floats and bands, and winning and losing candidates riding side-by-side in horse drawn carriages and antique cars. There’s also a Mayors’ Hatchet Toss pitting local mayors against each other, entertainment, vendors, local brews, and an ox roast at an open pit barbecue outside the County Courthouse that promises a free roast beef sandwich in every hand. Most importantly, of course, the day features the ceremonial Burying of the Hatchet to celebrate the official end of the campaign season. For details, see http://www.returnday.com/