- jerbec / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND
Kent County Tourism will recognize the Firefly Music Festival and its producers, Red Frog Events, as the Tourism Attraction of the Year at the 22nd Annual Celebration of Tourism in Kent County, set for Friday, November 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A limited number of tickets are now on sale.
Sponsors of this year’s event include signature sponsor, Dover International Speedway; Delaware State News, media sponsor; First State Heritage Park, dessert sponsor; Delaware Electric Cooperative, party favor sponsor; Faw Casson CPAs, awards sponsor; MainStay Suites, beverage station sponsor; and local author Russ Dion, silent auction sponsor.
The event will include a luncheon featuring oven poached salmon, chicken picante and all the trimmings; samples of Delaware-made wines and beers; a designer dessert; signature cookie; and the “Best of Kent County” silent auction featuring overnight stays, accessories, restaurant gift certificates and more, just in time for holiday shopping.
A number of additional awards will be presented, including “Tourism Person of the Year,” which is not revealed until the event. In addition to recognition plaques, winners will receive framed prints of Kent County scenes by Delaware artist Diane Laird.
The following also will be recognized for their contributions to tourism in Kent County:
– Partner of the Year: Redner’s Warehouse Markets, for their expanded business presence in Kent County with four new locations, as well as their support of the Amish Country Bike Tour and the Dover Days Festival.
– Volunteers of the Year: Amish Country Bike Tour Road Marking Crew, led by Bobby Babuca, which works during the summer months chalking 100-plus miles of roadway in Kent County in preparation for the annual event. The task includes hundreds of volunteer man hours, and the team consists of Bobby and Pam Babuca, Larry and Kristi Corbeil, Brian Powell and Adrian and Christine Bissette, all of Kent County.
– Legislator of the Year: Senator Brian Bushweller is being recognized for his support of many projects in Kent County, including several that will directly benefit tourism, such as the Kent County Regional Sports Complex, Downtown Dover streetscape, Delaware Wine and Beer Festival, Dover Days Festival and the newly-launched Route 13 Beautification project.
“We invite our community supporters, tourism colleagues and partners to join us for our annual Celebration of Tourism,” said Cindy Small, executive director of Kent County Tourism. “This is our yearly opportunity to recognize those businesses and individuals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty for the benefit of tourism in Kent County.”
Tickets are $35 per person or $250 per table and can be purchased online or by calling Kent County Tourism at 302-734-4888.
