More than 12,000 guests experienced the new Freeman Arts Pavilion during its opening week, helping launch the 2026 season and celebrating the debut of the reimagined outdoor venue that will continue welcoming audiences through October.

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Freeman Arts Pavilion celebrated the grand opening of the reimagined venue on July 8 with a performance by Matteo Bocelli on his Falling in Love Tour. Photo by Natalee DeHart/Freeman Arts Pavilion

Freeman Arts Pavilion celebrated the grand opening of the reimagined venue on July 8 with a performance by Matteo Bocelli on his Falling in Love Tour. Photo by Natalee DeHart/Freeman Arts Pavilion

From sold-out concerts to families gathering before performances, July 7-11 marked the beginning of a new chapter for one of Delaware’s most beloved cultural destinations. While audiences came for world-class entertainment, many discovered something more — a place designed to spend the evening, connect with friends and family and enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds the Selbyville-based venue.

The excitement followed a July 1 ribbon-cutting ceremony, where Delaware Governor Matt Meyer recognized the venue’s importance to the region.

Places like the Freeman Arts Pavilion help make Sussex County an even better place to live, work and visit, Meyer said during the event. He also praised Freeman Arts’ commitment to arts education and expanding access for young people across Delaware while celebrating a new chapter for one of the state’s most cherished cultural institutions.

“The response to opening week was everything we hoped it would be,” said Patti Grimes, executive director of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation, the nonprofit behind Freeman Arts. “After years of planning, it was incredible to see thousands of people experience the new layout — exploring the grounds, discovering new gathering spaces and creating memories together. We built this venue to serve our community for generations, and this is only the beginning.”

The reimagined campus offers guests new ways to enjoy an evening beyond the performance itself.

The Grove has quickly become a favorite destination before the show, where guests can enjoy food from local food trucks, relax beneath shaded umbrellas and gather over drinks from The Grove Bar before heading to their seats.

The Boardwalk, located on the way to the Grand Green seating area, invites guests to slow down and stay awhile. Visitors can enjoy beverages from the Boardwalk Bar, treat themselves to Hometown Creamery — including an exclusive Pavilion Pretzel Swirl flavor — and take in sweeping views of the surrounding woodlands and the lake bordering the Jack Nicklaus-designed Bayside golf course.

On the Grand Green, the experience begins well before showtime. Guests can overlook the Lower Lawn, where local musicians provide live pre-show entertainment while visitors enjoy dinner and drinks from The Canteen. These pre-show performances create opportunities for regional artists to share their talent with new audiences, reflecting the organization’s mission of advancing arts access through performance, education and advocacy. Together, great food, live music and community create an inviting atmosphere that makes the evening feel like more than just a concert.

While opening week has come to a close, the season is just getting started.

The 2026 lineup continues through Oct. 3 with a diverse mix of music, comedy, family programming and community events. Upcoming performances include Joe Bonamassa, The Fray with Dashboard Confessional, Jake Owen, Indigo Girls, Jon Pardi, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Ziggy Marley, Fitz and the Tantrums, Melody Trucks and the Fitzkee Brothers, Collective Soul, Lee Brice, Gray Clark Jr., Ray LaMontagne, James Taylor and His All-Star Band, Roger Daltrey and many more. The season also features free and family-friendly events as well as world-class tribute acts.

Support from the community through ticket sales, donations and on-site purchases at Freeman Arts Pavilion makes it possible for the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation to advance arts access for all through performance, education and advocacy.

“There are still so many unforgettable nights ahead,” Grimes said. “Whether it’s your first visit or your 10th, every evening at Freeman Arts Pavilion offers something unique. We invite everyone to experience not just the performances, but everything that makes this place special.”

To view the full 2026 season and to purchase tickets, visit freemanarts.org.

Freeman Arts Pavilion is a program of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation, with a purpose of creating experiences that elevate the human spirit. This program is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com. Grant support is also provided by the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, the Carl M. Freeman Foundation, the Sussex County Council, and the state of Delaware.

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