Ever wonder how the beloved Rehoboth Beach Bandstand came to life? Keep reading!
The late William Hayes, a resident of Rehoboth Beach, conceptualized the idea for The Rehoboth Beach Bandstand back in 1963. Driven by his strong passion for music and the community, he convinced the city of Rehoboth to set up a local music venue. Initially, he was given permission to bring local bands to play on the grassy area where the bandstand sits now. At the time, this was called “performing on the green.”
A few years later, the city went one step further and constructed the famous bandstand which stood for more than 40 years. Today’s iconic structure was constructed in 2006.
Mr. Hayes continued running events there until he passed away in 1994. His wife Ruth Hayes then took over, maintaining his vision by planning exciting performances every summer. She became a well-known icon in the community for her love of music, performers, and animals. Ruth always introduced every performance with “Good evening, I’m Ruth Hayes. On behalf of the City of Rehoboth Beach, welcome, and thank you for coming.”
When Ruth passed away, Corey Groll stepped in to manage the bandstand. As an experienced sound technician, Corey had been working at the venue since 1991. He started as a sound intern and eventually progressed to running the sound system under Ruth’s guidance. He then assumed the role of program director during a critical reconstruction period. In his first year, he stuck to Ruth’s original schedule. Since then, he’s worked hard to keep the bandstand running smoothly and offer a wide range of genres for people of all ages to enjoy.
The Rehoboth Beach Bandstand Summer Concert Series takes place from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend. Every year, over 40 bands are picked to play in an open-air space right by the beach. Shows are sponsored by the city of Rehoboth Beach, which means no advanced tickets are required. Performances are completely free to the public!
The bandstand has free seating for approximately 400-500 people. There are additional viewing spots around the benches. Due to the stage style and shape, attendees can still catch a clear glimpse of performers in these areas! Although it is often not necessary, guests can bring their own seating if they choose.
Performances are on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Most shows start at 8 pm and run for about 75 minutes. Visit rehobothbandstand.com for the full lineup.
