Schellville Christmas Village: A Delmarvalous Delight

December 10, 2021

 We head to the Winterfest of Lights every year in OC as an annual holiday tradition but we’re always on the lookout for fun holiday activities in addition to the Lights. This year, we decided to check out Schellville Christmas Village and I’m so glad we did!

Located in Rehoboth, behind Tanger Outlets (seaside), Schellville is an incredible small village of lights, photo opportunities, vendors, food, drink and charm. It’s absolutely geared toward families, especially those with small children, and best of all? Entry is free and the activities are free.

As you enter Schellville, you’re greeted by elves (or, you know, people wearing elf hats) who direct you to the correct line. Operating hours are 5p-9p Thursday-Sunday and reservations are recommended, especially on Friday and Saturday nights, but not always necessary. We were there on a Thursday and it was busy, but not crowded. We arrived, with reservations, around 6pm and walked right in, no line. However, on at least one Saturday, the Schellville Facebook page reported that 10,000 people came through that evening, so you may want to consider trying on a Thursday or Sunday, instead of prime time weekend nights. If you don’t have reservations, be sure to check their Facebook page before heading over, because that is where they’ll post if they’re no longer accepting walk-up guests.

The center of Schellville is dominated by a festive roller skating rink and everything is set up around that. On the perimeter of the front half of Schellville are approximately a dozen small, child-size buildings, where children can go in and play, have pictures taken (and parents, you can see the kids from outside the one-room buildings, not to worry!) Christmas trees, holiday lights, and decorations abound throughout the village and there are endless opportunities for pictures and posing!

If you head to the left when you enter, you’ll first encounter village vendors, as well as a snow encounter (fake snow but it still looked fun!). Keep heading to the left and you’ll soon come to the food vendors (food trucks) and then the village stage where bands play on the weekend nights, and you can go “indoors” in the village hall, a large temporary structure, find tables, and get libations.

Schellville designers know that parents may enjoy a beverage or two while their children run from one site to the next, so beer vendors are set up around the village, courtesy of Dewey Beer Company (with the food trucks), Revelation Brewery (in the Maze), and Crooked Hammock Brewery (in the village temporary hall structure). Wine and liquor is also available in the temporary hall.

In terms of food vendors, I saw pizza, burgers, Italian, and Mexican options.

If you head to the right of the entrance, that’s where you’ll find Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well as a Maze, and a small train that provides rides for the children. And the tunnel of lights, yet another great photo opportunity! I’m telling you, you will not want for photo opps!

We didn’t have any kids with us, it was just my husband and myself, and our 17yo daughter, but we had a great time for the few hours we spent exploring, eating and drinking. We tested out the Smashmouth Burger Food Truck and our food was excellent. We also had a few drinks from Dewey Beer and Crooked Hammock, indulged in funnel cake, grabbed a cheesecake sample, and got some chocolates to go.

While it was cold outside, there are plenty of firepits all around the village to stop and warm your hands at, and of course, there’s several places to buy hot chocolate, hot cider (both of which you can get spiked in the village hall) and coffee.

We all agreed that it would be a magical place for children and if you were looking for an inexpensive night out with your family, it would be absolutely easy to do the village cheaply. The tickets are free and most of the experience is included with your entrance. The only for-cost activity is the roller skate rental (unless you bring your own) and any food, drink or merchandise you want to buy. Everything else is free and able to be experienced without shelling out (haha, see what I did there?) any extra money.

Schellville operates for free thanks to volunteers and the Schell Brothers, and it also acts as a fundraiser for charity. 10% of all proceeds in the Artisan Market and food will be donated to help support the Harry K. Foundation's mission to end hunger in Delaware. Plus, for every Kudos given through the Kudos for a Cause Campaign during the event, Schell Brothers will donate a dollar.

Donate directly on the Harry K. Foundation's website, bring some non-perishable food items to the event, and get ready to give those Kudos.

This business is a Shop Local Delmarvalous Delight and I highly recommend it! 

Business Details:

Schellville Christmas Village

https://schellbrothers.com/promotions/schellville/

https://www.facebook.com/schellville

Angela James is a resident of Salisbury, MD and active in the Delmarva community through volunteer work for organizations such as National Folk Festival, Humane Society of Wicomico, Salisbury Pride Parade and more. A fiction editor, author career consultant and public speaker, she’s a small business owner who understands the power of word of mouth and customer reviews.

Delmarvalous Delights highlights the best of Delmarva, along with hidden gems, and shines a spotlight on those businesses that stand out consistently as Delmarvalous Delights.

If you’d like to invite Angela to visit your business, or try your products, please email angie@delmarvalousdelights.com