Frank Deuter, proprietor of Corduroy Crossing Hobbies in Snow Hill, represented for Hurlock at Saturday’s Fall Festival.
On October 4, Hurlock came alive with the 33rd annual Hurlock Fall Festival, a tradition that drew thousands to Main Street and the historic train station on Gay Street.
Since its 1992 debut, the all-day, family-friendly event has grown into a regional celebration, attracting more than 3,000 participants from across the Delmarva region.
A young passenger surrenders his ticket to conductor Tom Posatko, a member of the Wilmington, DE, chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. Postatko has volunteered at the Hurlock Festival for the last 15 years.
As in the past, the festival featured a parade with marching bands, floats, and vintage cars; nostalgic train rides in two town-owned carriages; food vendors anchored by the Hurlock Volunteer Fire Company; live music; and small-town charm under a bright Saturday sun.
Federalsburg’s O’Mere Bland, 4, wishes for world peace after his train ride home and back. He is with his grandmother Alexa (left), auntie Aryah (middle), and cousin Keira (right) Copper.
Kids of all ages loved the scenic train rides on the Hurlock Express again this year, which celebrate the town’s railroading past. Departing from the train station, which was built in 1876 and predates the town’s founding in 1892, the round-trip to Federalsburg along the Maryland & Delaware Railroad’s Seaford Branch showed off lush farmland and serene countryside.
Four-year-old O’Mere Bland, whose grandmom and auntie Alexa and Aryah Copper drove him from Federalsburg, had bought their train tickets for the 12:30 ride early.
After descending the carriage, O’Mere told The Spy exclusively he “liked it,” referring to the ride, and saw “lots of grass” on the round trip to his hometown. Asked if the train went fast or slow, he opted for “fast.” What else did he see? “My house.”
The kids’ train, which started life as a riding lawnmower, prepares for another spin around the festival grounds. The train helps raise funds to preserve the historic train depot in Hebron.
Steve Barry, president of the Wilmington, Delaware, chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, said his group helps out Hurlock every year and operates the diesel engine from the MD/DE fleet, as well as uniformed conductors for the trips.
“Things are going really well this year,” Barry said. The rides sold out long before today. These are really popular trips.”
Attracting thousands, this year’s Fall Festival lived up to Hurlock’s motto of “On Track . . . Since 1892.”
Roderick and Deborah Boulden, of Hurlock, silently glided around the festival on their e-bikes.
Passengers of all ages queue up for the 12:30 train ride through the fields. The town of Hurlock owns and maintains the two vintage carriages.
The sunny Fall weather made for a good day of people-watching for residents and canines of Hurlock living near the vendors and musicians at the festival.
It was a beautiful day in the Town of Hurlock.