If you’re looking for an inexpensive and fun way to spend the Oct. 26–28 weekend, head to the Sea Witch Halloween and Fiddlers Festival at Rehoboth Beach in Delaware. Now in its 18th year, the festival includes costume parades (one for you and one for your pet) with bands and floats, contests, live music and riders on horseback. It culminates in the Sea Witch Hunt for those with the skills and stamina to follow the 100 clues. The festival theme for this year is “Got Straw? Stuff It At Sea Witch.”

Live music throughout the day provides entertainment for all ages during the festival.

The Sea Witch Halloween and Fiddlers Festival begins on Friday with miniature golf and activities for kids. Festivities begin in earnest on Saturday with face painting, mask making and scarecrow-making, monster art, pony rides, horse-drawn hayrides and many more activities. At 11 a.m., the popular costume parade begins at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, follows Rehoboth Avenue to the Rehoboth Bandstand and ends on Rehoboth Avenue at Village by the Sea shops.

In the afternoon you can enjoy the best fiddler and banjo dustin’ contest on the East Coast. Adults and children compete separately for best fiddle, blue grass and banjo playing.

In a different kind of contest, you can try your hand at tossing your numbered broom on the beach in a wacky broom-tossing contest. The one who throws the broom the farthest wins, but all get to wear the official “Sea Witch Tosser” ribbon.

Kids will love the peanut-on-the-nose race, apple push, pumpkin dash, “boo buoys” and Orange Glow, which involves trying to figure out what is in the cauldrons. The first 300 kids to participate in the Orange Glow will receive a free orange pumpkin flashlight. And those brave souls who pass the “what’s in the cauldron” test will receive a survivor’s ribbon.

Kids will also want to take part in the Pirate Treasure Trail, where they can follow their pirate’s map to find treasure. They can also trick or treat on Rehoboth Avenue, where merchants will hand out treats.

For a change of pace, check out the Maryland Rough Riders, who will perform musically choreographed horse shows and drills on the beach both Saturday and Sunday. You won’t want to miss the only East Coast horse performance held on a beach.

For the athletic-minded, Sunday also offers a 5K race. The race drew more than 500 runners last year.  The Webfooters Walks, in which many runners and walkers arrive in costume hoping for a best costume prize, are another fun way to enjoy the weekend.

On Sunday you can enter your pet (no livestock, reptiles or wild animals allowed) in the Big Dogs Best Costumed Pet Parade. The parade lines up at noon at Grenoble Place. Pets and owners parade on the boardwalk, and judges award prizes for the best pet costumes. Past winners have included those outfitted as spiders, surfers, cowboys and even Amelia “Barkhardt.”

The Sea Witch Festival is winner of the Delaware Tourism awards for “Outstanding Special Event” and “Annual Hall of Fame Event,” winner of Business News’ “Top 250 Events,” three- time winner of the American Bus Association’s “National Top 100 Events,” and winner of Delaware Today’s “Best Annual Event 2004.”

For more information about the Sea Witch Halloween and Fiddlers Festival and area information, contact the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce, 800-441-1329, ext. 12, or 302-227-2233, ext. 12, or e-mail: rehoboth@beach-fun.com. Check out the website www.beach-fun.com for program information.