Rehoboth Beach
Bear Weekend 2027

Rehoboth Beach Bear Weekend 2027

Bears will find more than a few reasons to get some sand in their fur at the end of September. With a full roster of events and entertainment, this annual weekend is becoming famous for its huge attendance and cool activities. It’s sponsored by the Rehoboth Beach Bears, a nonprofit organization that holds social events and fundraisers throughout the year.

• This Host Hotel, The Atlantic Sands,  fills up fast so book your hotel in advance.
• Check out the Brighton Suites, rated “Fabulous” by guests and close to all the beach bear weekend events.

Rehoboth Beach Bear Weekend

• Next Edition: Wednesday, September 15, 2027 To Sunday, September 19, 2027.
• The 2027 event celebrates the 12th annual Rehoboth Beach Bear Weekend.
• Events run for five days across Rehoboth Beach, with the Atlantic Sands Hotel & Conference Center returning as the host hotel.
• Expect welcome drinks, happy hours, dinners, parties, bar events, vendors and plenty of time at the beach.
• Saturday coincides with the annual Delaware AIDS Walk through Rehoboth Beach and along the boardwalk.
• Bear Weekend is a major annual fundraiser for the Rehoboth Beach Bears, supporting LGBTQ+ charities and local community projects.
• The weekend welcomes bears, cubs, daddies, chasers, admirers and allies.
• Buy 2027 Bear Weekend tickets.
• Check the Rehoboth Beach Bears website for the latest programme.

What to Expect

• Bear Weekend combines a relaxed beach escape with five days of bear events across one of the East Coast’s most popular gay seaside destinations.
• Days are split between the beach, host hotel and social gatherings before the crowd moves towards the bars around Baltimore Avenue and Rehoboth Avenue later in the afternoon.
• Friday and Saturday bring the biggest crowds, with organised Bear Weekend events running alongside parties and special events at Rehoboth’s gay bars.
• The weekend has a strong community element too. Saturday coincides with the Delaware AIDS Walk, and Bear Weekend itself raises money for LGBTQ+ charities and local projects.
• Sunday slows things down with brunch, afternoon drinks and final gatherings before the weekend comes to an end.

2027 Schedule

The complete 2027 programme is awaiting release.

The organisers have confirmed that Bear Weekend begins on Wednesday 15th September with a pre-weekend happy hour, dinner and late-night bar event before the main programme gets underway.

Date	Event	Details
Wednesday 15th September	Pre-Bear Weekend	Welcome happy hour, dinner and late-night social.
Thursday 16th September	Bear Weekend Opening	Official opening events, welcome drinks and evening parties.
Friday 17th September	Bear Weekend Parties	Happy hours, social events, parties and late-night events.
Saturday 18th September	Delaware AIDS Walk & Main Events	Delaware AIDS Walk, daytime gatherings and the main Saturday-night celebrations.
Sunday 19th September	Closing Day	Brunch, afternoon drinks and Bear Weekend closing events.

Individual times, parties and venues will be added once the Rehoboth Beach Bears release the final 2027 programme.

Delaware AIDS Walk

• Saturday brings a community focus to Bear Weekend with the annual Delaware AIDS Walk.
• The Rehoboth Beach walk takes participants through town and along the boardwalk, with Bear Weekend visitors joining local residents, supporters and community organisations.
• The annual event raises funds for HIV services, education and support programmes across Delaware.
• It’s a great way to start Saturday and experience another side of Rehoboth before returning to the Bear Weekend programme and the evening parties.

Bears Giving Back

• Bear Weekend is one of the major annual fundraising events organised by the Rehoboth Beach Bears.
• Proceeds support charities and projects selected by the local bear community, with funds directed towards LGBTQ+ causes and organisations across the region.
• Past beneficiaries have included a scholarship fund for local high-school students active in their Gay Straight Alliance.
• The charitable focus has been part of Bear Weekend since its early editions, giving visitors an opportunity to support the local community at the same time as enjoying the weekend.

The Host Hotel – Atlantic Sands

• The Atlantic Sands Hotel & Conference Center returns as the official host hotel for 2027.
• The hotel is at 1 Baltimore Avenue, directly on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk.
• Its beachfront setting puts guests steps from the ocean and within an easy walk of the gay bars around Baltimore Avenue.
• Bear Weekend uses the property as one of its main gathering points.
• The hotel has an outdoor beachfront pool, restaurant and direct boardwalk access.
• A dedicated Bear Weekend hotel allocation is available for registered guests.
• The official 2027 Bear Weekend group code is 11582.
• Book early if you want to stay at the host hotel, as this puts you directly in the middle of the weekend and removes the need for taxis between many events.

Poodle Beach

• Zo Bear Weekend trip to Rehoboth is complete without an afternoon at Poodle Beach.
• Rehoboth’s famous gay beach is at the southern end of the boardwalk around Queen Street.
• Walk south along the boardwalk until it finishes and continue towards the ocean. On a warm September afternoon, expect plenty of Bear Weekend visitors to have the same idea.
• Poodle Beach is roughly a 15-minute walk along the boardwalk from the Atlantic Sands, making it easy to spend a few hours at the beach before heading back for happy hour.

Gay Rehoboth – Where to Party

• Zehoboth has an impressive gay nightlife scene for a beach town of its size. Most venues are concentrated around Baltimore Avenue and the surrounding streets, so you can easily visit several bars in one evening.
• Aqua Bar & Grill – 57 Baltimore Avenue. One of Rehoboth’s busiest gay gathering spots with a large outdoor deck, food, drinks and a strong post-beach crowd. The outdoor space makes Aqua a natural meeting point during Bear Weekend.
• Blue Moon – 35 Baltimore Avenue. A long-running Rehoboth institution combining a restaurant, bar, drag entertainment and nightlife. Come for dinner or early drinks and return later when the evening crowd takes over.
• Purple Parrot Grill – 134 Rehoboth Avenue. Colourful gay bar and restaurant with a casual beach-town atmosphere, food, cocktails and regular entertainment. A good stop during the afternoon or early evening.
• Diego’s Bar & Nightclub – 37298 Rehoboth Avenue Extension. Rehoboth’s large gay dance club with indoor and outdoor spaces, DJs and late-night dancing. Friday and Saturday are the key nights during Bear Weekend.
• The Pines – 56 Baltimore Avenue. Contemporary restaurant and bar in the centre of the gay district. Upstairs, Top of the Pines hosts drag, live entertainment and special events overlooking downtown Rehoboth.
• Freddie’s Beach Bar – 3 South First Street. Colourful gay bar serving cocktails and food with karaoke, entertainment and a fun beach-town atmosphere.

Eating Out

• Rehoboth has a strong restaurant scene packed into a compact downtown.
• Chesapeake & Maine specialises in seafood and raw-bar dishes from the team behind Dogfish Head.
• Above the Dunes overlooks the boardwalk and beach, making it a good choice for seafood, cocktails and ocean views.
• You’ll find plenty of other restaurants along Baltimore Avenue, Wilmington Avenue and Rehoboth Avenue, all within easy walking distance of the host hotel.
• Book Friday and Saturday dinner reservations ahead of time, when restaurants become particularly busy.

Getting to Rehoboth Beach

• Rehoboth Beach sits on the Delaware coast and works particularly well as a road-trip destination from Washington DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia.
• From Washington DC, allow roughly 2.5 to 3 hours by car depending on traffic.
• From Baltimore, the drive takes around 2.5 hours.
• From Philadelphia, allow around 2 hours.
• Visitors travelling from farther away can fly into Philadelphia, Baltimore/Washington International or one of the Washington DC airports and continue by rental car.
• Once you’re in central Rehoboth, leave the car parked where possible. The host hotel, boardwalk, beach, restaurants and main gay bars are all concentrated within a compact area.

Where to Stay

• Stay in central Rehoboth Beach, preferably close to the boardwalk or Baltimore Avenue. You’ll be able to walk between the Bear Weekend events, gay bars, restaurants and beach without relying on a car.
• Atlantic Sands Hotel & Conference Center – The official Bear Weekend host hotel directly on the boardwalk. Choose it if being at the centre of the organised events and within minutes of Baltimore Avenue nightlife is your priority.
• The Bellmoor Inn & Spa – An elegant resort-style hotel with landscaped courtyards, pools and a spa. A quieter retreat after the weekend’s parties while remaining within walking distance of downtown.
• Avenue Inn & Spa – Centrally located on Wilmington Avenue with an indoor pool and spa. The boardwalk, restaurants and Baltimore Avenue gay bars are all close by.
• Beach View Hotel – A smaller property just off the boardwalk with an outdoor pool and easy beach access. A practical choice if you plan to split your weekend between the Bear events and Poodle Beach.

Bear Weekend Tips

• Buy your weekend pass early as Bear Weekend attracts a loyal returning crowd.
• Reserve the Atlantic Sands early if you want to stay at the official host hotel.
• Join the Delaware AIDS Walk on Saturday morning for one of the weekend’s main community events.
• Spend at least one afternoon at Poodle Beach.
• Head to Baltimore Avenue for the easiest Bear Weekend bar crawl.
• Pack for warm beach weather and cooler September evenings.
• Reserve restaurants ahead for Friday and Saturday.
• Leave the car parked once you’re downtown and explore on foot.
• Keep Sunday afternoon free for the final gatherings before heading home.

Tickets & Official Information

• Buy tickets for Rehoboth Beach Bear Weekend 2027.