Milford's Annual Bug and Bud Festival

On Saturday, April 24, Downtown Milford, Inc. held its 7th Annual Bug and Bud Festival, celebrating both Arbor Day and the anniversary of the Lady Bug becoming the state bug of Delaware through the efforts of a Milford 2nd grade class in 1974 and a dedicated teacher at Lulu Ross Elementary School. Milford has been designated a "Tree City" and every year at this festival the city gives away seedlings for folks to plant in their yards to increase the number of trees in our city. The festival has grown bigger each year and this one was the best yet! Downtown is closed to traffic and vendors line the streets. There is something for everyone, lots of fun activities for kids, ladybug paddle boats on the river and music entertainment throughout the day. It culminated with a fantastic jazz concert at the end of the day and was even attended by the First Lady of the State of Delaware, Carla Markell. We got to show off our city, the new branding program, the art league, Angelucci's gallery and the shops and restaurants in our downtown.

A Ladybug Parade kicks off the festival led by Ladybug Shop owners Dan and Rhonda Bond and their grandkids walking with our former Mayor Dan Marabello


And the band played on!


Kids dress up in tree or ladybug costumes and what a great job they all did!


This was pretty creative!


The winners! A Tree...


...and a Ladybug!


Festival Day


Mispillion River, one of the Riverwalk bridges with a Ladybug paddleboat


Our local Nanticoke Indians danced and invited the audience to participate


Naticoke Drum Circle


Climbing Wall


Bouncy thingy