Georgetown – Two days after the Presidential Elections of November 4, the winning and losing candidates in Delaware will come to Georgetown for Return Day and ride together in carriages at the Parade, scheduled at 1:30 pm on November 6.
Former Governor Russell W. Peterson (1969-1973) will be the Grand Marshal of the 2008 Return Day Parade.
Although the date of the first Return Day in Sussex County is uncertain, it could have been as early as 1792.
After the County seat was moved from Lewes, along the Coast, to the a more geographically centered site, later named Georgetown, the State Law in 1791 required all votes to be cast in the new County Seat on election day.
“Poor traveling conditions and interest in the outcome of political contests may have resulted in an extended stay when all elections were held here,” the Return Day sign at The Circle in Georgetown reads. “Creation of voting districts in 1811 required the meeting of a Board of Canvass on Thursdays to determine ‘returns’ for the county.”
To obtain more information about Return Day 2008, updates of street closings, schedule of events, you can visit
@link href=’http://www.returnday.org’target=”_blank”>www.returnday.org/link
Delaware Helpline is available to answer basic questions about Return Day street closings, shuttles, parking, etc. The public can call: 800-464-4357 (in state) and 800-273-9500 (out of state).
