"The shop will be open through December, then probably close in January and February, but that's all depending on what sales are like." Taylor Vanderwende said that in August to Brian Trompeter, in the City of Milford's economic development news. She was talking about the ice cream shop her family's creamery had just opened at 10 S. Walnut St.
That plan puts a deadline on downtown's holiday calendar. Downtown Milford rearranged itself this year. An ice cream counter changed owners, the Farmacy Market moved its groceries a few blocks to Front Street, and new names went up on Walnut Street storefronts. The holiday events from Nov. 27 to Dec. 6 fill those same blocks, and by the owner's own estimate they fall in the last weeks before one of the newest shops pauses for the winter.
The counter at 10 S. Walnut has a winter clock
For years, 10 S. Walnut St. was the North Pole Creamery. Owner David Pickrell retired, and Aleman Fitzgerald Properties, a land management company based in Seaford, closed on the property July 31. Vanderwende's opened there on Aug. 13.
The new shop is an outpost of Vanderwende Farm Creamery in Bridgeville. William and Ellen Vanderwende founded the creamery in 1954. It now owns nearly 4,000 acres and milks more than 225 registered Holsteins twice a day. That's a farm-scale operation running a single storefront on Milford's main street.
The family started small. Vanderwende said the shop would open with about 25 flavors and do "the bare minimum for this season," and they might add other things over the winter. She also said the space "has its own character already," and that the family would bring in some of its own branding as one ice cream shop turns into another.
Put together, the plan is to stay open through December and then probably take January and February off, depending on sales. That makes the holiday events the last busy stretch on the calendar before a possible pause. Anyone who wants to try the flavor list the shop opened with has the same ten days everyone else does.
Ten days of events on one street
The Second Street Players' production runs across both holiday weekends, so a cone, a show and a city event can all fit into the same evening.
| Date | What | Where | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., Nov. 27 | "Fruitcakes," Second Street Players | Riverfront Theater, 2 S. Walnut St. | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | Santa Arrives to Town | Walnut Street to the Santa House | 11 a.m. |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony | 201 S. Walnut St. | 4:30 to 6 p.m. |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | "Fruitcakes" | Riverfront Theater | 7 p.m. |
| Sun., Nov. 29 | "Fruitcakes" matinee | Riverfront Theater | 2 p.m. |
| Fri., Dec. 4 | "Fruitcakes" | Riverfront Theater | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Holiday Stroll & Christmas Market | Downtown Milford | Afternoon until 8 p.m. |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | "Fruitcakes" | Riverfront Theater | 7 p.m. |
| Sun., Dec. 6 | "Fruitcakes" final matinee | Riverfront Theater | 2 p.m. |
Saturday, Nov. 28 is the full-day option. The City of Milford calendar has Santa arriving at 11 a.m. and traveling from Walnut Street to the Santa House, then the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at 201 S. Walnut St. from 4:30 to 6 p.m. A 7 p.m. performance of "Fruitcakes," directed by Isaac Christianson, starts an hour after the tree lighting ends, at the other end of the same street, according to Milford LIVE.
The next Saturday is the Holiday Stroll & Christmas Market, hosted by Downtown Milford, Inc. Visit Central Delaware's listing promises Santa "SNOW or SHINE and FREE of Charge," along with decorated shops, bakeries, restaurants and art galleries, complimentary treats, a firetruck display by Carlisle Fire Hall, children's activities and live holiday music. The Stroll runs until 8 p.m. For the start time and vendor details, go to Downtown Milford, Inc.'s Holiday Stroll page.
The groceries moved to Front Street
The Stroll is built around the shops on Walnut Street. Downtown's local food market isn't there anymore. The Farmacy Market moved to 301 N.E. Front St., next to Fur Baby Pet Resort, and held a grand-opening celebration on June 20.
Delaware Business Times reported that co-owners Sherry Shupe and Patrick Helmick stock locally sourced produce, meats, dairy, baked goods and handcrafted products. That makes the market a natural stop for holiday baking supplies and gifts made in Delaware. It just takes a short detour off the Stroll route now.
The Farmacy Market's website lists these hours:
- Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Its Saturday hours overlap with the first part of the Stroll on Dec. 5 and end two hours before the Stroll does. The Nov. 28 tree lighting doesn't start until 4:30 p.m., so on that Saturday the market's hours cover everything from Santa's 11 a.m. arrival to the start of the ceremony.
The storefront the market left behind
The Farmacy's move opened up a Walnut Street space, and a Milton restaurant is taking it. Dough Bar & Vine is a rebranded version of the Milton-based Dough Bar, owned by Kristen and Marc Latham. Delaware Business Times gave the address as 28 S. Walnut St.
Milford LIVE described the menu as Dough Bar's signature pizzas plus handcrafted sandwiches on bread made from the restaurant's own pizza dough, with plans for wine service. Kristen Latham told the outlet the Milford expansion had been years in the making. "This is our opportunity to build our dream home," she said.
That puts 28 S. Walnut St. one number away from The Dwelling Place at 27 and a short walk from Vanderwende's.
A coffee and book stop at 27 S. Walnut
The Dwelling Place is one of the newer names downtown. It's a family-owned coffee shop, bookstore and gift shop at 27 S. Walnut St., Suite 104, run by April and Jesse Spence. Milford LIVE reported that it sells coffee drinks, tea, baked goods, Christian books and gifts.
On a Stroll evening, it's a warm drink and a gift shelf in the middle of the block.
A loop that covers the new lineup
In address order, the 2026 changes make one walk for a Stroll evening or the tree-lighting Saturday.
- Riverfront Theater, 2 S. Walnut St. Check the "Fruitcakes" schedule first, since curtain times anchor the rest of the evening.
- Vanderwende's, 10 S. Walnut St. The farm creamery's first holiday season at the former North Pole Creamery, with a possible break in January and February.
- The Dwelling Place, 27 S. Walnut St., Suite 104. Coffee, tea, baked goods and gifts.
- Dough Bar & Vine, 28 S. Walnut St. The Lathams' pizza, sandwich and wine concept in the former Farmacy storefront.
- 201 S. Walnut St. Site of the Nov. 28 tree lighting.
- The Farmacy Market, 301 N.E. Front St. The detour off Walnut, with Saturday hours ending at 6 p.m.
Most of the year, a new storefront has months to become familiar. This year's holiday calendar runs ten days, and on Vanderwende's own estimate the ice cream counter at 10 S. Walnut St. may go quiet once December is over. The Saturdays of Nov. 28 and Dec. 5 are the best chances to see every one of these places with the street full.
If these holiday walks have you thinking about what your own home near downtown Milford would bring next year, The Delashore Team is happy to prepare a free home valuation. Request yours whenever you're ready, and we'll walk you through what's happening on your street.
