In greater Milford’s earliest days, more than 300 years ago, Native Americans harvested shellfish and small game and grew corn and melons. In Saw Mill Range, as Milford was then called, an active timber industry was underway. By the 1700s a thriving shipbuilding industry supported the community’s economy. Today, dozens of different enterprises in greater Milford represent a myriad of business and employment categories.
Top Attractions and Events
Abbott's Mill Nature Center
This 313-acre Milford Millponds Nature Preserve features trails open to the public, a preserved gristmill, a pond, meadows, an animal collection, and educational programs.Bug & Bud Festival
April. The Bug & Bud Festival is a celebration of two of Milford’s most cherished symbols, the ladybug and nature. The significance of the ladybug in Delaware is tied to Milford when a local second-grade class petitioned the Delaware State Legislature in 1973 to accept the ladybug as the official State Bug. The festival also serves as a celebration of Arbor Day and Milford’s designation as a USA Tree City.Riverwalk Freedom Festival
September. Milford’s largest annual outdoor festival, the Riverwalk Freedom Festival, is hosted by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Milford to celebrate the anniversary of September 11, 2001. This is a popular event spanning the entire downtown Milford area from Walnut Street to BiCentennial Park.DuPont Nature Center
DNREC's DuPont Nature Center is a science-based educational and interpretive facility with interactive exhibits designed to connect people with the Delaware Bay's natural history and ecology. More than 130 species of birds, fish, shellfish, and other animals can be found in the surrounding estuary habitat. Inside the center visitors can view horseshoe crabs and shorebirds along the shoreline over 100 yards away using a remote camera and 42-inch plasma viewing screen. Aquariums feature live horseshoe crabs, fish, shellfish and terrapins.Mispillion Riverwalk
The mile-long Mispillion Riverwalk Park threads its way through the heart of downtown, offering numerous recreational opportunities to both visitors and residents alike. It has revitalized Milford’s downtown and is the largest municipal park in Delaware.Mispillion Art League
Visit our Riverwalk Center for the Arts, sign up for a class, view an exhibit, or be part of one of our special art events.Milford Holiday Stroll
December. Historic downtown Milford celebrates an old-fashioned yuletide season with the Annual Holiday Stroll. The evening highlights downtown businesses, restaurants and the local arts community as families stroll Walnut Street entertained by the live entertainment including the Christmas Carol Band, a barbershop quartet and even Santa Claus himself.Toasting the Town St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl
March. Pub Crawl features local businesses and local restaurants & pubs. Each business offers a sampling of a unique drink or food and celebrates the holiday with a twist that reflects their specific business. The event encourages participants to walk through downtown Milford wearing official Pub Crawl shirts. The t-shirts will have the participating vendors names printed on the back of them as attendees will receive a checkmark on the back of the shirt for each vendor they visit.
The Big Draw DE
October. This festival offers over 50 activities and classes suitable for artists and non-artists, families, and kids throughout the state of Delaware. The Festival is part of an international annual event taking place in over 25 countries and involving more than 500,000 participants.