Upcoming and Current Events

Celebrating 25 years of Honoring Delaware Individual Artists with the Delaware Division of the Arts

The Historic Odessa Foundation proudly presents Award Winners XXV, a milestone exhibition celebrating the 25th anniversary of showcasing the Delaware Division of the Arts' Individual Artist Fellowship recipients. The museum is honored to become one of only three venues to host this wonderful art exhibition.

2025 Storybook Trees Registration

The Historic Odessa Foundation celebrates classic children’s literature and a love of reading by showcasing holiday trees decorated by community and school groups.

Fall's Bounty

“Fall’s Bounty” Explore the Collins-Sharp House and working kitchen garden with your guide as our costumed interpreters capture the sights and flavors of authentic 18th century cooking. Savor the aromas of dishes cooked over an open fire using the tools, recipes and techniques commonly used in colonial Odessa. We’ll focus our cooking today on the use of foods traditionally harvested in the fall. Admission is included in the general tour.

Hearth-Cooked Dinner

Join us for an evening of fine food, drink and merrymaking as the staff from the Historic Odessa Foundation serves a hearth cooked dinner of mouth-watering dishes using the recipes, tools and techniques of the 18th century. Savor our delicious appetizers by the fire before touring the Corbit-Sharp House by candlelight. Then, return to the hearth of the Collins-Sharp House for a sumptuous autumn dinner and wine with each course. Space is limited. For reservations, please contact Jennifer Cabell Kostik or (302) 378-4119. Ticket: $175 Cocktails 5pm Tour 6pm Dinner 6:30pm Menu Champagne Mushroom...

Here, There & Delaware: Travel Poster Prints & Illustrations of Erick Sahler

This holiday season don’t miss the graphic art exhibit, Here, There & Delaware: Travel Poster Prints & Illustrations of Erick Sahler, at the Historic Odessa Foundation Visitor Center from Tuesday, October 28th to Wednesday, December 21st, 2025.

Shakespeare, Poe, & Fiends 2025

This favorite fall event will feature Del Shakes artists performing selections of scenes, prose, and poetry from Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, and their Gothic contemporaries, plus musical selections interspersed. As always, we’ll close with a dramatic reading of Poe’s “The Raven.” It is sure to fright and delight all who join! Performances will be held at the end of October: Oct. 24th at 7 PM at Lewes Library (FREE!) Oct. 25th at 7 PM at Old Town Hall Oct. 26th at 2 PM at Read House and Gardens Oct. 30th at 7 PM at Odessa Historic Wilson Barn We are grateful to each of our partnering sites...

CHRISTMAS EXHIBIT: A Jane Austen Christmas at 250

Commemorate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth while visiting the Historic Odessa Foundation’s National Historic Register Wilson-Warner House this holiday season to tour A Jane Austen Christmas at 250 exhibit. Austen’s beloved novels with the iconic titles of Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, and Northanger Abbey & Persuasion are recognized world-wide. Austen provides brief accounts of Christmas customs and traditions celebrated in Georgian England in each of her novels which provide inspiration for each room vignette. The holiday season became a...

Twinklefest

Buy Tickets Now Please join us for the first Annual Twinklefest! Saturday, November 22, 2025, 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm on the grounds of the National Historic Landmark Corbit-Sharp House, Main St., Odessa, Delaware. This exciting family-friendly event kicks off the holiday season packed with fun for young and old, tickets include: A tour of A Jane Austin Christmas in the Wilson-Warner House, circa 1769. This year’s exhibit commemorates the 250th anniversary of Jane Austin’s birth and features holiday vignettes from her novels. Don’t miss the Dover English Country Dancers performing live! Over 30...

HOF Participates in “Christmas in Odessa”

The first “Christmas in Odessa” took place 61 years ago as a fundraiser for the Women’s Club of Odessa. The purpose was to fund college scholarships for local high school seniors. With the help and cooperation of Odessa homeowners and the Historic Odessa Foundation, the Women’s Club of Odessa has provided scholarships to over 100 students. In addition, the club contributes to many other worthwhile community groups and projects. Christmas in Odessa: Delaware Historic House Tour Christmas in Odessa is a self-guided walking tour of private homes and public buildings, many dating from the 18th and...

By Reservation: Storybook Time (pre-K and Kindergarten)

Join HOF and the Corbit-Calloway Memorial Library as we read excerpts from this year’s Historic Odessa Foundation featured work of classic children’s literature. Children's Storytime in Odessa Then, explore scenes from the story brought to life in our annual holiday exhibit. Admission is free but reservations are required; please call 302-378-4119 or 302-378-5562 TWO TIMES OPEN Pre-K & Kindergarten (and parents) at 11am Older Children (and parents) at 4:30pm In conjunction with Storybook Time and the Odessa County Christmas exhibit, and there will be a reading of the novel.