Frequently Asked Questions

How can I check your availability?

Availability can be checked by choosing a Beach Bonfire, choosing a street location, and choosing a date. Once you select an available date, available times will pop up. If a date is greyed-out, that means we are unavailable. If you're looking to book for a Holiday, view the Holiday Dates listings.

Can I book for today or tomorrow?

We need at least 48 hours to confirm our availability and obtain the necessary permit with the town of Dewey Beach! Because of this, we cannot offer same-day or next-day bookings. 

How long is my bonfire?

We can start your bonfire as early as 5:30pm and cleanup is around 10:30pm! This is because the town requires everything to be cleaned up and off the beach by 11pm. If you book your appointment time for 6:30, please show up ~10 minutes before appointment time, and you have the reservation the entire evening until 10:30pm.

Is there a cap on attendance for Bonfires?

Yes! If your Bonfire will exceed 24 people in attendance, the Town of Dewey Beach requires an Events Permit in addition to your Bonfire Permit. This will add $50 onto your Bonfire cost!

Can I bring food/party decorations to my Bonfire? 🎉

Absolutely! So long as you are aware that you are responsible for set up and clean up of the items you bring, you are more than welcome to bring additional items to your Bonfire. While there are public trash cans at each beach entrance, we recommend bringing a trash bag if you think you will produce an abundance of trash. It is your responsibility to dispose of any trash/trash bags appropriately- please do not over flow the town trash cans.

We also offer many add ons- take a look at the link below to rent beach chairs, ambient lights, beach games, and more!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR BONFIRE ADD-ONS

What if I need to cancel? ❌

  • We require being notified at least 36 hours before your bonfire date/time to cancel the request and provide a refund or a reschedule.
  • We typically monitor the weather on a daily basis and will often attempt to reach out to you and reschedule if it looks like weather will become an issue.
  • Should you contact us within the aforementioned time frame, we can provide a refund (minus our transaction fee of 8%) or a reschedule.
  • All cancellations will incur a refund transaction fee of 8%.
  • Same day cancellations and/or no-shows do not receive a refund or a reschedule.
  • The town of Dewey Beach reserves the right to cancel all bonfires due to weather/wind.

What if I need to reschedule?

We can accommodate rescheduling, however we can not always guarantee the street/time/date you originally booked. We work off the scheduling availability provided by the Town of Dewey Beach, so if that requested street/time/date are already scheduled, we will work with you to find the best solution. We can often easily change the date/time for a confirmed booking, but we do not have the ability to change the location of a bonfire without cancelling and rebooking.

What if there is bad weather? ⛈️

In the event of rain or bad weather, we are happy to offer a refund or a reschedule should you contact us within the aforementioned time frame (36 hours prior to your bonfire).

If you decide to proceed with your Bonfire despite an "iffy" forecast and it ends up raining, we will not be able to offer you a refund or a reschedule. This is because we would have already provided our services to you!

The town of Dewey Beach reserves the right cancel bonfires for weather and wind concerns.

Can my dog come to my Bonfire? 🐾 

Yes! So long as you clean up after them, dogs are allowed on the beach after 5pm but must have a Dewey Beach town license. 3 day, 8 day and lifetime licenses are available at Dewey Beach Town Hall. Dewey Beach Surf Shop is not responsible for any fines incurred should you disregard this policy.

Can I drink alcohol on the beach? 🍻 

Alcohol and glass containers are strictly prohibited on the beach between May 15 and September 15. Dewey Beach Surf Shop is not responsible for any fines incurred should you disregard this policy.

Can I have a band perform at my Bonfire? 🎤

Unfortunately live bands, DJs and performances are not permitted on the beach in Dewey Beach, year round. Small personal bluetooth speakers and acoustic guitars are welcome. The town does not allow amplified music beyond this.

I’m hosting a Bonfire and I need to buy firewood. Can I purchase firewood from you? 🪵 

Wood is included in your Bonfire booking. We do not sell wood or provide extra wood.

I’m not in Dewey. Do you travel?

No, we only offer our services within the town limits of Dewey Beach on the ocean side beaches.

Why do you need my email and my phone number?

All correspondence leading up to your bonfire is done via email. Because we get a high volume of bonfire requests, email correspondence helps us stay organized and easily available. Although we ask you to provide a phone number when you book with us, this is just for the day of your bonfire if we have trouble finding you on the beach.

I booked online and got my confirmation email from deweybeachsurfshop302@gmail.com - what's next? 

You MUST show up at your requested start time (established via email at time of booking) because we cannot leave bonfires unattended on the beach. We often have more than one bonfire per night and need to be sure we get to everyone on time.

Please feel free to bring what you need to make your time on the beach more comfortable (without bothering other beach goers). Dewey Beach Surf Shop is responsible for cleaning up the bonfire and the add-ons we provide. We are NOT responsible for cleaning up any mess made on the beach regarding trash, decorations, food, etc. If you leave a mess on the beach, we may reach out about additional fees!

How much does a Dewey Beach bonfire cost?

Beach Bonfires start at $350. Holidays and Holiday Weekends start at $450. Add-ons are available for an additional cost.

Are Dewey Beach bonfires private or shared?

Our bonfires are located on public beaches, but your bonfire is 100% private! There are 20 local beaches in Dewey Beach on the ocean side which we are authorized to have fires on. At this time, the town of Dewey Beach allows 2 bonfires per street per night. One bonfire is conducted on the north side of the beach entrance and one bonfire is conducted at the south side of the beach entrance. If you book that location, its all yours for the evening.

Do you offer corporate bonfire events or team-building nights?

We offer private beach bonfires that are great for corporate outings, remote team meetups, and employee appreciation nights. Our team handles setup, seating if desired, and optional add-ons. Whether you’re planning a small team gathering or a large group event, a bonfire is the perfect place to connect!

Learn More About Corporate and Team Bonfires

Why do you require a signed liability waiver? ✍🏼

We require a signed liability waiver to ensure that all participants understand and acknowledge the inherent risks involved in attending a beach bonfire, such as fire hazards, changing weather conditions, and interactions with the public. This waiver also confirms compliance with local laws and safety regulations, including restrictions on alcohol consumption and noise levels. By signing, participants accept personal responsibility for their safety and agree to follow all guidelines, allowing us to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR WAIVER

What locations and beaches can we have our bonfire?

We offer 20 beautiful ocean side beaches to have your bonfire on in Dewey Beach. Each beach offers 2 bonfire locations- north and south. Check out the links and map below for all location and pins:

📍 Dewey Beach Bonfire Locations

Click a beach name below to view the exact location on Google Maps.