Phish fans share random Delaware trivia at Mondegreen Festival
There's gonna be a ton of partying in Dover this weekend for the four-day Phish Mondegreen Festival, with several of the 45,000-plus revelers experiencing Delaware for the first time.
But what do these virgins of Delaware at Mondegreen know about the Small Wonder?
"You know the part in the 'Wayne's World' movie, the scene where it's like, 'Hi, I'm in Delaware'? That sums it up. Like, that's kind of all I know," Gary Collins of San Francisco explained, while hanging out with three of his Phish fan brothers during the second day of Mondegreen on Friday.
Phish Mondegreen Festival fan talks first time in Delaware
Collins' festival buddy Tom Russos of New York City is also new to visiting Delaware. Russos had only driven through the state on I-95, but he knows a few bits of trivia about the tiny state.
"They don't allow you to smoke in the casinos here, but they do have table games, which is different than New York City," Russos said.
The vibe in Delaware has been peaceful for Russos. "It seems like a chillax place, for the most part. Then again, I didn't walk through downtown Dover," he explained.
Russos hasn't ventured too far beyond festival grounds at The Woodlands of Dover Motor Speedway. He took a trip to Dover Mall, where he said he was underwhelmed, and the Phish fan played a little bit of roulette and slots at Bally's Dover Casino Resort.
"I put in $40 and lost it all," Russo said about his gambling misadventure.
Phish Mondegreen Festival in Dover: It's 'redeeming' for fans who went to Curveball
TV show taught Delaware trivia to Phish Mondegreen fan
His pal Gary Simmons of Callicoon, New York, said he has a connection to the Small Wonder because his mom attended the University of Delaware, although attending Mondegreen is first time in the state.
"I think it's cool. I mean, the climate's not too much different from my own home, which is upstate New York," Simmons said about Delaware.
Fellow New Yorker Nate Hubbell attributes one piece of Delaware trivia to a classic sitcom starring Wilmington native Aubrey Plaza.
"The only thing I know about Delaware is that Joe Biden is from here, and I know that from 'Parks and Rec,'" Hubbell of Lake George, New York, said.
Hubbel's friend Brian McDowell of Queensbury, New York, also credits Phish’s Mondegreen for his Delaware debut.
"I know it's the First State," said McDowell, who was carrying a mandolin near the Miles the Monster statue. "It's gorgeous. There's lots of rivers. I bet there's a lot of awesome wildlife and stuff [in Delaware]."
Hubbell has seen several Phish festivals, including all three that were held at Watkins Glen, New York: Super Ball, Magnaball and the canceled Curveball.
The Phish head said, "There's definitely a way better setup" at Mondegreen than the Watkins Glen festivals because there are more amenities (like bicycle taxis), the venue is wider, plus he enjoys all of the trees in The Woodlands.
Joe Biden disappoints fan at Phish Mondegreen Festival
Meghan Zbikowski is originally from Somerset County in New Jersey, which is about 2? hours from Dover. Oddly enough, she's only driven through Delaware.
"Joe Biden lives here. I thought he might come today," Zbikowski, who now lives in Boston, playfully said at Mondegreen on Friday. But does Biden listen to Phish?
"I don't know what he's a fan of," Zbikowski answered, before racking her brain to think of more random facts about Delaware: "There's the Delaware Water Gap and tubing ... you know, I'm pulling from some ancient history."
Uh, ... that's in Pennsylvania, but OK ...
Josh Palmer of Dallas says his first visit to Delaware is due to Mondegreen. Despite how hot it’s been this summer, the Texan says "the weather is good" in Dover because it feels a little less humid than back in his state.
"It's been beautiful. Phish picked a good spot," Palmer said. "There's a lot of good infrastructure here. There's good campgrounds, and it's nice and cool."
Phish Mondegreen Festival: Visitors guide to Dover restaurants, places open 24/7 for food
Delaware gains random cool points with Phish fan for odd reason
San Franciso resident Collins remembered he has a strange Delaware connection that involves Thin Lizzy's popular '70s rock anthem "The Boys Are Back in Town."
Collins said when he camped at the Peach Music Festival in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 2021, he had camping neighbors who were obsessed with that rock song. And the campers were from the First State.
"They listened to that song, no joke, like, 10 times every single day for four days straight. Everybody knew all the words. There was like 12 of them," he explained. "That gave me a little bit more respect for Delaware."
At the same time, there's something about Delaware that bothers the Phish lover.
"Why is it even called Delaware? Like, what? Dela? Where?" a confused Collins asked.
How did Delaware get its name?
In 1610, explorer Samuel Argall named the Delaware Bay and River for the governor of Virginia, Thomas West, Lord De La Warr, according to Delaware.gov. The state takes its name from the bay and river.
Are tickets still available for Phish Mondegreen Festival?
Mondegreen's general admission starts at $150 per day. If you're bringing a vehicle, you also must buy a camping or parking vehicle pass (one per car or RV). Single-day parking passes start at $20.
When does Phish play Mondegreen Festival in Dover?
The concert venue opens 90 minutes before the first scheduled set time each day. At the moment, this means the concert venue opens at 5 p.m. (as Phish plays each night at 6:30) from Thursday, Aug.15, to Sunday, Aug. 18. DJ sets in The Heliograph will begin each night after Phish's set.
Where is the Phish Mondegreen Festival?
Mondegreen is located in The Woodlands of Dover Motor Speedway (1131 N. Dupont Highway, Dover) from Thursday, Aug. 15, to Sunday, Aug. 18. For more info, visit mondegreen.phish.com. '
If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at [email protected]. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: At Mondegreen, Phish fans new to Delaware share random state facts