
Tonight's concert has been cancelled due to the heat advisory.
Take a scheduled tour of this former DuPont family mansion, or explore the native and exotic plants and trees in the surrounding arboretum.
Gather your bait and tackle for some quiet fishing, or just sit by the water and enjoy the tranquillity.
Visit our Summer Concert Series page for information about the summer concerts at the park's bandshell.
This nature preserve in the heart of the city features a flowing creek, large meadows, and deer and other wildlife.
Test your endurance around the Oval Track, a 1 1/8-mile former equestrian track that today features 20 exercise stations.
Pack a lunch and enjoy the grounds of this former DuPont family estate, an outstanding example of leisured life in the Gilded Age.
Tucked in the middle of suburban Wilmington sits Bellevue State Park, a former DuPont estate. William Dupont Jr. (1896-1965), the estate's last owner and avid equestrian, transformed this land to include horse stables, indoor horse training facilities, and most notably a 1 ⅛ mile long horse track. Today, the track is used by guests, and encircles meadows, rentable pavilions, and a quaint pond perfect for fishing. William DuPont’s home, Bellevue Hall, stands as the park’s centerpiece, though prior to the 1930s, a Gothic Revival Castle known as Woolton Hall stood in its place. Bellevue Hall is an elegant venue for private events and is surrounded by the Dupont’s collection of trees from around the world. Twelve additional structures that kept the estate self-sustaining can be spotted throughout the park, like the Percheron Barn that watches over the community gardens. Over time, the land evolved to offer guests a chance to also enjoy a round of disc golf through woods and meadows, or a stroll with family, friends, and pets along the paved Northern Greenway Trail.
A 1-and-1/8-mile fitness track circles a catch-and-release fishing pond stocked with bass, catfish, and sunfish, while the nearby exercise trail offers a refreshing workout. Hiking trails allow you to explore other parts of the estate. If you prefer cycling, both paved and unpaved paths lead you on a leisurely tour.
Bellevue Tennis Center features eight clay courts and offers a number of tennis programs, both instructional and social, as well as tennis lessons and racquet-stringing. Bellevue is also home to Wellspring Farm, a modern equestrian facility with indoor and outdoor arenas offering private and group riding lessons, boarding and therapeutic riding.
Bellevue State Park is home to several venues available for weddings, celebrations and gatherings of all types. The Figure 8 and Hunter Barns supply large flexible spaces both inside and out which can be adapted to a variety of events. The historic Mount Pleasant Meeting House and Parsonage offers an intimate area to hold ceremonies. The Tim Ross Music Garden provides a timeless elegance to any outdoor event, with a stone wall enclosing a slate patio this secluded spot still offers easy access to the rest of the park grounds. One of the most recognizable features of Bellevue’s Summer Concert Series, the Bandshell, offers a large outdoor performance space with ample additional space for seating.
Hosting Your Event at BellevueSummer theme camps entertain and educate children. Hayrides are available by reservation in the fall, and outdoor ice skating, sledding, and cross-country skiing are popular in winter, conditions permitting. Information about the summer concerts and performances at the park's bandshell will be available soon.
Bellevue Woods Nature Preserve - mixed hardwood forest, stream corridor with rock outcrops. This tract contains mature trees and helps protect a larger contiguous tract of mature woodlands. Provides a buffer to and protection for Stoney Creek. This Nature Preserve is a great example of a small piedmont forested stream corridor.
Amenities: Loop Trail (pedestrian only), parking, bathrooms in park office
Acreage: 28 acres
Saturday, December 9, 2023
1:00 PM
Did you know that Bellevue has an arboretum? Dating back to our days as a du Pont Estate, the Bellevue Arboretum has more than 50 different species. Join the naturalists to learn about what it means to be an arboretum and explore some of the trees found here at Bellevue. Meet at the Arts Center. Walk ups welcome, pre-registration available: call us at 302-793-3046 or email us at bellevueprogramming@delaware.gov. Free.
Saturday, December 16, 2023
5:30 PM
Join members of the Delaware Astronomical Society for an evening of stargazing. Learn constellations through an introduction to observing the night sky. This program is appropriate for beginners through advanced stargazers of all ages. Equipment will be available, or you may bring your own. Red-filtered lights only please. Pre-registration is required: call us at 302-793-3046 or email us at bellevueprogramming@delaware.gov. Meet in the Hunter Barn parking lot. Free.
Thursday, December 21, 2023
11:30 AM
What's happening at Bellevue on the shortest day of the year? Join the naturalists for a guided hike through the park to learn about the science of the solstice and to explore the nature of winter. We will hike up to the Bellevue Woods Nature Preserve, which is about a 1.5-2 mile loop. Meet at the Arts Center. Walk ups welcome, pre-registration available: call us at 302-793-3046 or email us at bellevueprogramming@delaware.gov. Free.
Friday, January 5, 2024
8:00 AM
Take a stroll through Bellevue with local experts to see what birds the park has to offer. All skill levels are welcome. Binoculars are available to borrow upon request. Some trails may be muddy, so dress appropriately. Meet in the parking lot by the Arts Center. Walk-ups welcome, no need to register. Free.
Saturday, January 13, 2024
1:00 PM
For many creatures the cold winter months are a time of change in their everyday habits and habitats. Migration, hibernation, and adapting are the keys to getting through the winter. Join the naturalists to find out what the wildlife of Bellevue are doing to survive the cold January weather. We will begin with a brief inside presentation about winter wildlife adaptations, and then head into the park on a hike to see who might be out and about. Meet at the Arts Center. Pre-registration recommended: call us at 302-793-3046 or email us at bellevueprogramming@delaware.gov. Free.
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
10:00 AM
From the glamorous du Ponts of the Gilded Age to the eccentric philanthropist who first built his mansion here in the mid 1800's, Bellevue Hall is a testament to its varied architectural and personal history. Come discover the beauty of this historic home on a guided tour, the 3rd Tuesday of each month (unless otherwise specified). We will explore the mansion itself and its interesting quirks, as well as stories of the folks who lived and worked here. This tour will cover the exterior, ground floor, and some of the second floor of the mansion. Price is $6, register online.
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
1:00 PM
From the glamorous du Ponts of the Gilded Age to the eccentric philanthropist who first built his mansion here in the mid 1800's, Bellevue Hall is a testament to its varied architectural and personal history. Come discover the beauty of this historic home on a guided tour, the 3rd Tuesday of each month (unless otherwise specified). We will explore the mansion itself and its interesting quirks, as well as stories of the folks who lived and worked here. This tour will cover the exterior, ground floor, and some of the second floor of the mansion. Price is $6, register online.
Friday, February 2, 2024
8:00 AM
Take a stroll through Bellevue with local experts to see what birds the park has to offer. All skill levels are welcome. Binoculars are available to borrow upon request. Some trails may be muddy, so dress appropriately. Meet in the parking lot by the Arts Center. Walk-ups welcome, no need to register. Free.
Saturday, February 10, 2024
11:00 AM
Maple sap versus maple syrup, what makes them different and how can sap become syrup? Discover the history and science behind making maple syrup, explore a sugarbush, and then enjoy a syrup tasting to learn more about this delicous confection itself. Price is $15, register online.
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
10:00 AM
From the glamorous du Ponts of the Gilded Age to the eccentric philanthropist who first built his mansion here in the mid 1800's, Bellevue Hall is a testament to its varied architectural and personal history. Come discover the beauty of this historic home on a guided tour, the 3rd Tuesday of each month (unless otherwise specified). We will explore the mansion itself and its interesting quirks, as well as stories of the folks who lived and worked here. This tour will cover the exterior, ground floor, and some of the second floor of the mansion. Price is $6, register online.
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
1:00 PM
From the glamorous du Ponts of the Gilded Age to the eccentric philanthropist who first built his mansion here in the mid 1800's, Bellevue Hall is a testament to its varied architectural and personal history. Come discover the beauty of this historic home on a guided tour, the 3rd Tuesday of each month (unless otherwise specified). We will explore the mansion itself and its interesting quirks, as well as stories of the folks who lived and worked here. This tour will cover the exterior, ground floor, and some of the second floor of the mansion. Price is $6, register online.
Friday, March 1, 2024
8:00 AM
Take a stroll through Bellevue with local experts to see what birds the park has to offer. All skill levels are welcome. Binoculars are available to borrow upon request. Some trails may be muddy, so dress appropriately. Meet in the parking lot by the Arts Center. Walk-ups welcome, no need to register. Free.
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
10:00 AM
From the glamorous du Ponts of the Gilded Age to the eccentric philanthropist who first built his mansion here in the mid 1800's, Bellevue Hall is a testament to its varied architectural and personal history. Come discover the beauty of this historic home on a guided tour, the 3rd Tuesday of each month (unless otherwise specified). We will explore the mansion itself and its interesting quirks, as well as stories of the folks who lived and worked here. This tour will cover the exterior, ground floor, and some of the second floor of the mansion. Price is $6, register online.
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
1:00 PM
From the glamorous du Ponts of the Gilded Age to the eccentric philanthropist who first built his mansion here in the mid 1800's, Bellevue Hall is a testament to its varied architectural and personal history. Come discover the beauty of this historic home on a guided tour, the 3rd Tuesday of each month (unless otherwise specified). We will explore the mansion itself and its interesting quirks, as well as stories of the folks who lived and worked here. This tour will cover the exterior, ground floor, and some of the second floor of the mansion. Price is $6, register online.