Southern Delaware Tourism 2025 photo contest opens Jan. 1

To celebrate Southern Delaware and keep it top of mind throughout the winter with visitors planning 2025 travel, Southern Delaware Tourism is launching its ninth annual photo contest.

Both locals and visitors are invited and encouraged to enter. Entries will be accepted from midnight, Wednesday, Jan. 1, through 5 p.m., Friday, March 7. Winners will be announced Friday, March 21.

There will be one grand prize-winning photo as well as one winning photo in each of three categories: The Big Picture, The Nitty Gritty, and Southern Delaware After Dark.

Model releases are required if a photo contains recognizable likenesses of individuals. Entries must have been taken in Sussex County, and photo locations must be included with submissions.

For The Big Picture, entries should be scenic Southern Delaware vistas like landscapes, seascapes, downtown streetscapes or farmscapes. Photos from land, sea and air (drone) are accepted. 

The Nitty Gritty submissions may feature food, beer, wine, culture, arts, activities, amusements, events, entertainment, history or shopping. Photos must contain at least one person.

Southern Delaware After Dark submissions may include nightlife shots like bonfires, fireworks, starry skies, downtowns after dark or moonlight reflections.

Photo contest winners will be selected by Tony Pratt and Pamela Aquilani, photographers well known in Southern Delaware and beyond.

All eligible photo entries will be uploaded by Southern Delaware Tourism to its Instagram feed @VisitSouthDel with the hashtag #SoDelPhotoContest2025.

Entrants are responsible for reading all entry and eligibility rules and requirements prior to submission.

For full contest rules and prize information, and to upload entries, go to visitsoutherndelaware.com/southern-delaware-tourism-photo-contest.