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Here’s What’s Happening the Weekend of Sept. 2-5 in Coastal Delaware

August 31, 2016

One last hurrah this weekend as the Summer of 2016 officially comes to a close here at the Delaware beaches. Year-round residents, however, are preparing for what’s become known in recent years as “Locals Summer.”

This is a time when the weather is still warm, but the crowds have diminished and left more open space in parking lots, on the Boardwalk and on the beach itself.

It’s a wonderful time of the year, for many reasons. In addition to the continued fun in the sun, it’s also time for three months of fun and fabulous local festivals here in southern Delaware.

That starts this Friday with the Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral and continues with several annual festivals next weekend and throughout the fall. It’s a great time to live in coastal Delaware, and we highly recommend getting out there and enjoying some of these popular local events.

As mentioned above, it all starts this Friday in Bethany Beach, when we officially bid our fond farewells to what's been a fantastic summer here at the Delaware beaches. In a tradition that began in the mid 1980s, the always fun-loving folks in Bethany will dress in black and proceed down the Boardwalk with a makeshift coffin and spouting crocodile tears, officially bidding adieu to the summer.

Then two days later, it’s time for what is surely one of the wildest and wackiest events you’ll ever see, as Poodle Beach hosts the annual Drag Volleyball Tournament. This has provided some incredible laughs over the years, so be sure to check it out if you can.

A season-ending fireworks display, a couple of exhibit openings and a fun day for seniors at Trap Pond State Park round out our Labor Day menu. We hope you have a great holiday weekend and enjoy these last few days of summer, whatever it is you decide to do.

And get ready for some great festivals and events over the next few weeks.

But for now, here are our selections for Labor Day Weekend 2016 at or near the Delaware beaches: 

Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral (September 2). It’s that time of year again when we say goodbye to the Summer of 2016 and begin looking forward to the Summer of 2017, and the next traditional summer season in coastal Delaware. This year marks the 31st year that this family-friendly satirical event has taken place in Bethany Beach. The event begins with a “private wake” at 5 p.m., followed by a solemn procession down the Boardwalk at 5:30. A silent auction to benefit Sussex County Habitat for Humanity will be held prior to the event, from 3:15 to 4:45. Attendees are encouraged to get into the spirit by wearing black and preparing to say their goodbyes to the Summer of 2016. Visitwww.jazz-funeral.com for more information.

Rehoboth Beach Drag Volleyball Tournament (September 4). Now here’s a Labor Day Weekend tradition that everyone should witness at least once in his or her lifetime. Held on the south end of the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk, widely known in the gay community as “Poodle Beach,” this fun and wacky annual event pits teams of male volleyball players competing for prizes and bragging rights, while dressed in drag. Each team portrays a particular theme, which contributes to the brevity of the day. This fun coastal Delaware event is a long-standing Labor Day tradition. The fun starts at 12:30 p.m. on Poodle Beach.

Visit our Blog Page to read more about what’s happening this holiday weekend at the Delaware beaches.

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