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Piping Out revived on Rehoboth Boardwalk
Dozens bring back tradition of ending summer season with musical parade
Band leader Nick Nichols, far left, leads Jerry Capone on banjo, Dan Miller on trombone and a host of kazoo-playing musicians during the Piping Out parade on the Rehoboth Boardwalk. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTOS
September 6, 2019
For the first time in decades, dozens of people participated in “piping out” the summer with a Labor Day musical parade down the Rehoboth Boardwalk. The Rehoboth Beach Historical Society brought the tradition back for the first time since 1999.
Piping Out is thought to have been originated in the mid- to late 1950s by the late bandleader Sammy Ferro, whose orchestra played for dances held at the old Henlopen Hotel. At the last dance of the summer on Labor Day, Ferro would take his band “to the boards” followed by his audience, and then lead a spontaneous musical parade down the Boardwalk to the vicinity of Dolle’s popcorn stand at Rehoboth Avenue. Ferro led the Piping Out until 1999.
Band leader Nick Nichols, far left, leads Jerry Capone on banjo, Dan Miller on trombone and a host of kazoo-playing musicians during the Piping Out parade on the Rehoboth Boardwalk. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTOS
Sharon Messina plays the tambourine down the Boardwalk.
Maracas, kazoos, buckets with tools and cowbells were some of the instruments used for the parade.
Louise Enright gets her kazoo on.
The band gets a round of applause from Piping Out participants.
The definition of an instrument isn’t too strict, as shown by Susan Morissette with her trowel and metal bucket.
