BETHANY BEACH, DEL. -- Preparations are underway to celebrate the end of the Bethany Beach, Del. summer resort season with the annual Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral on Labor Day Monday, September 7 at about 5:30 p.m.
The Jazz Funeral is a lighthearted celebration that allows all those who attend to participate and become part of the procession. The 2009 Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral is a "Labor Day Farewell to Summer" Parade and Celebration that are free to the public, according to Eugene Fritzler and Steve Klidonas, the assistant chairmen of this year's Jazz Funeral events.
At the Jazz Funeral, spectators go to the Bethany Beach Boardwalk on Labor Day Monday and can join the funeral procession of mourners. Mourners carry a casket with a mannequin representing "Summer of 2009" from the North end of the Boardwalk to its final resting place at the Boardwalk Bandstand. Music is provided by the combined efforts of three Dixieland Jazz Bands.
"The Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral is comparable to the Jazz Funerals that are held in New Orleans that celebrate the lives of those who have passed away," cochairman Fritzler said. "In Bethany Beach, the Jazz Funeral is celebrated each Labor Day to mark the passing of the summer resort season in Delaware's Quiet Resorts."
Part of the Jazz Funeral festivities will be a series of brief reflections and recollections by Bethany residents after the procession arrives at the Boardwalk Bandstand. One of the featured presenters includes Bethany businessman Art Antal who is the proprietor of the new Golfin’ Dolphin Indoor Golf Course.
For the past four years, the Jazz Funeral was dedicated to those impacted by the lingering aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, especially the residents of New Orleans.
"Since New Orleans experienced so much devastation from Hurricane Katrina and since the recovery process in New Orleans still continues to this day, our lighthearted Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral celebration is meant to show respect and admiration for the Jazz Funeral tradition that was born in the Big Easy," cochairman Klidonas said.
The beneficiary of last year's Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral was the American Cancer Society and their Relay For Life® program. In 2007 the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization was the honored beneficiary.
Those who attended the 2006 Jazz Funeral events had the opportunity to contribute funds for local housing initiatives supported by the Sussex County Habitat for Humanity.
The 2005 Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral was dedicated to the excellent work performed by members of the American Red Cross. In 2005, there was a memorial service to honor New Orleans and those who perished in Hurricane Katrina. Representatives of the American Red Cross were on hand to collect funds for hurricane relief.
The Jazz Funeral is based on the Jazz Funeral tradition of New Orleans, where "Funerals with music predated the start of Jazz, and they continued with the contemporary New Orleans Street-Funk style of brass bands," according to long time Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral participant Kirk Rankin.
The Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral is held each year at the end of the workday on Labor Day Monday to celebrate the end of the summer tourist season. Although the annual Jazz Funeral is similar in nature to its larger counterpart called the Fourth of July celebration, and it does feature its own type of parade. The parade is actually a "mock funeral march" that takes place on the Bethany Boardwalk and is accompanied by the music of three Dixieland Jazz bands.
The local populous usually shows up for the event and newcomers are always welcome to enjoy the festivities.
"Locals and diehard tourists always turn out in big numbers for our lighthearted end-of-the-season celebration,"
Celebrating its 24th anniversary this year on September 7, the Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral was originally conceived by a Bethany Beach businessman and former Bethany town councilman who wanted to "lighten up" after a busy resort season.
"If it were not for Moss Wagner's idea of having a big party on the afternoon of Labor Day to celebrate the end of the traditional summer season in Bethany Beach, there would be no Jazz Funeral," Jazz Funeral assistant chairmen Klidonas said.
One of the distinguishing features of this "End of Summer Season Celebration"
The Jazz Funeral has become a "quirky" tradition in Bethany Beach and celebrates its 24th anniversary this year. At 24 years, the Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral is one of the longest running "fun" celebrations of its kind in the Lower Delaware resort area.
Moss Wagner, a former town council member and Bethany businessman who owned and operated the Bethany Beach Ice Cream Parlor and Moss Boss’ Ice Cream Shop, founded this end of summer celebration. Wagner's original idea was to have a party to celebrate the closing of the summer resort season "...in a town where there is a definite beginning and end to the summer season." Wagner was the guest of honor and received the Founder's Award at the 2005 Jazz Funeral at the 20th anniversary of the charitable event.
This year's Jazz Funeral will be held on Labor Day Monday, September 7 with activities beginning around 5:30 p.m. at the North end of the Bethany Beach Boardwalk. A silent auction to be held on the Friday afternoon before Labor Day is also in the works. The Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral Silent Auction is held as a kickoff to the Labor Day weekend and will benefit a local charity that will be named shortly.
Anyone who wishes to volunteer to help out with the Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral or the Silent Auction is requested to email jazzfuneral@
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