Town of Bethany Beach - Founders Day Weekend

Bethany Beach Founders Day Weekend will take place over Labor Day weekend, celebrating the Town’s 125th anniversary while also honoring America’s 250th birthday. This special joint celebration will capture the spirit, pride, and patriotism of both milestone occasions and will feature the return of the beloved Independence Day Parade, which was canceled in July due to extreme heat.

The weekend will also include three Bandstand performances showcasing iconic American music through the decades. All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. On Friday, September 4, local favorite Love Seed Mama Jump will kick off the festivities with a mix of classic and modern rock. On Saturday, September 5, The Jimmy’s will bring audiences back to the 1980s with their popular 80s Flashback show. The weekend’s musical lineup concludes on Sunday, September 6, with Jesse Garron’s Tribute to Elvis, celebrating the legendary American entertainer with hits spanning the 1950s through the 1970s. Following the performance, attendees can enjoy a spectacular drone and fireworks finale co-sponsored by the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce and Southern Delaware Tourism.

The Independence Day Parade will take place on Sunday at noon, taking its traditional route through downtown Bethany Beach. Float registration details will be available soon.

The celebration concludes on Monday, September 7 (Labor Day), with the 41st Annual Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral beginning at 5:30 p.m. This cherished New Orleans-style procession, accompanied by Dixieland jazz musicians, traditionally marks the end of summer while ushering in Bethany Beach’s “second season.”