Bethany Beach packed two days before jazz funeral

BETHANY BEACH, Del., Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Beach goers flocked to Bethany Beach in Delaware over the weekend, days before the community says goodbye to summer with a New Orleans-style jazz funeral.

Hundreds of people gathered at the east coast beach to soak up some sun during the last unofficial weekend of summer on Saturday.

On Monday, the community will put on the 29th annual Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral, laying to rest the summer season for the year with a quirky farewell.

Three bands provide musical accompaniment for a procession at the beach featuring a casket with a mannequin representing summer.

The family-friendly event encourages attendees to dress up as mourners or in other New Orleans-style costuming.

The procession begins at 5:30 p.m. ET Monday at the north end of the Bethany Beach Boardwalk. The event also coincided with a silent auction held Friday to benefit five local charities.