Thousands of Dewey Beach residents and friends bid farewell to summer at the Dewey Business Partnership’s end-of-season beach party Sept. 13.

The event featured live music by Bryen O’Boyle and Just The Tip, plus food, drinks, a bonfire and a variety of local vendors.

Between 2,500 and 3,000 people were estimated to have attended, according to DBP Executive Director Kelly Ranieri.

At the event, Town Manager Bill Zolper presented a check for $19,295 – half of which was raised since late spring through donations from Dewey residents, and the other half of which was matched by the town – to members of the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company.

RBVFC Fire Chief Chuck Snyder and Lt. Jeremiah Burton accepted the check on stage.

Later on, the evening took an unexpected turn when popular Dewey Beach DJ and emcee for the night DJ Manny Mann got down on one knee on stage to propose to his now-fiancée, Ann Marie Truszcienski.

The crowd erupted into cheers when he popped the question, and it got even louder when she said yes.

Following the proposal, the couple danced onstage to “We Found Love” by Rihanna.

For the rest of the evening, attendees danced, talked, drank and enjoyed some of the final moments of summer.