On February 21, the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours event celebrated the success of the Fire & Ice Festival. The Salted Rim Margarita Bar & Grill hosted over 90 attendees, including event sponsors and beneficiaries. The excitement and camaraderie was evident as beneficiaries from six local non-profits received contributions totaling $31,835.

$500 was given to the historic Clayton Theatre from the Clayton Matinees sponsored by Heather’s Homeworks on Sunday, January 29.

$1,000 was raised for Santa’s Letters, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping local families in need. Proceeds were raised from Friday, January 27 sales at Salted Vines Vineyard & Winery Ice Tour.

$2,116 was raised for the Lord Baltimore PTO from the Ice Rink in downtown Bethany Beach, sponsored by Bethany Beach Books & The Book Drop.

$2,500 was raised for The Delaware Center for Inland Bays from the first annual Fire & Ice Bays Benefit hosted by Fenwick Shores, Matt’s Fish Camp – Fenwick, and Ocean View Brewing Company.

$8,019 was raised for the Millville Volunteer Fire Company. Proceeds included sales from the Chili Cookoff and s’mores sales at the Millville Boardwalk Fire Pits. Only in it’s second year, the Fire & Ice Chili Cookoff sold out at 500 tickets. 400 s’more kits were distributed at Millville Boardwalk’s Fire Pits contributing $769 in donations.

$17,700 was contributed to Beebe Healthcare’s South Coastal Emergency Department & Cancer Center. Proceeds were raised from the Fire & Ice Drink Competition, Tasting Tour, and Beer Garden. Ten Restaurants (Bethany Blues, Good Earth Market, Hooked Up, Mangos, Mio Fratello, Off the Hook, Signatures at Bayside, Cottage Café, The Den at Bear Trap Dunes, and The Salted Rim) participated in the Fire & Ice Drink Competition, hosted at Bethany Beach Ocean Suites, on January 15. The Drink Competition sold out at 150 tickets. The Tasting Tour sold out at 500 tickets prior to the start of the festival weekend. Approximately 600 transactions were made at the Beach Liquors Beer Garden in John West Park in Ocean View that contributed to the total amount raised for Beebe Healthcare.

In addition to the beneficiaries, the Chamber spent over $10,000 in local businesses for festival expenses, staying true to its mission. The Chamber is grateful for all 80 business partners, partnering towns, and the 63 incredible volunteers who helped make it possible. Look for the return of the Fire & Ice Festival on January 26-28, 2024.