Historically, the last day for the parking meters to be in effect in downtown Rehoboth Beach has been the second Sunday after Labor Day.

That means, Monday, Sept. 16, will be the first day everyone can park for free. Several downtown restaurants and retailers have teamed up to create a fun, inviting atmosphere that day, as Meterless Monday kicks off an exciting locals season in Rehoboth Beach. New locals season discount cards (see details below) will be reduced to $10 on Meterless Monday.

Goolee’s Grille will offer a free cup of coffee with each breakfast. More than 16 restaurants will host live music and offer all-day happy hour, while several local merchants will offer 10 percent discounts all day. Participating retailers to date include Carlton’s, Sassy Chic, Gidgets Gadgets, Extended Play, The Spice & Tea Exchange and Snyder’s Candy. Patrons who visit a participating merchant will receive a raffle ticket for a gift basket drawing with gift cards from all the Meterless Monday celebration merchants.

Live music will include more than two dozen musicians at one or more venues beginning at 1 p.m. Participants include Rigby’s, Dogfish Head, Cuvée Ray, Purple Parrot, Conch Island, Arena’s Deli, Top of The Pines, Café Azafran, Steamin’ Blues Crab House, Nicola’s on the Avenue, Blackwall Hitch, Cooter Brown’s, the Pond, Rehoboth Ale House, Mariachi, Shorebreak Lodge, and Zogg’s Raw Bar & Grill. For more information about them and the music schedule, go to the Rehoboth Locals Monday Facebook page.

Business representatives have agreed to refer to the off-season as locals season, in recognition of the fact that locals are the foundation of downtown Rehoboth Beach. They also will select one day a week to offer a 10 percent discount for locals who purchase a $15 locals season card. Cardholders can enjoy using the card on different days at different downtown businesses, and for each purchase, they will receive a raffle ticket for entry into a monthly drawing. Raffles and future downtown events during locals season will be funded by discount card sales.

For details on downtown Rehoboth Beach happenings, go to www.downtownrb.com.