It's not every day you're invited to a party in a cemetery, but Fete en Noir is no ordinary gathering. Part picnic, part concert and entirely for a good cause, this annual tradition turns Mount Bethel Cemetery into one of Columbia's liveliest spots for an evening.

The seventh Fete en Noir will be held on Friday, Sept. 12, at Mount Bethel Cemetery, 700 Locust St., Columbia. Entrance to the grounds will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the event will run from 6 to 9 p.m. Reserved seating is available through Sunday, Aug. 31.

The bring-your-own-picnic party will feature outdoor seating throughout the cemetery, which is the final resting place of many prominent people in Columbia's history. Guests are encouraged to dress in black, and supporters of the cemetery are encouraged to create a celebratory atmosphere by inviting friends to share seating at a table, said Kathy Hohenadel, chair of the Mount Bethel Cemetery board.

During the evening, Fever Pitch will provide live music.

"Our musical group is a bit larger than it has been in previous years," Hohenadel explained. "Fever Pitch is a five-piece group, which includes vocals. They're going to start with quiet music while people enjoy their picnics, and, as the evening progresses, they'll move into dance-type music. It should be very festive."

Vocalist Bailey Fulginiti will entertain while the band performs selections ranging from jazz and light pop to dance music. Guests are welcome to enjoy the music as a backdrop to the evening's festivities and are invited to dance if the spirit moves them, Hohenadel shared.

Proceeds from Fete en Noir are used for maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery. Hohenadel noted that mowing the grass costs thousands of dollars.

"There's a lot of trimming around headstones, which is labor intensive and costly," she remarked.

Friends of Mount Bethel, a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 2017 as a fundraising arm of Mount Bethel Cemetery. The organization supports the mission of Mount Bethel Cemetery by organizing events that serve the dual purposes of promoting awareness of the cemetery and raising funds to maintain the grounds. The cemetery dates to the early 1700s and was incorporated in the mid-1800s.

Fete en Noir is made possible through the sponsorship of the Foresters of America 235, the Columbia-Middletown Elks Lodge 1074, the Chickies Rock Moose Lodge 307, Nikolaus & Hohenadel, the Columbia American Legion Post 372, the Columbia Fraternal Association, the Columbia Lions Club and Musser Supply Inc.

Hohenadel noted that the event has grown each year, with many people returning annually along with first-time visitors.

"Anyone who comes to Fete en Noir can expect a good time for a good cause," she said. "Bring your family. Bring your friends. Create your own little party within a party."

In the event of rain, Fete en Noir will be moved to an indoor location.

To reserve space at the Fete, call Friends of Mount Bethel Cemetery at 717-681-6768 or email the organization at friendsofmtbethel@gmail.com.