NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 717.255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
22 December 2003

ALL INVITED TO M&T BANK HARRISBURG NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION IN HISTORIC MARKET SQUARE

Harrisburg, PA—Mayor Stephen R. Reed today invited residents and visitors throughout the region to the M&T Bank Harrisburg New Year’s Eve Celebration in historic Market Square. The free event, which celebrates the end of 2003 and the start of 2004, features live music, food, children’s entertainment and a wide array of other events and activities, all of which conclude at midnight with the descent of a giant illuminated strawberry cow and fireworks high above Market Square.

Reed said the New Year’s Eve Celebration, first begun at his direction in 1988, has become the largest event of its type in the midstate. The alcohol-free, family-style event is free and open to the public, including the patrons of downtown’s many commercial establishments and hotels that are also hosting holiday celebrations.

Activities and music will take place on Market Square, in the atrium of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. City Government Center, and at numerous other downtown locations. “Bring the whole family,” said the Mayor, “as activities are geared to both youngsters and adults.”

Reed said the City of Harrisburg is very excited to be teamed with M&T Bank as the title sponsor for this year’s event. Michael S. Murchie, president of M&T Bank, said New Year’s Eve is always a time of reflection and rededication. “This event is a terrific celebration and an ideal time to reflect on last year’s successes. It is also a time for each of us in this community to look forward and rededicate our time and resources to making this area an even better place to live and work. M&T Bank is honored to make this event possible to bring the community together in celebration.”

The Mayor said featured in this year’s event will be live musical performances by city-based national recording artists Lonnie Gamble and Sound Cheque, and a video year-in-review by WHP TV-21. Children’s entertainment activities will include performances by the popular Popcorn Hat Players, and the hilarious antics of Bard Senseless, Harrisburg’s comic offshoot of the Harrisburg Shakespeare Theater.

Festivities conclude with the Mayor’s countdown to midnight, accompanied by the descent of a 15-foot lighted strawberry cow on the front of the Hilton Hotel and Towers, followed by a gala fireworks display high above Market Square. The Mayor noted that all of the events and activities will go on rain or shine.

Reed said the dropping of a strawberry cow this year, rather than just a strawberry as has been used in previous years, is intended to draw public attention to the upcoming Cow Parade public art fundraising campaign being conducted by the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts.

In addition to the events and activities, Reed noted that many nearby downtown attractions and facilities will also be hosting special New Year’s Eve fetes, including the New Holland Band at the Market Square Presbyterian Church, followed by the new feature ‘Muffins at Midnight’ in the Church’s basement, Pentagon will play at the Harrisburg Hilton Hotel and Towers and the nearby Crowne Plaza Hotel has entertainment as part of their New Year’s Eve package. Also, at the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, the Popcorn Hat Players will present several performances throughout the day as well as continuous showings of featured IMAX films. Advance registrations are required for the hotel packages.

The Mayor said the city, which plans and produces the event, is pleased to be partnered with M&T Bank as the new title sponsor of Harrisburg’s New Year’s Eve Celebration. Portions of the event, including the gala Midnight fireworks display, will be broadcast live by WHP TV-21 and the Clear Channel radio stations of the The River 97.3 FM, KISS 99.3 FM, 580 AM WHP Talk Radio and BOB 94.9 FM. Additional sponsorship or other support has been provided Scott’s Grille, Commerce Capital Markets, Inc., The Williams Capitol Group, L.P., Mesirow Financial, and the Allison-Williams Company.

Reed said Market Square will close at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, December 31, to allow for the construction of staging and other event stands. Traffic will be detoured onto Market, N. Fourth and Walnut Streets through Wednesday afternoon, January 1st. Free parking for the New Year’s Eve Celebration will be provided at the City’s Market Square (N. Second and Chestnut Sts.) and Locust (Third and Locust Sts.) Parking Garages, as well as on City Island. Parking in the Walnut Streets (Third and Walnut Sts.) Parking Garage is exclusively reserved for guests and patrons of the Hilton and the Whitaker Center.

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