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
April 23, 2004

2nd ANNUAL PNC SATURDAYS SUMMER CELEBRATIONS ANNOUNCED

Harrisburg, PA—Mayor Stephen R. Reed and officials from the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District Authority (HDIDA) announced today that the 2nd annual PNC Saturdays free summer concert series is slated for center city Harrisburg on Market Square. Joined by many sponsors, volunteers and coordinators of the popular downtown entertainment series, Reed and HDIDA chairman Geoffrey McDowell said the PNC Saturdays events will be held on the following Saturdays: May 8, June 5, July 10 and August 14 from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on each date.

The PNC Saturdays series will feature different themes, family-oriented entertainment, food, arts, crafts and much more. The PNC Saturdays series furthers the growing appeal of Harrisburg’s downtown as a destination for the arts, dining, children’s activities and live entertainment. Reed said the event themes include Rhythm and Blues on Saturday, May 8, featuring Jay & the Techniques: With Jay Proctor; Latin Rhythms on Saturday, June 5 featuring the Edgar Joel Orchestra; Rock and Roll on Saturday, July 10; featuring The Machine: The World’s Greatest Pink Floyd Show and Country on Saturday, August 14 with the entertainment to be announced.

“Mark your calendars. PNC Saturdays is a celebration of music, food and fun for the entire family,” said Mayor Reed. “It will bring high caliber live, themed entertainment downtown and draw thousands of families, music and art fans to Pennsylvania’s Capital City. This is the perfect opportunity for everyone to enjoy a daylong visit to attractions such as the Art Association of Harrisburg, The Susquehanna Art Museum, Whitaker Center, City Island, Senators Baseball, Cow Parade and all of downtown’s many retail and dining offerings. Patrons can enjoy the PNC Saturdays celebration, have a relaxing dinner on Restaurant Row, and even stay overnight,” added the mayor.

Each of the Saturday event dates will feature live music, street performers and hands-on Home Depot Kid’s Workshops. Several non-profit partners, such as the Susquehanna Art Museum and Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts and The Million Dollar Quiz Man, Brad Rutter, will have on-site attractions. They include the Van Go bus, the WOW (Whitaker on Wheels) Van and InQuizitive, the quirky quiz show that tests your IQ. The Art Association of Harrisburg has special engagements, such as juried exhibits, open to the public during series dates.

The PNC Saturdays celebration is produced by the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District Authority (HDIDA), lead title sponsor PNC Bank and supporting stage sponsor, Towne House Apartments & Suites who are joined by a wide array of co-sponsors and presenters from many different downtown businesses, media partners, non-profit arts and cultural agencies and dedicated volunteers. Media sponsors include Clear Channel Television, including WHP-TV Channel 21 and WLYH-UPN Channel 15, and Clear Channel Communications radio stations; The River 97.3 WRVV, WHP 580 Talk Radio, KISS FM, 99.3 BOB 94.9 FM, The Ticket 1460 AM and WLAN 96.9 FM. Other partners and sponsors include West Shore Oil, Blind Man, BRP Entertainment, Harrisburg Magazine, Harrisburg Hilton and Towers, Crowne Plaza Harrisburg, Harrisburg Junior Chamber of Commerce, HYP, Home Depot, Harrisburg Senators Baseball, John Harris, Rick Galiardo, Ray Cunningham, BRP Entertainment, The City of Harrisburg, Tina King, Director of Parks & Recreation and Brad Krow, the official PNC Saturdays artist!

Persons interested in learning more about the PNC Saturdays events should contact HDIDA Special Events Director, Beth Lynn O’Brien, at (717) 236-6172, or visit the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District Authority at www.HarrisburgHello.com.

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