NEWS INFORMATION FROM |
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THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED |
FOR IMMEDIATE USE |
2004 AMERICAN MUSICFEST PROMISES OVER 200 HOURS OF LIVE MUSIC, NEW FEATURES AND REGION’S LARGEST HOLIDAY FIREWORKS DISPLAYHarrisburg, PA—Mayor Stephen R. Reed announced today that the City of Harrisburg’s 2004 American MusicFest Independence Weekend Celebration promises to be the most incredible music oriented event of the summer, with over 120 live musical, theatrical and creative performances on a dozen stages throughout City Island, Riverfront Park and downtown Harrisburg. It will be the largest Fourth of July commemoration in Central Pennsylvania and takes place from Saturday, July 3rd, through Monday, July 5th, from Noon to 10:00 p.m. daily. It will include preview performances at Whitaker Center and the Forum, the Comcast Star Stage, the Citizens Bank Crabfest, the Belco Children’s Village, the Patriot News Market Street Stage, the Hilton Patio Stage, and several smaller and more intimate stages. Also included are the popular Drive-In Movies, the annual Karate and Volleyball tournaments, as well as other events at the Skyline Sports Complex on City Island. This year’s MusicFest includes the relocation and expansion of several key areas and stages; a complete full-color makeover of the Festival Guide; a one-hour MusicFest video schedule; and amazing fireworks every night, with the Grand Finale fireworks set for Monday, July 5, at 9:05 p.m. The Mayor noted that the Comcast Star Stage, last year located at the north end of Riverfront Park, has been moved to the south side of Riverfront Park at Front and Paxton Streets. On Saturday, the site features national recording artists Fountains of Wayne (with their hit single Stacey’s Mom), and opening acts Robbers On High and the Jellybricks. Sunday, the Comcast Star Stage hosts the annual “Gospel At The River” showcase, sponsored by Faulkner Suzuki of Harrisburg, which features popular Gospel acts Pete Einstein, DaySpring Ministries, Jay Cadwell and the Gospel Ambassadors, Aniya, and headliner Vickie Winans. Following the Showcase, the Comcast Star Stage will present the party rock music of Rico and The Ravens, and Pentagon, again sponsored by Faulkner Suzuki of Harrisburg. Monday brings country music sensation Trick Pony and opening act Little Buddy to the Comcast Star Stage. The Trick Pony performance carries an admission fee of $15 per person. Tickets are still available at all TicketMaster outlets, by phone: (717) 260.2000, or online at www.TicketMaster.com at the Festival Information Tent at Front and Walnut Streets. Reed also said that the Citizens Bank CrabFest has been relocated to Riverfront Park, between State and North Streets. The award-winning CrabFest offers a variety of incredible, fresh seafood like Maryland Blue steamed crab, crabcakes and crab soup, along with other picnic style foods. The CrabFest Stage, sponsored by Harrisburg Hyundai, offers a wide-range of entertainment including Chris Schoberg, the Sherri Mullen Trio, the Stan Middletown Band, Dominic Cicco, Full Effect, Entrain and the Martini Brothers. Admission to the Citizens Bank CrabFest is $5 per person, with Citizens Bank ATM cardholders allowed in for FREE from Noon to 3:00 p.m. each day, compliments of Citizens Bank. The American MusicFest prides itself on bringing the gift of music and the arts to young minds with this year’s expanded Belco Children’s Village. Entertainment on the Belco Children’s Village Stage includes children’s musical performer Karl Williams, The Central PA Friends of Jazz, Felicia Hicks, Middle Earth Puppet Theater, Nee Danse Company, Prazon and many more. This year’s American MusicFest also presents a special exhibition performance by the nationally known NIKE Freestylers. The Belco Children’s Village also proudly presents the Hershey’s Art & Literature Tent, offering crafts by Imagine Nations, African Drumming Ngozi, art by Tricia Sheridan, children’s theater by the Popcorn Hat Players and wildlife education with live animals from Rehabitat. Also new to the Belco Children’s Village this year is the MusicFest Giant Paintable Murals, sponsored by Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Blick Art Materials, and illustrated by local artist Michael Moppin. Each of the three hand-drawn black and white murals depict a different Harrisburg scene, and are 6-feet high by 20-feet long. Visitors will also note the amazing NEXTEL American Flag, a giant 30-foot by 40-foot flag hand-painted by Harrisburg school students. The NEXTEL American Flag will be on sneak-peek display at the American MusicFest and is slated to be unveiled on national television at the NEXTEL Cup NASCAR races in the Poconos. Finally, the Belco Children’s Village will again offer the Joy’s Ceramics tent and new selection of children’s festival rides. Belco Community Credit Union proudly sponsors FREE rides for kids, from Noon to 2:00 p.m. every day during MusicFest. The Patriot News Market Street Stage will again host the Central Dauphin Summer Jazz Band, as well as Charles Lee, the Chris Waller Band, Patty Scoboria, and One World Tribe. New country music radio station RED 102.3 FM will present an evening of special performances on Saturday, July 3, showcasing Family Tradition, Lincoln Highway and Rodney Atkins performing his hit country son “Honesty”. On Sunday, July 4th, 105.7 The X will present an evening with the area’s best rock bands, including Herbie, Negative Space, Condition K and the Badlees. The Hilton Patio Stage, sponsored by Faulkner Suzuki of Harrisburg, again becomes a jazz Mecca as the Steve Rudolph Trio welcomes a host of jazz greats, including Marko Marcinko, J.D. Walther and Andy Middletown, Tim Warfield and Daniel Sadownick, and the Jimmy Wood Jazz Quartet. Mayor Reed was happy to note that the Mayor’s Barge Stage will once again feature the classical music of the Harrisburg Symphony, conducted by Stuart Malina, the Harrisburg Youth Symphony, the Harrisburg Opera Association, and a spiritually uplifting presentation by Jerusalem Song. Other smaller stages will present additional artists, with the Walnut Street Stage featuring Runa Pacha, and the Cranberry Alley Stage featuring the eclectic sounds of Kenny Kenny, the Sherri Mullen Trio and Chris Schoberg. New this year are Preview Nights at the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, and the Forum. These nights offer special performances by 4 Way Street and NRBQ on Thursday, July 1st, at Whitaker Center, and Marion Meadows with Phil Perry and Alex Bugnon on Friday, July 2nd, at the Forum. Whitaker Center also presents the incredible accapella sounds of The Sheps on Sunday, July 4th. Tickets for the Forum show are still available at all TicketMaster outlets, by phone: (717) 260.2000, or online at www.TicketMaster.com, Mr. Mikes Records, and at the door, Tickets for the Whitaker Center shows can be purchased at The Box. Once again, the American MusicFest will offer two nights of great, family-oriented movies in the Skyline Sports Complex on City Island. Saturday, July 3rd at 9:00 p.m. Movie guests can spread out on the lawn and enjoy “Daddy Day Care” starring Eddie Murphy. On Sunday July 4th, laugh out loud at the hilarious antics of “Shrek”, starring Michael Myers and an all-star cast. The MusicFest Drive In Movies are presented on a giant LED “drive-in” screen with crisp bright color and theater quality sound. The year’s MusicFest features nightly fireworks, with smaller shows slated for Saturday and Sunday nights, and the Grand Finale fireworks set for Monday, July 5th, beginning at 9:05 p.m. The Grand Finale fireworks show is the largest holiday display outside of New York City and Washington D.C., and the show soundtrack will be simulcast on Cool Pop 106.7 FM. The Mayor said the American MusicFest is planned, produced and sponsored by the City of Harrisburg, but is also made possible by many vital corporate partners, sponsors and volunteers. This year’s sponsors include Advanced Communications, Belco Community Credit Union, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region, Blick Art Supplies, Citadel Communications, Red 102.3, 105.7 The X, Cool Pop 106.7, Citizens Bank, Coca Cola, Comcast Cable, Cumberland Valley Subaru, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Fanelli Window Pros, Fast Signs, Faulkner Suzuki of Harrisburg, Fox 43, Harrisburg Hilton and Towers, Harrisburg Hyundai, HarrisburgPA.com, Hershey Foods, Image Perfections, JB’s Tropical Treats, M&T Bank, Nextel Partners, the Patriot News, Scott’s Grille, Shipley Energy, Smooth Jazz 92.7, T-Mobile and the YMCA. Reed said all of City Island’s attractions and amenities will also be operating throughout the weekend, including the popular “Pride of the Susquehanna” Riverboat, WaterGolf Miniature Golf, City Island Railroad, Cit!sland rentals, RiverSide Village Park, Carousel, horse-drawn carriage rides, batting cages, arcade, marinas, beach house and beach, and more. Reed also noted that many of the city’s attractions will also be operating throughout the extended holiday weekend, including the National Civil War Museum, The Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, and the resident IMAX Theater, the Pennsylvania National Fire Museum, State Museum and more. The Mayor said plenty of free parking is available for MusicFest attendees on downtown streets, with a special event parking fee of $2 per vehicle charged on City Island and at the Locust Street and Market Square Parking Garages. All other city garages will charge their normal hourly and daily rates. Motorists and Front Street businesses and residents are advised that all of Front Street from Walnut to Forster Streets will close to vehicular traffic at Noon on Wednesday, July 2nd, and will remain closed through Tuesday, July 7th, at 7:00 a.m. American MusicFest attendees are also reminded that animals, backpacks, bicycles, skateboards and portable sound systems are prohibited in the festival area throughout Riverfront Park and City Island during the extended holiday weekend. For security purposes, packages and carryalls are subject to search by police. Up to date information and schedules are available by visiting www.AmericanMusicFest.org. XXX |
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