AMERICAN MUSICFEST 2008 TO FEATURE OVER 180 HOURS OF FREE LIVE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT OVER THREE DAYS; MAJOR FIREWORKS DISPLAYS SET FOR FRIDAY, JULY 4 AND SUNDAY, JULY 6
Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed today invited area residents and visitors to the City of Harrisburg’s 2008 American MusicFest Independence Weekend Celebration, which promises to be the most incredible music-oriented event of the summer. There will be three days of free live musical, theatrical, children’s and creative performances on six stages throughout Riverfront Park, as well as Harrisburg Senators baseball games, martial arts and volleyball tournaments on City Island, festival amusements, foods, international crafts and fireworks displays. Attendance at the festival and all events are free.
The Mayor said that the American MusicFest is the largest Fourth of July commemoration in Central Pennsylvania and that it takes place from this Friday, July 4th through Sunday, July 6th. The American MusicFest includes over 180 hours of continuous entertainment presented by over 100 classical and popular musicians, singers, dancers, songwriters, drummers and storytellers. Events will occur on six different performance stages, with over 100 food vendors, exhibits and other attractions all available in Riverfront Park.
Reed said the weekend festivities include several new additions this year. New this year will be a showcase of new and emerging local, regional and national talent on July 4th from 12:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. On July 5th, a new event – the "Capital City Clash" – will pit six top rock bands against each other for three top prizes in the American MusicFest battle of the bands competition. New on City Island will be additional amusement rides for teenagers and adults situated in the 19th Hole area near the popular Water Golf miniature golf course. Also new on City Island is the first USA Amateur Boxing Event which will be held on the evening of July 5th.
Reed said the City’s gala fireworks display, which traditionally ends the Festival, has been set for 9:05 p.m. on Sunday, July 6th. Portions of City Island will be closed to the public to make room for the extensive fireworks show. The region’s largest holiday fireworks display will be launched immediately after the Mayor’s holiday address. The display will be accompanied by a soundtrack broadcast throughout Riverfront Park.
Fireworks will also be launched on July 4th at 9:05 p.m. and will be accompanied by a specially-recorded soundtrack broadcast throughout Riverfront Park. On July 5th, there will also be a special fireworks display accompanying the ending of Tsychovsky’s 1812 Overture performed by the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra between 9:05 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., which will be fired from behind the stage in South Riverfront Park.
The Mayor said new and returning performance areas include the headlining Comcast Star Stage, the Sundance Vacation Stage in the Children’s Village, the Coca-Cola Community Stage, the Patriot-News Market Street Stage, the International Bazaar and World Stage, and the Citizens Bank Foundation Stage.
Highlighted artists include the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra; "Whole Wheat Bread"; Fallou Dieng; AZUCAR; "The Family Stone Project"; Jose Conde y Ola Fresca; Meshach; Shafaatullah Khan; "The Balkanics"; Bob Barry; the "God’s Army of Tenacity Fellowship Choir"; "The Scott White Family"; "The Jackson Southernairs"; "National Beat"; The Stars of Beatlemania featuring Alan LeBoeuf; and Deni Bonet, among many others.
In addition to musical, dance and spoken word performances, the festival features over 40 food and refreshment vendors conveniently located in three main food court areas, and the popular Sundance Vacation Stage in the Children’s Village, where games, activities, puppet, musical and other theatrical performances take place.
Reed said the Festival hours this year are July 4th through 6th from Noon until 10:00 p.m. The festival will be held rain or shine and with cooperative weather, attendance is expected to exceed 200,000, Reed said.. All performances are open to the public with festival-style ground seating, available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The public may bring their own folding chairs and blankets to enjoy the shows if they wish.
Mayor Reed reminds motorists that normal traffic flow along North and South Front Street will be interrupted prior to and during American MusicFest 2008 from Forster to Vine Streets. North Front Street will close completely to vehicular traffic at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 3rd from Forster to Walnut Streets, to allow for set-up of festival vendors and festival operation. This section of North Front Street will remain closed until 7:00 a.m. on July 7th. The Western lane of North and South Front Street will also be closed to traffic from Walnut to Vine Streets during this same period to allow for vendor, performer and sponsor parking.
The Mayor said parking on City Island and in some downtown garages will be offered at nominal prices, with plenty of free on-street parking available throughout the downtown area on the weekend.
Reed said the American MusicFest is planned, produced and sponsored by the City of Harrisburg with the generous support of dozens of co-sponsors. Providing support this year are AAA Specialty Contractors; Advanced Communications; Arthritis Foundation; Bath Savers Inc.; BELCO Community Credit Union; Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region; Capitol Blue Cross; Citadel Broadcasting: 105.7 The X, Mix 106.7, Red 102.3; Citizens Bank Foundation; Coca Cola; Comcast; Crowne Plaza; Dad’s Pet Food; Dauphin County Juvenile Probation; FastSigns; FOX 43; GEICO; Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District; Harrisburg Senators; Hilton Harrisburg; Humana MARKETPOINT; Kibble Select; Mid-Atlantic Waterproofing; Owens Corning; The Patriot News; Renewal By Andersen; Sprint/Nextel; Sundance Vacations; and Vacation Village.
For a complete listing of American MusicFest performances and times, please call the City Department of Parks and Recreation at (717) 255-3020 or visit the official city events website at www.harrisburgevents.com.
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