SECOND ANNUAL HARRISBURG STREET FESTIVAL TO BE HELD ON JULY 12th FROM NOON TO 6:00 PM IN THE DOWNTOWN
Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed and officials from the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District today invited area residents and visitors to the 2nd Annual Harrisburg Street Festival being held this Saturday, July 12, 2008, from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Walnut Street from N. 4th to Court Streets and on N. 3rd Street from Market to Pine Streets. The event is free to the public and comes on the heels of the three-day American MusicFest this past weekend and all are invited to participate
Reed said this year’s Festival will be the biggest such event in the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District’s history. Musical entertainment will be provided by the Steven Courtney Band along with local sensations Roadworthy, The Mint, and The Trespassengers. Steven Courtney is a six-time winner of the Children’s Music Web Award as well as a 2004 Arpeggio Award winner for his excellent work with children through the arts.
The Mayor said the Festival will also offer the PSECU Kid’s Corridor and the SuperReader Children’s Stage, arts and crafts, face painting, obstacle courses, demonstrations, interactive displays and inflatable attractions. A variety of food vendors will be on hand offering everything from hot dogs to pizza to shrimp on a stick. Sweet treats will include ice cream and fudge. Strawberry Square will also be open and the food court will provide additional dining options.
New to this year’s Festival is the Serving Humanity section which will promote many of the organizations that are committed to helping the local community. Groups on display will be Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Harrisburg Area, the Salvation Army, the ARC of Dauphin and Lebanon Counties, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Jump Street, The Arc, and the Arthritis Foundation, each of whom will have interactive displays to promote the good work that is being done by each organization.
Reed said the Harrisburg Street Festival evolved from a Downtown Improvement District Summer Series which began in 2001 and was held routinely on the first block of N. 2nd Street in the downtown. The summer series showcased cultural acts and attracted children and adults alike. The summer series attracted nearly 60,000 visitors in six years. In 2007, the first annual day-long Harrisburg Street Festival attracted over 10,000 visitors. Attendance at this year’s festival is expected to exceed that of 2007 if the weather is cooperative.
"We are delighted to today announce the second annual Harrisburg Street Festival," said Reed. "This day-long event is free to the public and provides many entertainment opportunities for children and adults alike. We encourage everyone to enjoy the day’s events."
Reed said the Harrisburg Street Festival is produced by the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District in partnership with the Strawberry Square Development Corporation. The event is sponsored by the City of Harrisburg, PSECU, the Harrisburg Parking Authority, SuperReader, FOX 43 News, Triangle Communications, and the Harrisburg Hilton & Towers.
For more information on the event, contact the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District at (717) 236-9762.
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