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Posted 09-11-2006 RiverFest 2006 RiverFest 2006 RiverFest 2006 RiverFest 2006 in its third year along the Schuylkill River ===================== ================= =============== READING, PA.--Among the many entertainment offerings at RiverFest 2006 will be the Dave Stahl Big Band, playing Saturday night during the three-day festival of food and culture at RiverPlace along the SCHUYLKILL RIVER, Riverfront Drive, September 22, 23 and 24. In a rare Berks County appearance, Stahl’s band will perform a free concert September 23 from 7:30 to 9pm on the Main Stage during the festival and will feature renowned jazz pianist Joel Weiskopf. A sought-after trumpet virtuoso, Stahl frequently showcases his band in York and Carlisle. He also works as a musician in the hit Broadway musical “The Drowsy Chaperone.” Stahl formed his first Pennsylvania big band in 1977, and it has evolved over the years through several editions. The band plays almost exclusively at places in or near Stahl’s home in southeastern Pennsylvania. Frequently, Stahl engages established pros to appear as guests with the band. Stahl’s Big Band and Sacred Orchestra have recorded several CDs on the ABEE Cake label, and they will be for sale during the festival. ====================== ============== ================ A public arts and cultural event in its third year, RiverFest is free and open to the public, and will run from noon to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The event is a partnership between city and county government, businesses and other not-for-profit organizations. It will feature local and regional musicians, actors, ethnic dancers, visual artists and craftsmen, food, a children’s area, a heritage area, an encampment by members of the Lenape Nation (descendants of the native peoples) and activities on the river. Complete details are available on the festival website at www.readingeagle.com/riverfest. Reading Mayor Thomas McMahon will officially kick off the festival Saturday at 11:30 a.m., with a ceremonial ride down the river from the Penn Street Bridge, courtesy of the Reading Fire Department’s LARK, to Kerper’s Landing, near the center of the festival. During McMahon’s ride, the Lenape Nation of American Indians will conduct a drumming and river blessing ceremony. Another artistic feature of RiverFest will be sculptor George Kurjanowicz, who graduated from Reading High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Albright College. Kurjanowicz will provide a participation piece for RiverFest attendees, supplying the tools and safety equipment that will enable them to test their skills with a piece of marble. He also will present stone carving demonstrations and a show-and-tell display. Greg Leavitt, a Boyertown iron sculptor, will install one of his monumental pieces on the festival grounds and install a forge to demonstrate the art of blacksmithing. New this year, will be VanGo! an interactive, mobile art exhibit from the Susquehanna Art Museum in Harrisburg. VanGo’s theme in September will be “Math and Art,” showing math incorporated into artwork. Other artists and performers include: Michelle Wasik, professional mime, who will stroll her art all three days; The Cherry Herring Theater Co., a professional troupe who will do excerpts from their recently produced play “Parallel Lives”; Los Fantasticos, Shadia Belly Dance troupe; the MaluLani Polynesian Dancers; Maria Damore performing Andrew Lloyd Weber songs; a poetry hour by Berks Bards and a youth reader’s theater. The Berks County Idol Contest will again be held for the third year, with preliminaries on Friday, Sept. 22, from 5:30 to 7pm and the finals on Sunday, Sept. 24, from 4:30 to 6pm. The Phil Long Dance Party will be the featured act in the Main Stage on Friday from 7:30 to 9pm. The festival again will include the Beer Garden, with entertainment all three days of the festival. Friday will feature Blues and Dance Night, Saturday is our Oktoberfest and Polish Polka Celebration, and Sunday is Scots/Irish Celtic Pub Day. Half of the Beer Garden proceeds go to the Reading Firefighters’ Museum. The museum will have an antique fire truck on display, so plan to bring your cameras. Among the other many activities for children will be an old-fashioned, horse-drawn carousel originally made in Reading, rock climbing and an activities tent. RiverPlace Development Corporation also will have water activities for children based on the theme of “Will it Float?” RiverPlace and Berks Economic Partnership will be the sponsors of the fireworks, scheduled for Saturday night at 9:15pm, accompanied by a live performance by the RINGGOLD BAND. River activities will include the Rubber Ducky Regatta, sponsored by the March of Dimes on Sunday at 3 p.m., and demonstrations by the Reading Scuba Team throughout the weekend. A Heritage corner, located under the Pavilion, will feature lore and performances based on the history of the Greater Reading area. The “School of Cooking” tent will feature local chefs and their culinary talents. The famous “Swedish Chef” Chef Tel, will be in attendance at 4 p.m. on Saturday. A bicycle trail ramble will begin at 10am on Saturday, and on Sunday morning at 9am our annual 5K RiverFest Run and Kid’s Fun Run, and also on Sunday at 10:30am an ecumenical church service will be held under the Main Tent. A highlight this year will be a stop of the “Cyworld Create and Connect Mobile Tour.” The Cyworld Create and Connect Mobile Tour is a free, totally interactive experience that encourages self-expression through group activity. Some of the featured attractions within the Tour’s Creation Zone include: Cyworld Studio, a professional-grade photo studio using “green screen” technology to transform participants and their friends into digital animated portraits of themselves, becoming part of the Cyworld environment; Cytones, a music station to create a personalized music clip which can be used on a mobile phone, computer or music player; a collaborative visual art project which develops over the course of the event; and an activity table where guests can customize and decorate free accessories, all with compliments of Cyworld. RiverFest opens Friday, September 22, with a special edition of the DID MidDay Café, sponsored by the City of Reading, on the Main Stage from 11:30 to 2 p.m. It will feature the Voice of the Diva: Kimberly Killen Sheffy with Vuja De, the “Beautiful Buildings of Downtown Reading” award ceremony, complimentary make-overs and chair massages. Among the sponsors of this event are Wachovia Bank, Turner Construction, Reading Eagle Company, WEEU 830 AM Stereo, Met-Ed, the Pa. Council on the Arts, Berks Arts Council, Leesport Financial Corp., City of Reading, County of Berks, UGI, Sovereign Bank and the IBEW 743. For more information contact: Cindy Kauffman, Co-Chair RiverFest at 610-413-8520. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Connie Leinbach, Executive Director Berks Arts Council-Berks Jazz Fest < Cleinbach@berksjazzfest.com > Office located in the GoggleWorks, 201 Washington St., Reading. Fifth floor. Mailing address: P. O. Box 854, Reading, PA 19603 (610) 898-1930 (610) 898-1932 fax Websites: www.berksarts.org; www.berksjazzfest.com; www.berksmoviemadness.com

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