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Weekend AgendaThe Pennsylvania Avenue Weekend Homecoming Festival will feature a variety of events over
the Labor Day weekend –Friday, Saturday, Sunday-- September 3, 4, and 5, 2010. Themed, “CELEBRATE, EDUCATE, PARTICIPATE,” the Homecoming Festival showcases the nationally-famous and locally-important Pennsylvania Avenue history, music, and culture. The main stage
will be at Lafayette and Pennsylvania avenues. Among the weekend activities will be a Friday afternoon press conference at 6 p.m. at Lafayette and Pennsylvania avenues, during which
29 “heritage-signs” will be unveiled and given to the corresponding community agencies along the Pennsylvania Avenue Heritage Trail, and marking tour highlights, such as the home of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the Elks Lodge from the 1900s, and the Lillie Carroll Jackson Museum –named after the “Mother of Freedom.” And 14 huge storyboards with historical
photographs –showing such early events as the Buy Where You Can Work Campaign—also
will be unveiled by local, state and national dignitaries, officially marking the final phase of the nationally-registered Pennsylvania Avenue Heritage Trail. The Trail details are found at PennsylvaniaAvenueBaltimore.com. The Trail ceremony blends into the 1950s/60s WALK THE WALK, TALK THE TALK Fashion Show and 3 hours of entertainment with The Spindles’ 1950s
song and dance show.
The event continues Saturday at noon with the famous Cadillac Parade – begun more than 60 years ago—with a variety of marching bands, “floats,” Arabbers On Parade, a stage coach, and the vintage cars. The parade runs from Fulton Avenue south to Dolphin Street, along Pennsylvania Avenue. Live musical entertainment, reminiscent of the Billie Holliday and Cab Calloway era, follows on stage. Details of the ongoing Poetry in Motion contest –based on Pennsylvania Avenue’s history-- among Baltimore City school children will be announced. The Panama Band performs live after the parade and into the evening.
Sunday will have a Faith-based focus, from 3 to 5 p.m., with area historic places of worship participating and music by the Singing Sensations on the main stage. In 1850, Baltimore held the largest denominational variety of African-American churches in the country, according the New York’s Weekly Anglo-African newspaper.
James W. Hamlin, CEO & President of The Royal TCHC, commenting on the Festival said, “We are incredibly indebted to all of our sponsors, and especially Governor Martin O’Malley and his office –whose support for the Avenue began as Mayor--, as well as Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake, Congressman Elijah Cummings, City Council President Jack Young, and a special thanks to City Councilman Bill Cole who has diligently worked behind the scenes to make this all happen. With our sponsors’ support and legislators’ care for their Avenue communities, the important revitalization work along The Avenue moves forward.”
Governor O’Malley said, “Diversity is our greatest asset. In recognition of historic West-Baltimore’s African-American community and history, this Pennsylvania Avenue event celebrates and bolsters this strength in our great state.”
In endorsing the Avenue’s rebirth, Congressman Elijah Cummings said, “The Pennsylvania Avenue area is and will continue to be an important part of our lives and the lives of future generations. I hope that private citizens, government, businesses, nonprofits, and institutions will do whatever they can to support the rebirth of this valuable historic area.”
Mayor Rawsling-Blake said, “The upcoming 3-day weekend event, ‘Pennsylvania Avenue Weekend Homecoming Festival’ will assist in telling and celebrating the rich history of the area and its institutions.”
City Councilman Jack Young said, “Pennsylvania Avenue has a rich tradition of business and culture. Along with the Pennsylvania Avenue Redevelopment Collaborative, we have created the Pennsylvania Avenue Heritage Trail to recognize the historical significance of this street to the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland.”
City Councilman Bill Cole said, “The recent unveiling of the Billie Holliday statue, the Pennsylvania Avenue Heritage Trail, the Cadillac Parade, and the newly-renovated Druid Hill YMCA herald a renewal of the area, not seen since its former days of glory.”
Event sponsors include Comcast, Verizon, Giant Foods, Hilton Hotels, Visit Baltimore, Wachovia Bank, Afro-American Newspapers / Afro.com, WOLB Power Radio & Magic 95.9 FM Radio, Charm City Circulator, MTA – Maryland, The Baltimore National Heritage Area, The Royal Theater Community Heritage Corporation, Pennsylvania Avenue Redevelopment Collaborative, the Upton Community Association, and others.
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