The free family fun will be out of this world as Caroline Summerfest presents an outer space theme for this year’s event, which will take place Friday, August 19 from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, August 20 from noon to 9 p.m. The rain date for Saturday only is Sunday, August 21st.
Caroline Summerfest is the traditional end of the summer celebration for area families. The free festival features three stages of regional and local entertainment, a Friday pedestrian parade, Saturday fireworks show, strolling performers, free KidZart! activities and food and gaming vendors, benefiting local non-profits. Free parking and shuttle bus transportation is available from the Health and Public Services Building off 6th Street (across from Fire Hall) on both days.
Grab the family, and, of course, your tricorder, and take the transporter to historic downtown Denton for fun activities, fabulous food, and perhaps an Ewok sighting or two. Caroline Summerfest 2011highlights include:
•Musical performances on three stages include Mike Hines and the Look, Tom Boyton and the Remnants, local favorite, the Ashley Mitchell Band, as well as Naked Blue, New and Used Bluegrass, the Comfort Zone, and a not-to-miss performance by the U.S. Navy Cruisers.
•Car show and cruize-in on Friday and Saturday. Sponsored by the Preston Automotive Group, the Friday evening Cruize-In and Saturday judged Car Show provides fun for the whole family.
•Pedestrian Parade Odyssey. The parade steps off at Third and Market streets at 7 p.m. on Friday.
•Fireworks display. Under the direction of Fred Hughes, Jr., the Chesapeake Community Band will bring the arts to the fireworks with a Star Wars medley, the cannon fire to the 1812 Overture and plenty of patriotic Souza march favorites. Fireworks launch from the bottom of Market Street at 9 p.m.
•KidZart! 2011 Space Invaders! Ten arts and crafts projects yours free for the making. Create a Martian-helmet, space sword, planet mobile, galactic paint splatter art and much more. KidZart! is produced by Caroline County Recreation & Parks with sponsorship support from Provident State Bank, and will be located at the open lot off Market and Third streets under the big tent on Friday and Saturday until 8 p.m.
“Summerfest is like the Fourth of July and a neighborhood block party rolled into one, “ says Sue Simmons, event coordinator and director of Caroline County Recreation & Parks. “It’s a great way for whole families to go somewhere together, have a great time, and, for a nice change, not break the bank doing so. This year’s outer space theme should add to the event’s appeal as well,” she adds.
Lots of free kids events
Unique to Caroline Summerfest is the extensive selection of free kid-friendly activities. Featured entertainers include magicians and street performers such as variety performer Paul Belanger. The kids can also get their own creative juices flowing at KidZart!, as well as Boxtown U.S.A. Here kids create cities, forts, tents, hiding places and adventure with appliance boxes, chalk and plenty of imagination. Volunteers will be on hand to cut the windows door and escape hatches to each child’s specification.
In addition, rides and games, a rock wall, face painting, sand sculpting and other activities will keep the kids busy for hours. Adults won’t be bored either as they will have plenty of free entertainment on three stages to keep them occupied. And, of course, they can also enjoy the variety of festival foods and gaming vendors, benefiting local non-profits.
Caroline Summerfest is a pet-free, wheel-free and alcohol-free event. Park your bicycle, scooters and skateboards on the bike racks located at Third and Gay Street. For more information, call (410) 479-8120 or toll-free (888) SUNFEST (786-3378) or visit www.carolinesummerfest.com.
Caroline Summerfest began in 1989 as a one-night, one-block party celebration for nearly 1,000 cyclists in the inaugural Cycle Across Maryland event. The festival is supported in part by a grant from the Caroline County Council of Arts, the Maryland State Arts Council and the Maryland Tourism Development Board. The Town of Denton and Caroline County Recreation and Parks produce the event with the volunteer support of hundreds of citizens and local non-profit organizations. More than 100 area businesses support the festival through donations and in-kind gifts.