Harrisburg at 150
Turning 150 is not an everyday feat. So, throughout much of 2010, residents of Pennsylvania’s capital, Harrisburg, celebrate the 150th anniversary of their March 19, 1860, city charter. During the SusqueCentennial celebration, a playful homage to the Susquehanna River that
flows through the city and is engrained
in city history, residents take festivities
down to the very site for which the celebration has been named. It is believed that
as early as 3000 B.C. Native Americans
convened at this riverside region, then
known as Peixtin or Paxtang, which served
as a crucial crossroad for trading. Later
in Harrisburg’s history, the site became
a prominent stopping point along the
Underground Railroad, as escaped slaves
were transported across the Susquehanna
and given food and supplies before resuming their journey north.
The 2010 celebrations have already
kicked off with a public art initiative
called Paint the Town, in which 150
vibrant, permanent and movable
murals (many on fire hydrants) decorate the city, depict historical events
and showcase neighborhood quirks and
charm. Residents head to the riverfront
for multiple festivals, beginning with
the Founder’s Day celebration June 19.
The event, which takes place across
from the John Harris Mansion, features
food, live music, special exhibits and
reenactments that bring back to life
characters such as Abe Lincoln and, of
local interest, the 19th-century politician Simon Cameron.
The waterside fetes continue with
anniversary-themed special performances and fireworks displays. Memorial
Day weekend means ArtsFest with its 275-
plus juried artists and craftspeople as well
as live entertainment and an annual film
festival. Fourth of July weekend brings
the annual, free American MusicFest
(last year’s entertainers ranged from the
Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra to the
pop rock-y Virginia Coalition), and Labor
Day weekend lures visitors to the Kipona
Festival, where events include chili cook-offs, Native American dance shows and
watercentric activities such as the Canoe
Classic Race.
During the summer months, look
out for colorful banners dancing atop
streetlight poles, featuring prominent
landmarks past and present. Landmark
images have been captured through
black-and-white photography, lithographs and color postcards of the period.
Happy anniversary, Harrisburg!
harrisburg150.com
Coup de Gras
Revolutionary Snake Ensemble makes its sixth annual sojourn to New Orleans—just in
time for Mardi Gras. The Crescent® departs New York City Feb. 11, arriving in The Big
Easy in time for “Snakes on a Train” to join the Krewe of Orpheus on the eve of Mardi
Gras. Take this musical ride to the party of the year. revolutionarysnakeensemble.org
