PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 15, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- On Saturday, August 26, and Sunday, August 27, from noon to 8 p.m., the customs and culture of Africa will be celebrated on Philadelphia's waterfront at the African American Cultural Extravaganza. This FREE festival, presented by the African Heritage Center, will take place at the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, Columbus Boulevard at Chestnut Street.
Hosted by The African Heritage Center, the African American Cultural Extravaganza is part of the 2006 PECO Multicultural series at Penn's Landing. Entertainment, including crafts, food, music, poetry, and dancing, will be integrated throughout the day. PECO presents a series of ten different Multicultural festivals throughout the summer season. Independence Blue Cross is the presenting sponsor of the 2006 Summer program at Penn's Landing.
"We're especially delighted this year to honor and observe the legendary sounds of Gamble and Huff as PIR celebrates 35 years of making music with a message," stated Barbara Daniel Cox, President of The African Heritage Center and producer of the Cultural Extravaganza for the past ten years.
Saturday, August 26 will feature The Sound of Philadelphia in recognition of Philadelphia International Record's 35th anniversary. Philadelphia International Records (PIR) is the home of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, of the legendary Gamble and Huff fame -- the heart and soul of PIR. The line-up includes everything from gospel, jazz, blues, reggae, and soulful music. Philadelphia International Records artists such as Amazin' Grace, The Intruders and Damon Williams, along with a variety of local drill teams, are the entertainment scheduled for the first day of the festival. The smooth, sultry sounds of Jean Carn will headline Saturday's festivities.
Sunday, August 27 will feature a Celebration of African and Gospel Rhythms, including Spoken Word, poetry and dance. Dance is an important part of this cultural celebration. Dance groups performing in the 2006 Extravaganza include the Universal Creative Art and Dance Ensemble and Kulu Mele African Dance and Drum Ensemble. Gospel recording artists Freedom Choir will also perform on Sunday. Finally, there will be a very special procession of the African nations flags being carried by African youth, presented by the African Cultural Alliance of North America.
The African American marketplace on the Great Plaza will feature traditional African and Caribbean food and handicrafts. There will be a "Children's Village," featuring arts and crafts, magicians, storytellers and face painters. In addition, visitors will be able to learn more about numerous not-for-profit and human service organizations. Also, visitors can wind down at the "Pampering Pavilion," which features massages, aromatherapy, reflexology and reiki.
The African American Cultural Extravaganza is sponsored by the African Cultural Center and PECO. Admission is Free for all PECO Events.
Supporting the region's diversity has been a longstanding goal for PECO, who has sponsored the multicultural festivals at Penn's Landing for the past ten years. "All of us at PECO are thrilled to return again to the waterfront to support the multicultural festivals," said PECO president Denis O'Brien. "Penn's Landing is a Philadelphia summertime tradition, and the PECO Multicultural Series is a fun way for us to celebrate the wide range of diversity represented in our service territory."
PECO is proud to be Philadelphia's hometown energy company and one of the region's most prominent civic supporters. PECO is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and celebrating diversity inside and outside the Company.
Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE:EXC). PECO serves 1.6 million electric and 470,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania. In 2004, the company delivered 37.5 million megawatt-hours (Mwh) of electricity and 87.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas to residential, business and institutional customers. PECO's energy delivery services generated $4.49 billion in revenue for Exelon.
Founded in 1881, PECO is one of the Greater Philadelphia Region's most active corporate citizens, providing leadership, volunteer and financial support to numerous arts and culture, education, environmental, economic development and community programs and organizations.
Public Programming at Penn's Landing would not be possible without our presenting sponsor, Independence Blue Cross, and the continued support of PECO, Commerce Bank, Pennsylvania Lottery and the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, all of whom are committed to serving the Greater Philadelphia community.
Penn's Landing Corporation is the non-profit organization responsible for funding and producing public programming at Penn's Landing. Independence Blue Cross is the presenting sponsor of the 2006 Summer Season at Penn's Landing, featuring free programming every weekend Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. All events produced by Penn's Landing Corporation are FREE to the public and on the Great Plaza, the heart of Penn's Landing, Philadelphia's premier riverfront entertainment destination.
For more information on event locations and event details, please call (215) 922-2FUN or visit www.pennslandingcorp.com. The Penn's Landing Corporation website is a virtual resource for the waterfront which can help visitors park, play and stay all day at Penn's Landing.
The Penn's Landing Corporation logo is available at http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=349