The theme for this year's Alexandria Red Cross Waterfront Festival is Undersea Adventure, and will feature visiting tall ships, musical entertainment, local food vendors, sea hunt games for children and many other family-friendly activities.
The 23rd annual party at Oronoco Bay Park is set for June 18-20, and will honor Dads on Father's Day, Sunday, June 20.
"The Alexandria Red Cross Waterfront Festival is a great value for families wanting to come together and have fun while supporting the community," said Sherry Delaney, Chair of this year's Alexandria Red Cross Waterfront Festival. "With so many activities planned for children and adults, festival-goers are sure to have an enjoyable time with friends and family."
The Festival draws an average of 65,000 to 80,000 patrons from all over the metro region and beyond to participate in the family-focused activities. Volunteers number more than 1,500, many of whom return year after year.
The Festival is the largest outdoor fund-raiser sponsored by a local chapter of the American Red Cross. The event provides an invaluable source of revenue for the Alexandria Chapter, helping to fund community safety education programs and disaster relief efforts.
EACH YEAR THE Alexandria Chapter spends $150,000 preparing to respond to disasters. When Hurricane Isabel toppled trees and the lights went out, the Red Cross was ready to respond. While invisible to the public most of the time, at a moment's notice the Red Cross can be on the scene of a disaster, whether natural or man-made, because generous donors and business partners make this type of readiness possible.
Production of the Waterfront Festival is a costly endeavor and would not be possible without the support of festival sponsors: Washington Area Volkswagen Dealers, Miller Lite, Capital One, Safeway, 94.7 Classic Rock, 105.9 Smooth Jazz, WTOP, Mount Vernon Voice, BriarTek Inc., Alexander Y. Thomas and Reed Smith, LLP, Alexandria Hotel Association, Brookfield Homes, McEnearney Associates, Inc., National Association of Chain Drug Stores, SST, and Virginia American Water.
For continuing updates on the festival's musical performers, activities, and participating exhibitors, visit the official web site at www.waterfrontfestival.org or call 703-549-8300.
Waterfront Festival Entertainment
*Friday, June 18
Classic Rock 94.7 The Arrow presents:
6 p.m. — Blue Daze
7:00 p.m. — Cathy Ponton King
9 p.m. — The International Rock Show including Joe Molland of Badfinger; Chris Slade of AC/DC; Greg Douglass of The Steve Miller Band; Mario Capiollina of Huey Lewis and The News; Terry Iious of XYZ and Kacey Cbuero.
*Saturday, June 19
Classic Rock 94.7 The Arrow presents:
Noon — DC Motors
1:30 p.m. — N-Dowed
3:00 p.m. — Lump Dog
5 p.m. — Automatic
6:30 p.m. — Big Brother and The Holding Company
8:30 p.m. — Superstar Voices of Classic Rock including Pete Rivera of Rare Earth; Alex Ligertwood of Santana; Joe Lynn Turner of Rainbow and Deep Purple; Jimi Jamison of Survivor and Dave Jenkins of Pablo Cruise.
*Sunday, June 20
Smooth Jazz 105.9 presents "Jazz in the Park"
11:30 a.m. — Anne Sidley
12:45 p.m. — AJQ
2 p.m. — Indigo
3:30 p.m. — Joyce Cooling Group
5 p.m. — Paul Taylor