Dauphin County to Host 12th Annual Cultural Fest, featuring Sheila E., in Downtown Harrisburg on Aug. 2
HARRISBURG, PA (July 11, 2019) - Dauphin County Commissioners Jeff Haste, Mike Pries and George P. Hartwick, III will host the county’s 12th Annual Cultural Fest, a free open-air street festival celebrating cultural diversity, from 5 to 10:00 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 2 at the Zembo Shrine Event Complex, 2801 N. 3rd St. in Harrisburg.
Cultural Fest, sponsored by Highmark Blue Shield, will feature an outstanding line-up of live music and entertainment, ethnic foods, crafts, fun and educational family activities and much more.
Local cultural talent, sponsored by Pennsylvania Housing and Finance Agency, will begin at 5:15 p.m. on the main stage with Troupe Hayati. Halo-Halo Youth Dancers will perform at 5:30 p.m. At 5:45 p.m., the Coyle School of Irish Dance will perform. Teen Town will perform at 6 p.m. The Dwennimmen African Dance Company, The Sunshine Dance Club, Tha Maniacz and Harrisburg High School Drumline will also showcase their talent.
The Singer’s Lounge will perform at 7:30 p.m. Airis Smallwood, a dynamic woman with a love for arts and live music, created The Singer’s Lounge as her way of reviving Central Pennsylvania’s enthusiasm for local and independent artists. Today, the Singer’s Lounge is a monthly concert performance event, focused on promoting and supporting the talent of Central Pennsylvania and surrounding states. With a live band and house background vocalists, the Singer’s Lounge provides the type of “indie” art’s atmosphere typically found in larger cities.
Sheila E., a four-time Grammy nominee, will headline this year’s festival on the Renewal by Andersen stage. Starting out, Sheila E. owned the stage as a drummer and percussionist. But her career took an exciting turn when she met Prince backstage after a gig. The singer-songwriter revealed he had been following her career for some time, and the two quickly became friends. Their friendship eventually led to Sheila E. lending her vocals on a Prince song, a move that prompted her to launch her own solo singing career. Having been influenced by so many different genres of music over the years, as a singer, Sheila E. nails a variety of styles. From Latin, to jazz, to R&B, Sheila pours her heart and soul into every song. For three decades, Sheila has had an evolutionary music career. Her sound changes with the era and her life. For example, Sheila’s first singles differ in sound from the Sheila E. of today. You can hear her maturation, as a person and an artist, as her career has grown. Her performance will begin at 9 p.m.
The Dauphin County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services and the Cultural Celebration Task Force will host Children’s Corner with this year’s theme of “Paws Against Drugs.” Children’s Corner will feature crafts, games and activities that focus on our four-legged-friends. The ever-popular face painters will be onsite and a photo area with animal props will be set up for children to have their photo taken. UPMC Pinnacle has sponsored this year’s Children’s Corner. Each child will also receive a snack and drink. This area will be open from 5 to 8 p.m.
In case of inclement weather, the event will be held at the Zembo Shrine at 2801 N. 3rd St. Harrisburg, PA 17110. Please follow the Dauphin County Parks & Recreation Facebook page for updates.
The 2019 Cultural Fest is sponsored by Highmark Blue Shield, M&T Bank, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, PNC Bank, Renewal by Andersen, The Hershey Company, UPMC Pinnacle, Capital BlueCross, Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority, Planet Fitness, DKP Law, CBS 21, The CW Central PA, My TV Central PA, D&S Tree Service, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Visit Hershey & Harrisburg, Fun 101, 98.9 WQLV, abc27, Showcase Now, Urban Connection, Lamar, WXPN, WITF, The Burg, Latino Connection, Kegerreis, Best Western Premier – The Central Hotel and Conference Center, Hotel Indigo, Harrisburg Hilton, Days Inn Harrisburg North, Hampton Inn Suites, Springhill Suites, Crowne Plaza, Blues Society of Central PA, Filson Water, and the Dauphin County Cultural Diversity Task Force Committee.
For more information about Cultural Fest, or other Dauphin County events, please visit www.DauphinCounty.org or call 717-599-5188. Connect with Dauphin County Parks and Recreation at Facebook.com/DauphinCountyParksRecreation and Twitter.com/DauphinParksRec.