July 2010
June 2010
GREATER DOVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
550 CENTRAL AVENUE
DOVER, NH 03820
(603) 742-2218
For Immediate Release — May 25, 2010
2010 Cochecho Arts Festival Lineup Announced
DOVER, NH— The 24th season of the Cochecho Arts Festival opens at 11:00am on Sunday, July 4th, 2010 at the Rotary Arts Pavilion in Henry Law Park with a celebration of the Fourth of July. This year, the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with the Dover Recreation Department to present a full day of family entertainment, including the City's annual fireworks display. The day will begin with an authentic-costumed historic re-enactment of the Declaration of Independence on the steps of City Hall, followed by a Patriotic-themed Children's performance by local storyteller, puppeteer and musician Marcus Gale at the Rotary Arts Pavilion beginning at 1:00pm. Following the Children's Show will be a Gundalow Race on the Cochecho River. Families may purchase small wooden Gundalows and participate in the race, with prizes being awarded to the owners of the winning Gundalows. The proceeds from this event will benefit the Historic Gundalow, which will be on site throughout the day, affording people a chance to step aboard and learn about the role that the Gundalow played in Dover Mills commerce during the 1800's. As the Gundlaow race concludes, there will be a series of musical performances at the Pavilion, featuring Mike Morris at 3:00, followed by the Dan Walker Band at 4:15pm, and the day's headline performance by Livingston Taylor beginning at 7:00pm, and concluding with the City fireworks display at 9:15. Throughout the day, there will also be a variety of additional events, displays, vendors and demonstrations in Henry Law Park, including a kayaking exhibition, a firefighter's Touch-A-Truck Exhibit, food and refreshments.
The Festival's Friday Night Concert Series presents local and regional music performed by artists like Livingston Taylor, the Boston Horns and the Jumbo Circus Peanuts. Following the July 4th season opener, the Friday night series continues with:
- New Legacy Swing Band, July 9th, presented by Federal Savings Bank
- The Boston Horns, July 16th, presented by D.F. Richard Energy
- Amy Petty, July 23rd, presented by Wentworth-Douglass Hospital
- The Cassavettes, July 30th
- Sneeky Pete, August 6th
- Jumbo Circus Peanuts, August 13th
This year's Friday Night Concerts will also feature local artisans displaying their work on the Festival grounds. Additionally, opening and closing Friday nights will feature food vendors along Henry Law Avenue.
The Tuesday Children's Series has grown dramatically in recent years, and these popular family events now average about 500-600 attendees per week. The Rotary Arts Pavilion is located in Henry Law Park, and is footsteps away from the Children's Museum of New Hampshire, the City's Indoor Swimming Pool, and the playground and grassy riverside expanse of the Park itself. There are also several family-friendly restaurants and retail shops in the immediate vicinity - including the Noggin Factory Toy Store, Smiley's, La Festa and Harvey's Bakery – and collectively, all of this makes for an extremely enjoyable and fun-filled day that takes place in a very cozy, yet highly visible area of the downtown. Each week, the Children's Series features a different performance, including music, dancing, puppeteers, jugglers, magicians, unicyclists and theatrical performances listed below:
- The Little Red Wagon presents “Jack and the Beanstalk”, July 6th
- Magician BJ Hickman, July 13th , Presented by Profile Bank
- Sammie Haynes, July 20th
- Jody Gourlay, July 27th
- Todd Wellington, August 3rd
- Susie Burke, August 10th
The Rotary Arts Pavilion is also home to the popular Shark in the Park Summer lunch time concert series featuring many of the areas most popular rock bands. The Shark in the Park series is designed to give downtown residents and employees a chance to get outside during the summer months to enjoy the concerts and the beautiful surroundings of the Henry Law Park. The Thursday noon “Shark in the Park” Luncheon Series will begin on July 8th at Henry Law Park with Big John and the Twins and continues with:
- Rosie, July 15th
- The Digbees, July 22nd
- Monkey Bar, July 29th
- Truffle, August 8th
- The Jen Thayer Band, August 12th
The Wednesday Market Series is an entirely new Festival component being offered for the first time this year between 3:30pm and 6:00pm every Wednesday from July 7th through August 8th, and is the only segment of the Cochecho Arts Festival that is not held at the Rotary Arts Pavilion in Henry Law Park. The Market Series will consist primarily of “unplugged” acoustic music, and the setting will be the newly relocated Farmer's Market situated directly in front of the Chamber Visitor Center at 550 Central Avenue. The Farmer's Market is presented by the Seacoast Growers Association, with all of the produce, herbs, meats and poultry, cheeses, baked goods and other items being locally grown, produced and harvested. Other nearby points of interest are: Simply Green, the Re-Store where salvaged construction materials are sold to benefit Habitat for Humanity; Dover Cyclery; Garrison Hill Florists; and the Dover Natural Marketplace.
Visit cochechoartsfestival.org for more information on the season's schedule with photos of the performers and links to their websites, a history of the Festival, directions to Henry Law Park, news articles, information on how to get involved, and much more.
Festival goers are encouraged to show their support for the Festival by purchasing a Festival button for $10. This commemorative button features a unique Festival logo for 2010 and includes numerous discounts and free benefits from supporting businesses. Additionally this year, button holders will be entered into a drawing for a 2 for 1 chance to win a 37” Samsung HD Television from WOKQ. One TV will be given away at the intermission of the Livingston Taylor show on the 4th of July and the second will be given away at the intermission of the closing night show on August 13th.
Buttons and official Cochecho Arts Festival programs will be available the end of June at the Chamber Visitor's Center, as well as at all Festival events. The program also will be available through state and local visitor centers and various Dover downtown merchants.
The Cochecho Arts Festival is a summer-long series of music and entertainment that is 100% admission free for the entire community, and operated using sponsorship funds from local businesses. The Festival draws tens of thousands of attendees annually to a diverse array of over 25 outdoor events and performances. The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce's Festival Committee has been producing the event for the past 24 years.
The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit association of businesses, professionals, individuals, and organizations working together to advance the economic well-being of its members and the community. For details on Chamber membership, a schedule of activities, and information on other programs, please call the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce at 603-742-2218; write to 550 Central Avenue, Dover, NH, 03820; or visit www.dovernh.org.
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