Detroit's hit summertime festival to sizzle with DSO performance, tall ship
and 50th Annual Target Fireworks
DETROIT, May 13 -- Details for the 2008 GM River Days,
last year's summer success, were announced today at Rivard Plaza. Organized
by the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, The Parade Company and General
Motors, the festival will kick off Friday, June 20 and culminate on Monday,
June 23 with the 50th Annual Target Fireworks. GM River Days will once
again take over the Detroit International Riverfront on Friday from 11 a.m.
- 11 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. and 10 - 9 p.m. on Sunday and
Monday.
"GM River Days is a perfect way for us to demonstrate and celebrate our
commitment to this great city and the transformation of our spectacular
riverfront," said Matt Cullen, General Manager, Economic Development and
Enterprise Services, General Motors.
Free to the public, GM River Days will feature family-friendly
entertainment, including last year's signature event, the DTE Energy Parade
of Lights, anticipated to become the country's largest parade of lights
with 50 boats expected to light up the Detroit River. Other returning
favorites include the GM Cool Events, Discovery Zone, Ultimate Air Dogs,
Pooch-a-Palooza Pet Walk, carnival rides, jet-ski demos, delicious food and
incredible live music performed on six different stages, including another
must-see performance by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on the Bank of
America National Stage.
GM River Days is also making a larger splash on the Detroit River this
year with the addition of a historical tall ship: The Highlander Sea. This
amazing 154-foot schooner will dock at Rivard Plaza during the festival and
allow visitors to explore the ship with free educational tours. Also making
first-time appearances are the Detroit River Cruise, featuring up to 100
boats, and APBA Gold Cup Race exhibitions on the river.
"Last year's festival allowed hundreds of thousands of people to
experience our beautiful new riverfront for the first time," said Faye
Alexander Nelson, President & CEO of the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy.
"We look forward to many more people discovering Detroit's newest jewel as
they take part in all the activities, sights and sounds at GM River Days."
On land, a new 5K Saturn Fun Run, presented by Health Alliance Plan,
and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame interactive sports exhibit will have
festival-goers working up a sweat. Bank of America's new exhibit will
feature NASCAR simulators, a show car and more. Local emerging artists will
have the opportunity to display artwork alongside professionals in the
first-ever Art on the River. Tri-Centennial State Park and Harbor will be a
new festival site featuring activities and presentations by Huron-Clinton
Metroparks and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
The 50th Annual Target Fireworks, produced by The Parade Company, will
wrap up GM River Days in grand style on Monday, June 23. The Target
Fireworks is one of the largest fireworks displays in the country and can
be viewed for miles along the Detroit International Riverfront.
"The Parade Company is proud to bring our community the spectacular
50-year tradition of the Target Fireworks as well as continue to produce
new, multi-generational events such as GM River Days," said Joan LeMahieu,
President of The Parade Company.
General Motors is once again the headlining sponsor for River Days.
Additional sponsors include Anheuser-Busch, Bank of America, Blue Cross
Blue Shield of Michigan, Compuware Corporation, Detroit Medical Center,
Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, Detroit Regional Chamber, DTE
Energy, EDS, Great Lakes Beverage, Health Alliance Plan, Michigan Economic
Development Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, Pepsi Bottling Company,
Sani-Vac, Securitas and Sprint.
Detroit RiverFront Conservancy
The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy is a 501 (c) 3 public-private
partnership formed in 2003 to undertake the establishment, improvement,
operation, maintenance, security and programming of the Detroit
International Riverfront, including the creation of a RiverWalk and all of
the parks and green spaces along the Detroit International Riverfront, from
the Ambassador Bridge to the MacArthur Bridge at Belle Isle and beyond. The
Conservancy is funded by private and public grants and contributions. A
$140 million campaign is underway to fund construction, maintenance and
operations of the east RiverWalk project. To date, $93 million has been
raised towards that goal.
The Parade Company
Founded in 1984, The Parade Company is a not-for-profit organization
governed by the Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation whose board of
directors is comprised of key civic and corporate leaders in the greater
Detroit region. The Parade Company is celebrating 82 years of Parade
tradition in Detroit. The mission is to fund, create and execute the best
family events in metro Detroit. The Parade Company staff, the board of
directors and thousands of parade volunteers work year-round to bring a
wide variety of magnificent events to the City of Detroit each year
including the Target Fireworks, GM River Days and America's Thanksgiving
Parade(R).
General Motors
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has
been the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908,
GM today employs about 266,000 people around the world. With global
headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35
countries. In 2007, nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold
globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM
Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling.
GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security
and information services. More information on GM can be found at http://www.gm.com
.
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