Fun-filled Family Films and Fireworks

Organizers of Johnstown’s first Community Event have designed a celebration that is family-oriented with a potential to grow into an annual event.

The fun-filled evening, which will include a full-length film on a giant inflatable screen, entertainment, a celebrity dunking booth, mascots and children’s crafts, is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday at Point Stadium in downtown Johnstown.

Renee Daly, economic development specialist with the city, said the genesis of the event began 11 months ago when she saw an inflatable 32-foot movie screen at a Pennsylvania Downtown Center Conference in Gettysburg and believed the Point Stadium would be an ideal place to offer a film.

“We had the option of getting a 32-foot inflatable screen and decided it would be a good opportunity to build an entire event around the outdoor movie,” Daly said. “We have a 7,500-seat stadium with plenty of room on the field to accommodate a nice crowd.”

The featured film is “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa,” which will be presented at 8:30 p.m.

A fireworks display will be presented immediately following the movie.

Daly said the inaugural event easily could become an annual affair.

“Admission is free, but we are requesting people offer a $1 donation,” Daly said. “Families can be assured that the stadium is a safe environment that allows children the freedom to take part in all aspects of the event without strict adult supervision.”

The stadium’s concession stands will be open to serve goodies to the public.

Daly has twisted the arms of four area “celebrities” to sit in a dunking booth. The list features City Manager Curt Davis; Cliff Kitner, city recreation director; Amy Bradley, communications director, Conemaugh Health System; and Jack Michaels, radio personality for WKYE-FM.

“We also will have a strolling magician and juggler for the children from B. Happy Entertainment, an inflatable giant slide, and lots of children’s crafts and activities,” Daly said.

Also attending will members of Johnstown’s K-9 unit. Strolling the grounds will be familiar mascots from the Johnstown Chiefs and Chuck E. Cheese.

“We also will be conducting two basket raffles and chances to win an autographed Evgeni Malkin jersey,” Daly said. “We are working hard to get a second jersey from another Pittsburgh Penguin star.”

Area Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops will be on hand to supervise a duck pond, the creation of friendship bracelets, jungle masks and book marks.

Volunteers from the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will be doing face painting.

In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to the Cambria County War Memorial Arena, 326 Napoleon St.

By TOM LAVIS
Source: http://www.tribune-democrat.com/features/local_story_154150537.html

Outdoor Movies at Point Stadium

Plenty of serious business will be discussed when the Pennsylvania Downtown Center conference comes to Johnstown in June. But there also will be a juggler, an inflatable slide and outdoor movies on a 32-foot inflatable movie screen.

In conjunction with one of the biggest conferences to hit the city this year, officials are planning an outdoor film and large-scale party at Point Stadium. And the public is invited.

“We realized that Point Stadium would be the perfect venue for a huge community event,” said Renee Daly, city economic-development specialist.

The downtown center gathering is expected to bring about 300 people to Pasquerilla Conference Center on Napoleon Street.

It is an annual meeting of those who are focused on economic revitalization and downtown rejuvenation. Along with Main Street program managers from around the state, the conference includes governmental officials, community planners, engineering and landscape-architecture companies and numerous vendors.

When those attendees arrive June 7, they’ll be treated to a welcome dinner at the train station on Walnut Street. Then they can stroll over to Point Stadium to join local residents for a late-spring celebration.

Planned entertainment, scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., is geared toward families and includes a magician, juggler, dunk tank and a giant slide along with mascots from Chuck E. Cheese and the Johnstown Chiefs. The “main event,” officials said, is an evening outdoor movie on a 32-foot inflatable screen. The crowd can watch the film, which has yet to be selected, from the field or from the stadium’s seats.

“We’re hoping everybody comes out,” Daly said.

Officials also are hoping a fund-raising campaign will cover the event’s costs. Solicitation letters will go out soon.

“We’re contacting businesses and local organizations for sponsorships,” Daly said.

After the June 7 festivities, the conference will get down to business and run through June 10.

A “vendor marketplace” will be set up at the conference center, where all meetings – along with an awards gala – will take place.

Also scheduled is a downtown walking tour and a visit to Johnstown’s Kernville neighborhood, along with “mobile workshops” in Bedford and Ebensburg to view the accomplishments of Main Street programs in those communities.

Ebensburg, where a Main Street program was formed in 1995, will have a chance to show off large-scale streetscape improvements and business development.

“We’re excited to have them coming up here,” said Christine Strugala, Ebensburg’s community development director.

Source: “Family fun at Point planned during state conference” by Mike Faher -The Tribune Democrat. Read full article at: http://www.tribune-democrat.com/local/local_story_049234525.html.