With an emphasis on cultural diversity, Bristol's Arts in the Park Festival will present more than a dozen varied performers on June 20, 2004 at Rockwell Park.

Arts in the Park is an event that looks to promote cultural arts by showcasing local talent and providing a day of fun for families. Many non-profit organizations will participate in the event. The day will include two stages of entertainment, arts projects, fireworks and food vendors.

The Community Stage events scheduled are as follows:
1:00 -1:30 Middle and high school performances
1:45 - 2:15 Bristol Choral Society
2:30 - 3:00 Bristol Theatre Arts
3:15 - 3:45 OM Show numbers
4:00 - 4:30 Philippine Folk Dance Group
4:45 - 5:15 Acoustic Rhythm

The Main Stage events scheduled are as follows:
1:00 -1:35 Bristol String Orchestra (Fiddlin. Around)
1:45 - 3:00 Disney Party Patrol...and Disney Craft Corner 11/2 hours of music and fun
3:00 - 3:45 Just For The Fun of It with Keith Johnson
3:45 - 4:30 River Boat Ramblers
4:30 - 5:00 Sullivan's Karate Demonstration
5:15 -6:00 Joe Firecrow
6:45-7:30 Reunion Jazz Band
8:30- ? 102nd Army National Guard Band and the All City Band
FIREWORKS AT DARK

* 1:00 p.m. Sidewalk Chalk contest:- JACOBS ST. (behind Muzzy Field)
Prizes- 1st, 2nd, 3rd,4th and Best in show. Prizes-gift certificates to Dick Blicks. Winners
announced at evening performances. Winner need not be present to win.
SPACE IS LIMITED - First come-first serve

* Art Projects- Print making, includes .found object. printing and block printing
* Hair braiding with ribbons and face painting
* Handicapped parking available at Jacob St. entrance..... golf cart available

The following groups are participating:

The Philippine Dance Group:
The Philippine dance group will be performing a dance called the tinikling. It involves 2 people hitting bamboo poles on the ground and against each other in coordination with one or more dancers who step over and in-between the poles in a dance. This is said to be an imitation of the tinikling bird in the province of Leyte. I t is also a new form of aerobic exercise that involves spatial awareness, rhythm, foot and leg speed, agility and coordination.

Boulevard Middle School Clarinet and Flute Choirs:
Memorial Boulevard Middle School Clarinet and Flute Choirs will be performing chorales, show tunes, and American Folk Songs. The Clarinet and Flute Choirs are comprised of 6,7, and 8th graders. These groups perform throughout the year for school and community events. In December  they performed for the Festival of Trees, in April they performed for the patients at Sub-Acute Rehab Center, and they have performed throughout the school year for other Bristol schools as well  as for concerts at MBMS.

Acoustic Rhythm:
Acoustic Rhythm comprised of Jon Lewis and Ken Punt, are two Connecticut based performers with an extensive repertoire of rock n’ roll songs from the past. Manned with an acoustic guitar and the percussion, Acoustic Rhythm delivers songs with an honest and enthusiastic tone. They also incorporate into their set list the occasional folk song and a variety of obscure tunes, as well as some originals. From great songwriters like Bob Dylan and the Beatles to Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly, Acoustic Rhythm gives a very entertaining performance with great songs that many people will recognize.
Although Acoustic Rhythm was originally conceived as an acoustic guitar/percussion duo, Jon and Ken often add bass player Kevin Lewis to the lineup when the situation requires it, turning the group into a folk-and-roll band. Acoustic Rhythm can be found playing in local clubs and coffee houses in central Connecticut Memorial Boulevard Middle School Band program.
 
Bristol Theatre Arts:
Bristol Theatre Arts is a local theatre group that has many great performances to their credit .
Annie, The Music Man, The Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof to name a few. They will be
performing some of their best medleys of works from 2:30 .3:00 on the Community Stage.

Bristol Choral Society:
The goal of the Bristol Choral Society is to be the finest choral group possible and to promote and provide musical activities for the cultural advancement of the general public.
The Bristol Choral Society presents the greater Bristol community with a bright, fresh face and voice from our community choral singers! Under the direction of Ken Ferris, a celebrated Bristol icon in the music field, the Bristol Choral Society is growing in size as well as growing in the number and depth of musical presentations. Present membership exceeds 120 performers! Their accompanist is Sally Kish, an additional fine music professional in Bristol.
They have recently returned from a cruise to Bermuda, where they performed on the ship, as well as St. Georges and Hamilton. Future trips are being planned . the Bristol Choral Society is very proud to represent Bristol beyond the scope of our fair city! They will perform at Arts in the Park and will be singing traditional favorites, along with new selections.

The Renaissance Players:
Step back into time as The Renaissance Players take you back to the 16th century. Entertainment throughout the day will include period songs, dances and history of the Elizabethan England. We have heard that with the pageantry of the court there may be Pirates afoot! The Renaissance Players are a 16th century entertainment troupe, located right here in Bristol, CT. They have been entertaining in the New England area for the past 8 years. They have been featured in Diane Smith's book .Absolutely Positively Connecticut and on her television show. The troupe has performed at various Renaissance Faires in Connecticut, Vermont, and Massachusetts. Their venues have included Bristol's Arts In The Park Festival, Lake Compounce Bristol Pride Day, Southington's Heritage Days, Bristol Hospital's Holiday Auxiliary Ball, Prospect, CT Renaissance Faire, St. Michaels Festival in Litchfield. They also perform for local area schools as part of their After School Grant Programs, and have performed at themed weddings and dinners. This year they will be performing for Prospect
United Methodist Church on June 5th for their fundraiser. They are featured performers at The Festival of the Lion in Grafton, MA, August 28 & 29, which is a fundraiser for Lions Club International. They also are headlined at The Family Farm Weekend, October 2 & 3, at Minor.s Farm located on Hill Street in Bristol, CT. The set up includes an authentic Gaming Glen, built and designed by group principle Gary Gladu. Director Luisa Gladu, states that each performance is tailored to the specific venue. We work closely with the planners of each venue and determine the personas we will be. We can perform as Royal members of the court or as Pirates of the Realm. When the group performs in High Court costumes, which are all hand made and designed by the troupe members, we sing, dance and knight children encouraging audience participation along the way. When we're Pirates, we bill ourselves as the unusually kinder, sober pirates, mixing humor with history of the period. The costumes are the most authentic we can create in this century, of course the court costumes are elaborate and always encourage conversation, we have our standard answers which are yes they are a bit warm, the women's gowns vary from 40 to 50 pounds, and the corsets aren't so bad. Luisa & Gary have also brought their miniature pinscher Schatzie into the act. When he is in court costume he is known as Sir Loin of Beef., when he is a salty sea dog he is known as.Plank. When we tell people to walk the plank we literally mean it and we hand over Schatzie in his pirate costume on his lease and they walk him. Luisa.s husband, Gary, designs and sews all of their costumes and the other troupe member, Barbara Schulz, creates hers. The troupe researches the design and construction of the costumes and they try to stay true to the period. The music and dances are also authentic of the period and they perform songs in English, Italian and French. Stop by and visit their tent during the Art's In The Park festival for a unique entertainment experience.
For more information on The Renaissance Players, please call troupe director, Luisa Gladu at  860-582-8383, or email her at TheGladus@comcast.net. You can also visit their website at www.renplayers.bizhosting.com

Riverboat Ramblers:
The Riverboat Ramblers present an engaging mix of New Orleans Jazz, Cajun, Ragtime, Swing, Gospel and Mardi Gras party music. The group is well-known for its aggressive rhythmic style, audience participation and outrageous humor.

Bryan Lizotte Balloon Sculpture Artist:
Bryan Lizotte is an accomplished Balloon Sculpture Artist. He sculpts balloons into over 50 different shapes. In addition to the typical dogs, cats and giraffes, Bryan also sculpts hearts, teddy bears,  bumble bee lovebirds and more.

Yo-Yo's and Beyond by Eric Girardi:
Eric Girardi is a professional yo-yo entertainer, fire/knife juggler and diablo player. He has
performed throughout New England and California.

Stilt Walking by Matt Pipitone:
This young performer has more experience than years. He has performed stilt walking, magic, balloon sculpturing throughout New England and Maryland.

Joseph FireCrow:
Celebrates his Native American ancestry with music. He keeps the Cheyenne ceremonies and traditions alive with his musical talents and flute playing. He shares his music and tribal history through lectures and workshops. He has published several CDs and a statement review identified .Joseph FireCrow is quite simply one of the most gifted players of the Native American flute.

No Left Turn Maze:
People who enjoy puzzles will be challenged by a new attraction at Arts in the Park. Bristol citizens will see its first outdoor .No Left Turn Maze.. Made of yellow caution tape and pinned to the ground by golf tees, this 45. by 45. walk-through labyrinth will be a delight for all ages.
This maze has tow levels of difficulty. At the easy level, children are encouraged to move from the starting point to the ending point without crossing the caution tape. At the more difficult level, adults are told the same with the added provision that they are prohibited from making any left turns while inside the maze. This maze is one example of direction-control mazes which have come into fashion in the last ten years. The maze will be constructed by Robert Such who was inspired by the works of Robert Abbott, Andra Gilbert and Oskar van Deventer.
2003 .

Star Search Winner Chantel Doucette
Bristol's own Chantel Doucette will perform on the Main Stage at the Arts in the Park Festival

Radio Disney Presents:
The Disney Party Patrol
 
Mad Scientist Live Stage show
 Exciting experiments, creating slime,
Magic with cotton candy

Casey R&B Music/Hip Hop dance Team
Casey is a 12 year old who has performed on Nickelodeon, Soul Train and has toured through Japan.

A Walk in the Park:
The Shape Up Bristol 1-2-3 committee invites the community to take a Walk in the Park. during the Arts in the Park Celebration on Sunday, June 20, at 1 p.m. A stretching and warm-up session will  be held prior to members of the Renaissance players leading the group for a walk along one of the many trails around Rockwell Park. Participants should meet by the playground, where they will be given maps of the trails and a bottle of water.
.A Walk in the Park. is just a preview of the many free activities that will be held during the two year Shape Up Bristol project that will officially kick off this fall.
For more information please call Linda Mannarino at 314-2087 or Kit Plourde at 584-6258.