Buzzfest
N. Queen Street Lancaster PA
May 26
It’s back! Buzzfest, Lancaster’s annual downtown concert event, is set to take place Saturday, May 26 from 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. Hosted by 105.7 the X, the day-long concert will feature a sizzling line-up of local, regional, and national acts.

Held along North Queen Street in Lancaster, the event will boast the music of The Martini Bros., Negative Space, Poptart Monkeys, Dead Leaves (formerly Bead), Weapons for Peace, Next of Kin, 30 West, and national recording act, The Clarks.
In addition to the music, Buzzfest will also include skateboarding and freestyle biking expos as well as a variety of vendors. This year’s Buzzfest will be held to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Camp Can Do.

Buzzfest 2001 will take place in Lancaster Square on May 26 from 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. For more information, call 898-8425.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Hersheypark Arena
May 30 – June 3
Being called “hilarious and heart-stopping,” the 131st Edition of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is making its return to Hersheypark Arena from May 30 to June 3.

Although the Circus will once again be led by Master of Ceremonies Johnathan Lee Iverson — named one of Barbara Walters’ Ten Most Fascinating People in 1999 — this year’s edition is slated to feature a number of new additions, including “more animals and aerialists, clowns and contortionists, dancers and daredevils” than ever before. Perhaps most notable among the new additions is the comedy team of Bello and Bo, a living cartoon with the highest crew cut in the world and a four-and-a-half ton elephant, respectively. As a duo, the two accomplish a number of feats, from Bello’s motorcycle drive over a 40-foot highwire to Bo’s performance on the drums, trumpet, and harmonica.

Also new this season is the Max-Air Blizzard Battalion, a blend of extreme sports and classic Circus, as a team of seven world champion skiers, snowboarders, and trampolinists performing acts — with and without animals — on skis, rollerblades, snowboards, unicycles, swings, and more.

The 131st Edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will also boast three show-stopping production numbers featuring all of the more than 100 performers and animals, the first time ever for the Circus.

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be at the Hersheypark Arena from May 30 to June 3. For tickets and information, call the Arena Box Office at 534-3911 or Ticketmaster at 260-2000 or visit ringling.com.

Concert: America
Whitaker Center, Harrisburg
June 5
In 1972, the band struck gold with their number one single, “A Horse With No Name.” Since then, the years have taken America around the globe, selling millions of records, and earning them a number of honors, including the Best New Artist Grammy.

Formed in London in 1969 by three sons of U.S. Air Force officers — Dan Peek, Gerry Beckley, and Dewey Bunnell — America was a staying force in the ’70s and ’80s, earning gold and platinum honors for six of their dozen releases. Upon Peek’s departure from the band in 1977, Beckley and Bunnell continued playing as a duo and have since released a number of albums of their trademark harmonies — including the Sir George Martin (of Beatles fame) produced Silent Letter in 1979 and 1982’s A View from the Ground, which spawned the Top 10 hit “You Can Do Magic” — and continued to tour successfully, performing upwards of 100 shows a year for the past 20 years.

In 1998, Beckley and Bunnell released Human Nature. The Premium Gold Collection, a 20-track compilation of the band’s greatest hits — including, among others, “Ventura Highway” and “Sister Golden Hair” — was released last month.
America, with opening act Grey Eye Glances, will be at Whitaker Center on June 5 at 8:30 p.m. For tickets and information, call 214-ARTS. To learn more about the band, visit venturahighway.com.

1st Annual Beach Bash
Strawberry Square, Harrisburg
June 8
Yearning for a trip to the beach? Then look no further than Strawberry Square! On June 8, the Allied Arts Fund will host its 1st Annual Beach Bash, an arts fundraiser with the perfect summer theme. The evening event will feature “the best in local food, music, dance and entertainment” in the Strawberry Square Atrium in Harrisburg.

Held to benefit the Fund’s 2001 United Campaign for the Arts of Central Pennsylvania, the Bash “will be a fun and interactive social event that breaks away from the traditional fundraising gala,” said event Chair and Allied Arts Fund Board Chair-Elect, David B. Skerpon, Senior Vice President for Commerce Bank. “As the name implies, our “Beach Bash” will be more of a block party for the arts — an informal and thoroughly enjoyable event where food, fun and festivities are the main attraction.”

The Allied Arts Fund 1st Annual Beach Bash will take place in the Strawberry Square Atrium on June 8 from 8 p.m. – 12 a.m. Tickets for the event are $30 and can be purchased by calling the Allied Arts Fund at 233-1694.

For more information, call Allied Arts at 233-1694.

Central PA Food Bank’s Soup 
and a Bowl Luncheon
Radisson Penn Harris, Camp Hill
June 8
The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is once again hosting its annual Soup and A Bowl luncheon. For the eighth year, the event will combine the talent of local artisans with the taste of a light luncheon; all attendees receive a handmade, keepsake pottery bowl and a light lunch of soup, bread, beverage, and dessert.

Held June 8, proceeds from the event will go directly to the Food Bank, enabling the organization to distribute food and services to thousands of people in the region. The Soup and A Bowl luncheon draws approximately 300 patrons.

The 8th Annual Soup and A Bowl will take place June 8 at the Radisson Penn Harris in Camp Hill from 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Tickets for the event are $20 and can be purchased by calling the Food Bank at 564-1700.

Black Eagle Jazz Band
Mt. Gretna Playhouse
June 8-10
Mt. Gretna is kicking off the 2001 summer season for Gretna Music in style with a weekend of performances by the New Black Eagle Jazz Band. With a repertoire of over 600 songs, the Black Eagles have been wowing audiences for 29 years. A blend of their own compositions and the works of such jazz legends as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, and Fats Waller, the Black Eagles have taken their music across North America and Europe. This season marks the 25th year the band has performed at Mt. Gretna.

Opening weekend marks a string of activities featuring the Black Eagles. The band will perform at the Mt. Gretna Playhouse on both Friday, June 8 and Saturday, June 9 at 8 p.m. The June 9th performance will be preceded by an Anniversary Wine Tasting event with sommelier Greg Moore at 5 p.m. The band will lead a New Orleans style jazz worship service at the Playhouse at 11 a.m. with Rev. William Cluley officiating. Tickets for the two evening performances are $15, $20, and $25; tickets for the wine tasting are $30 per person and $55 per couple. Seating at the Sunday service is open with a pay-what-you-can policy; all donations will help support Gretna Music’s discounted ticket prices for students and children.