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Philadelphia, USA. April 11, 2005.
Come Memorial Weekend, Philadelphia will turn its
historic area over to story tellers.
Once Upon a Nation, a summer-long
event, will bring history alive with stories told
by actors portraying Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross, black
nationalist and entrepreneur James Forten and others.
Once Upon a Nation is a multiyear, $10 million project
paid for by the state, Lincoln Financial Group and
the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp.
The project was developed by Historic Philadelphia
Inc., which is led by Executive Director Amy Needle,
in partnership with Independence National Historical
Park, the Fairmount Park Commission, GPTMC, the
state and city.
The historic area will have 14 storyteller benches,
each with a theme. Locations will include the Betsy
Ross House, Carpenters Hall, National Museum of
American Jewish History and the Independence Living
History Center.
The stories sound juicy: one will
center around a "top-secret packet of papers"
that Franklin on his death bed handed to Thomas
Jefferson. The contents have never been recovered.
In Christ Church Burial Ground -- where Franklin
ended up, shortly after handing out the top-secret
packet -- an actor portraying author Edgar Allan
Poe will tell chilling tales.
Most daytime events will be free. Events will last
through Labor Day weekend and annually for foreseeable
summers.
Adventure convention
Adventure Sports Travel Expo is laying the groundwork
for its November 2006 show at the Pennsylvania Convention
Center. The event, which is expected to have at
least 400 exhibitors, is timed to capitalize on
fall sporting activities.
Philadelphia-based show director Bob Ingram said
in a note to potential exhibitors that he expects
some of the show to take place outside the convention
center. Races and events will feature adventure
cycling, kayaking, running, orienteering, skating
and other sports. It will also screen adventure
films.
Up to 50,000 attendees are expected. The show will
coincide with the Philadelphia Marathon, which attracts
8,000 runners each year
Peter Van Allen can be reached at
pvanallen@bizjournals.com or 215-238-5145
Source: Philadelphia Business Journal
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