WaterFire Sharon Announces Event Dates for 2016
WaterFire Sharon, PA has announced three event dates for 2016: Saturday July 16, August 20, and September 24. This will be the fourth season that “WaterFire Sharon” has been held in Sharon.
“WaterFire Sharon” was introduced during the summer of 2013 in downtown Sharon, with more than 50 braziers placed in the Shenango River and fired with cedar and pine. After a full day of an arts and music festival, the evening activities commence with a ceremonial lighting of the braziers which are tended to and remain burning until midnight. The music festival continues throughout the evening by featuring live entertainment on an indoor stage and several outdoor stages.
“Last year’s ‘WaterFire Sharon’ events drew approximately 60,000 visitors into downtown Sharon” said WaterFire’s Board Chairman, Karen Winner Sed. “In addition to the exposure to such a world class artistic event, there has been economic impact far beyond Sharon. We’re hearing stories of increased business done in shopping, restaurants and hotels during WaterFire weekends throughout the region for the past three years. We know that there is a positive residual effect as well. Visitors return year round to the area, claiming their return is due to having such a positive experience while here for WaterFire. The board and committees are finalizing the details of the three events for this summer and will announce them once completed.”
WaterFire is an artistic endeavor that was created by artist Barnaby Evans in Providence R.I. In the early 1990’s, Evans created an evening event that would bring people into the downtown to see lit braziers in the river. The event continues to be an immersion in the senses as the fires crackle and music plays in the background, the boats carry volunteers and performers along the braziers, and the cedar wood burning fills the air with just the right amount of scent. WaterFire is credited for helping to rebuild Providence into a vibrant downtown today. Their lightings (approx. 24 per year) average 40,000 spectators per event or almost 1 million visitors to WaterFire each season. “Bringing this to Pennsylvania was a major undertaking. It could not happen without the hundreds of volunteers, the financial support of many donors, the Visitors Bureau, the City’s help and cooperation, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, namely the Tourism Office in DCED. ” added Sed. “For decades we’ve asked ourselves what we could do with the river running through downtown Sharon. WaterFire has been one creative and exciting answer. We’re excited to bring it back, knowing how much people are looking forward to it, including the busloads of tourists who already have their plans to attend booked.”
As part of the Community Foundation, all financial contributions to “WaterFire Sharon” are tax deductible. For more information on how to financially support “WaterFire Sharon” or to learn more about the many, and varied Volunteer Opportunities, please contact Karen Anderson, Land Operations Manager of WaterFire, at 724-981-5882 x111.
