Wednesday, June 11, 2008

More info on the Busker's Festival

An Official Mentally Healthy Activity, Busker's Festival

This summer get ready for a large dose of happiness with activities for ‘Warren County, A Mentally Healthy Community’ project. You will start to see this logo used by organizations like a ‘Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval’ to indicate that they endorse and take part in mentally healthy activities.

Friday, June 27, will be the summer kick-off of happiness in downtown Warren with the first Busker’s Festival, Allegheny Regional Theater Experience (ARTE), and Music in the Park.

The streets in downtown Warren will be filled with musicians, singers, jugglers, mimes, bands, dancers, actors, clowns, and happiness. A Busker’s festival is a derivative from centuries ago in European cultures and has transformed into enjoyable street entertainment. At many festivals entertainers perform to make a living or at least augment their income with their music cases open and people pitching in a few dollars as appreciation for their happiness distraction.

Gary Lester, Executive Director of Family Services of Warren County, has attended many of these festivals and felt that Warren County was due for a shot of happiness. Along with attending numerous festivals, Gary has attained an associated educational background at the William Glasser Institute. The project has teamed up the Warren County Summer Music School, Family Services, and Warren Main Street in an effort to focus on mental health. Gary states, “I am firmly convinced that we need to swing the focus away from the ‘mental illness’ model to the ‘mental health’ model. If you are physically unhealthy, you have a pretty good idea what to do, improve diet, exercise, and kick a few bad habits. I don’t think people always know what to do to maintain mental health, which Dr. Glasser defines simply as ‘happiness’. Mentally healthy activities abound in our community and the projects goal is to raise awareness of them and to get as many people involved in them as possible. Music and other performances are a great source of happiness for a great many people whether they are performers or people who come to watch. The Busker’s Festival is designed to get our talented people out there to do what they love to do and so others can enjoy what they do and maybe get involve in more mentally healthy activities themselves.”

The Busker’s Festival will take over the downtown starting at 2:30 pm and will have continuous entertainment until 7:00 pm. Matched up with the afternoon of entertainment will be the evening performance at the Struthers Library Theatre for ARTE and the season kick off of Music in the Park.

All types of performing arts are welcome. Chris Cheronis, Warren Main Street Manager, said, “Registration, performer’s location, and time slots are being coordinated through our office at 310 Second Avenue. You may stop in, call 814-723-1360 or visit our website at www.warrenpamainstreet.org. You must include you name, contact number, name of group, type of performance, number of 30 minute time slots, preferred starting time, and any request for electrical power.”

Gary adds, “Please open your hearts, instrument cases, and pocket books in support”.