None — Ambridge Area Chamber of Commerce will host this year¡¯s highly anticipated 45th Annual Nationality Days on Friday, May 14 through Sunday, May 16, 2010, along the 400 to 800 blocks of Merchant Street,in Ambridge, Pennsylvania.
Festival times are Friday and Saturday 11:30 AM until 10:00 PM and Sunday 11:30 AM until 7:30 PM. The parade will be Saturday, May 15 at 10:00 AM and proceed along Merchant Street from 14th to 4th Street, making its way through the festival.
Nationality Days began in 1965 with a group of local churches, covering two blocks, whose purpose was to draw attention to the diverse ethnic background in the community of Ambridge and to help keep that diversity alive. We are making it our priority to get this festival back to a heritage and ethnic festival in every aspect.
To do this we are focusing not only on the diverse cultures that this started with but the American and local culture of this region, which is a culmination of these past 45 years.
Our organization hosts over 100 vendors who line the heart of Beaver County¡¯s largest business district and welcomes the 40,000 people who attend the historic event each year.
This year¡¯s parade entries will include ethnic and heritage floats as well as various organizations from Beaver County. The Ambridge Area Chamber is always looking for new entries, especially churches and community-based organizations that will continue to build our one-of-a-kind, hometown festival, parade and entertainment.
This year, in conjunction with Police Memorial Week, we will be hosting a Bagpipe Drum Line in our parade and offering local Police Officers from the Beaver County area to walk behind the Drum Line in their dress uniform.
This year, as part of the festival, the Chamber of Commerce will hold a singing contest called ¨DAmbridge Idol,¡¬ on Sunday, May 16, 2010 beginning at 1PM on a second stage. Some of the judges handing out three top prizes including: cash,demo CD recording time at Audio Loft Studios and other prizes, include Dave Grinati, Bill Cameron of 102.5 WDVE, and others.
Another new event at the festival this year will be our ¨DENJOYWINE Wine Tasting, located at the Chamber Building Courtyard. With an admission cost of $5.00 any festival stroller over 21 will be able to sample a variety of wines made locally by amateur wine makers.
Call the Chamber office to pick up a registration form for the parade, Ambridge Idol contest or to enter your homemade wine.
A variety of entertainment this year, including: Ray Ryan New Orleans Band, Ambridge Steel Drums, Dave Grinati Ensemble, Reach for the Stars Dance Studio, River Valley Tang Soo Do Academy, Orkestar Zabava, The Eldorado Band, Celtic Spirit Highland Dancers and Pipers of Pittsburgh, Uptown River and Brass, The Cavaliers, Bollywood Dances by Ruby Jain and students and many others performers.
The entertainment will have a selected time for a stage performance but will also be involved with strolling throughout the festival while playing their music.
For more details and information call the Ambridge Area Chamber of Commerce Office at 724-266-3040 or visitingour website at www.ambridgechamberofcommerce.com.
Due to unforeseeable circumstances, festival events are subject to change.