New Orleans, LA December 2, 2010 Algiers Economic Development Foundation and The City of New Orleans host music, food and the lighting of the Algiers Bonfire
Algiers Economic Development Foundation (AEDF) has partnered with the City of New Orleans to bring back the annual holiday concert and lighting of the Algiers bonfire. This is the first time since Hurricane Katrina that this seasonal family tradition will return to the banks of the Mississippi River. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, December 4, and will include music from Wanda Rouzan, special guest Glenn David Andrews, The Algiers Brass Band, The Navy Brass Band and Host Norman Robinson, Anchor WDSU, Channel 6 News.
The Bonfire and Concert will be held in conjunction with the 2nd Annual Holidays on the Point, where merchants from the historic Algiers Point neighborhood will be hosting festivities at their various locations from 10:00AM to 4:30PM on the weekends of November 27th and December 4th. The public is encouraged to spend the day shopping at local Algiers businesses and enjoying food and music at local restaurants and bars. AEDF anticipates that its community-based event programs will generate over $200,000 in direct economic impact this year. “This event is about renewing a New Orleans tradition and bringing people to Algiers to shop and spend the day!” said AEDF President Chris Kane.
On the weekend of December 4th, the Bonfire and Concert will close out the Holidays on the Point Festivities. The Bonfire Concert will begin at 5:00PM and will be framed by a backdrop of the skyline of downtown New Orleans and the Mississippi River. The event will include festival style food and beverages sold by local vendors.
In addition, The New Orleans Fire Department will provide a free burn safety demo for guests to view prior to the Bonfire. The safety demo will ignite two home-like structures adjacent to the bonfire. The demo is focused to remind guests how easy a holiday fire can spread. Following the demo, the NOFD will join Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer and Councilmember-at-Large Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson. “This will be the first Bonfire since the storm and it has been a joy to help bring back the tradition of this celebration during the holiday season. It will be a symbol of our community celebrating the strength of our beautiful city and all the hopes we share for the New Year. “ said Councilmember Gisleson Palmer. Councilmember-at-Large Jackie Clarkson said, “I worked with Nicki Bartholomew to start the Bonfire tradition years ago, and this year it came back for the first time since Hurricane Katrina with the hard work of Councilmember Palmer and Chris Kane.”
The Algiers Bonfire Concert is from 5:00PM-8:00PM on Saturday, December 4th, followed by the lighting of the Bonfire at 8:15PM. The Concert and Bonfire are located at The Cultural Village (200 Morgan St) on the Algiers levee adjacent to the Algiers Ferry Terminal. The event is free and open to the public.
This year’s sponsors include First NBC, Holiday Inn New Orleans Westbank, Law Offices of Mitchell & Associates, Bud Light, Camp Dresser and McKee CRS Inc, New Orleans Sheriff Marlin Gusman, Dash Lumber, Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, and The Port of New Orleans. The event is hosted by AEDF, The City of New Orleans, Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer, Councilmember-at-Large Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson and The New Orleans Fire Department.
The mission of AEDF is to help the Algiers community grow and prosper by being a catalyst for economic development that provides for a vibrant business environment.
