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For Immediate Release
May 30, 2003
PortFest 2003
OAKLAND, Calif, (May 30, 2003) - Ambassadors from the sky will open the Portfest fun June 7 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. as they land on the meadow at Jack London Square after parachuting from more than a mile high. Vintage airplanes and other aerial performers will take part in the daylong event sponsored by the Port of Oakland and Albertsons.
The high voltage aerobatic main event will be centered over the estuary with performances set by Sean Di Rozier’s specially-built competition performance airplane, and John Collver and his SNJ-5 advanced military fighter plane.
The performers and their aircraft will depart from the Oakland International Airport North Field, then head north-west along the 880 Nimitz Freeway, passing abeam the Downtown Oakland business district. They will then turn southbound to enter the performance area in the Estuary. The return flights will follow the same route in reverse to avoid noise sensitive areas. The entire aerial exhibition is scheduled during daytime hours to minimize any possible noise impact on residents living near Oakland International Airport. Procedures are also in place to maximize safety and minimize any impact on scheduled flight operations.
Initially begun in 1935, PortFest has entertained thousands of Bay area residents and also educated them about the Port’s maritime, aviation and commercial real estate divisions.
The soulful Oleta Adams headlines the entertainment, which also includes performances by jazz vocalist Faye Carol, pop fusion singer Natasha Miller, local legend Lenny Williams and the Grammy-nominated Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir.
PortFest will also feature a muscle car exhibit, a free balloons-and-clowns-kids zone, whale boat races, dock and harbor tours, an operating seaport crane and container demonstrations and plenty of food.
PortFest 2003 will benefit: Safe Passages for Youth, the Museum of Children’s Art (MOCHA), Native American Health Center, West Oakland Community Collaborative, Unity Council – Family Literacy Program.
For more information, including questions about location, parking, public transportation and the free bicycle valet, call the PortFest Hotline, 510.627.1111. To report a noise concern, please call (510) 577-4194.
The Port of Oakland is the fourth largest container port in the United States. Established in 1927, the Port overseas more than 19 miles of waterfront, including the retail-office-entertainment district, Jack London Square; more than 900 acres of maritime terminal facilities and Oakland International Airport which served 12.7 million passengers and handled more than 600,000 metric tons of air cargo in 2002.
Contact:
Marilyn Sandifur
Media and Public Relations Manager
(510) 627-1193
msandifur@portoakland.com |
