Gettysburg College now slated to host 2014 Gettysburg Festival
Gettysburg Festival Inc. affirms its future partnership with Gettysburg College President Janet Morgan Riggs. Photo Credit: Gettysburg College Flickr
By Brendan Raleigh, Web Editor
Gettysburg College has recently been set as the main venue for the 2014 Gettysburg Festival, an annual celebration made up of various musical performances, art galleries and various other attractions. The college will also host the two subsequent festivals in 2015 and 2016.
This agreement was made between Gettysburg Festival, Inc. Executive Director Randy Prasse and Gettysburg College President Janet Morgan Riggs on Monday, Dec. 2.
Attracting an average of 23,000 per year, the Gettysburg Festival will host its seventh annual festival from June 11 to June 15. The college’s Pennsylvania Hall will act as a central hub for the attractions, with many being hosted at or around its general vicinity.
The reasoning behind this change, as well as the decision to shorten the normally ten-day-festival to five days, is to provide a single, more centralized place and timeframe in which performances will be hosted.
According to the festival’s website, it “celebrates American arts, culture and cuisine against the historic backdrop of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania [and] provides access to the arts to inspire, entertain and educate the public.”
“The Gettysburg Fest is an excellent opportunity to showcase the vibrant art scene in Adams County for both community members and visitors,” comments Gettysburg College President Janet Morgan Riggs. “We are pleased to reaffirm our partnership with the Fest and serve as the venue over the next few years.”
A non-profit organization, the Festival is funded almost entirely by donations. This year, three donors have promised a total of $30,000 in matching funds for every donation, meaning a $25 donation will actually raise $50, including the matching funds.
Last year’s festival, which hosted dozens of events at various venues around Gettysburg, including an edible art tour, a concert by country singer Hunter Hayes and a lecture by “Gods and Generals” author Jeff Shaara.
In the past, it has featured famous faces such as James Earl Jones, Bob Newhart, Kevin Eubanks, former White House Chef Walter Scheib and a capella group Straight No Chaser.
