POPPIN’ BIG BAND CELEBRATION

Date: July 4, 2011
Contact: Shera Cohen, [phone]

SPRINGFIELD, MA - An evening of music and dance in salute to Benny Goodman's concert at Springfield Armory in 1943 will take place with two free music concerts and a dance show on Saturday, July 9, 2011. Revisiting the site of that WWII event, the concert will be held at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site. All activities are free and open to the public.

The Memories Big Band Sound kick off the celebration from 6pm to 8pm with the familiar music of Glenn Miller, the Dorsey Brothers, the Andrew Sisters, and of course, Benny Goodman.

The USO Retro Show will be performed by two dance troupes as Jitterbugs, of Chicopee, and Small Planet Dancers, of Springfield, take the stage at 8pm with a look back at the 70th anniversary of USO. The dancers will be dressed in WWII uniforms. Jitterbugs will also offer free Swing Dance lessons to the audience from 5pm to 6pm.

Topping off the night's entertainment is the United States Northeast Navy Pops Band from 8:30pm to 10pm, playing the Top 10 music hits over the past three decades. The lead sponsor for the Navy Band concert is People's United Bank.

Picnicking is encouraged. There is plenty of free parking, handicap parking, and indoor rest room facilities. The rain site is STCC Scibelli Hall. Visitors may choose to stay for the entire evening, or come for any of the events. The park Visitor Center and Museum will be open during all event hours.

Sponsors are the Springfield Armory NHS, Springfield Technical Community College, and In the Spotlight. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Springfield Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the MA Cultural Council, a state agency.

Springfield Armory National Historic Site commemorates and preserves the site of our Nation's first armory, established in 1794. Managed together with the Commonwealth of MA, Springfield Technical Community College and the National Park Service, the site holds many layers of history within its buildings and grounds. The site of the repulse of Shays' Rebellion, 1787; production of the nation's first interchangeable parts; and home of the world's largest historic American military firearms collection invites our visitors to share its history and beauty. As a unit of the National Park Service, the Visitor Center, Museum, buildings and grounds are open daily, 9am-5pm except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. Admission is free. The contact telephone number is 413-734-8551. Our website is www.nps.gov/spar.

- NPS -