Planning Underway For The 4th Annual Elvis Lives in Hagerstown Music Festival - Event Set for Saturday, September 10, 2005

4th Annual Elvis Lives In Hagerstown is fundraiser for High School for Performing Arts. Annual event is Elvis Music Festival with top-notch Elvis Tribute Artists. Family Event a "Must Do" for Music Lovers and Elvis Fans

Hagerstown, MD (PRWEB) June 29, 2005

Organizers of the "Elvis Lives In Hagerstown" Music Festival say that planning is well under way for the 4th Annual extravaganza. The fundraising tribute festival is set to take place on September 10th in Hagerstown. The Clarion Hotel and Conference Center is the new venue for this year. The evening music festival will include performances by four top Elvis Presley Tribute Artists. Proceeds support the development of the planned Barbara Ingram School for the Performing Arts.

The committee planning the annual event formed a charitable non-profit. Event co-chair Linda Irvin-Craig said, "We formed a 501(c)3 for the ability to collect and distribute donations more efficiently. This fourth annual event builds on the excitement gained in past festivals, and we're pleased to again raise funds for the planned downtown school for performing arts." Linda Irvin-Craig added, "This is the fourth year of bringing this successful fund-raiser to Hagerstown. We're very pleased at the quality of the talent, who provide such a great time for everyone involved."

According to event co-chairman Jay Frantz, "We're excited about being able to move the event indoors. The Clarion Hotel has been great to work with. We won't have any weather challenges, as was a concern in past years. The show will be a lot like a Vegas-style Elvis Concert. Several Elvis fan clubs are aware of this festival, and the chamber office and CVB are handling pre-event ticket sales. We look forward to announcing ticket sales soon."

According to Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau President Tom Riford, "All indications are that this year's festival will be bigger than ever. As the Mid-Atlantic's premier Elvis Tribute music festival, we are raising funds for a wonderful artistic program for the community." Event organizers are in final contract negotiations with the best Elvis Tribute Artists in the United States, and the performers for this year's event are guaranteed to be top-notch

Riford said that several companies and organizations are sponsoring the annual family event, and more are being sought. "The City of Hagerstown, the Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Education, the Clarion Hotel, and the Convention and Visitors Bureau want this fourth annual Elvis Lives festival to be even more successful than ever before." Riford said that there is a renewed interest in the life of "The King of Rock-n-Roll" because of the recent "ELVIS" TV biographical mini-series. Riford said that utilizing The Clarion Hotel for the indoor concert helped the organization save money. "As a non-profit, the organizers for music festival have been very pleased at the willingness of The Clarion to step forward and help plan for a successful event."

The City of Hagerstown, the Washington County Public Schools, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Convention and Visitors Bureau are helping to "produce" the fourth annual Elvis Lives in Hagerstown music festival. Special promotions are happening during the event, including the sale of the official tee-shirt, official poster, and more! According to Jay Frantz, "We'll have posters and tee-shirts, and other Elvis memorabilia. There's new excitement about The King."

Elvis Lives In Hagerstown committee member Donna Long said, "As a fun community event, benefiting the new Barbara Ingram School for Performing Arts, this has become a 'must do' for music lovers." Saturday's music festival tickets are expecting to sell for $25 for VIP seating, and $15 for general admission. Las Vegas-style seating will be set up in The Clarion Hotel's ballroom. The show is expected to begin at 5pm.

Jay Frantz said, "This year's 'Meet The Guys' party will be held on Friday evening at The Clarion, on the night before the festival. The party is set for Friday Sep. 9th from 6pm until 10pm." Frantz said, "This is a great weekend event for September 9th and 10th, and we expect this new format to be successful."

Tickets for the Friday night event are expected to be $15 at the door, $12 in advance.

For more information, call Donna Long at 301-739-2015.

# # #