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Liberty Arena to host Summer Beach Party

For many people in the area, a day spent at the beach is the ultimate way to unwind. The only problem is that beaches aren’t exactly easy to come by in landlocked Central Pennsylvania.

But that’s nothing 50 tons of sand and some inflatable palm trees can’t fix.

From 1 to 9 p.m. June 1, the Liberty Arena will be transforming its parking lot into a coastal oasis to host its first annual Summer Beach Party. The event will feature a day of live music, drinks, games and attractions for all ages.

“We are super excited. We are hoping to make this a yearly event,” said Sarah Andreychik, Liberty Group marketing manager. “We wanted to make this an event for anyone to come to — adults, families, kids — so, there is something for everyone!”

When the Summer Beach Party kicks off 1 p.m., KISS-FM’s Gary Chrisman will be broadcasting his radio show live from the arena, and the first of two cornhole tournaments will begin (the second tournament is scheduled for 5 p.m.). An hour later, the Bloomsburg-based band WonderChunk will take the stage from 2 to 4 p.m.

“WonderChunk is a really lively rock band and they have a great following,” said Andreychik, mentioning that the group recently played a gig at Taming of the Brew. “We are looking forward to hosting them.”

After WonderChunk’s set ends, two different Community Performance Groups from the Uptown Music Collective (Sonic Wall Party and the 3rd Street Blues Band) are scheduled to perform from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. As a bonus for UMC, all proceeds from the event’s $5 entrance fee for those aged 21 and up will go directly back to the non-profit school of music.

“What better way is there to start the summer than listening to Uptown Music Collective, who everyone is familiar with, and two other great bands?,” asked Liberty Group CEO Dan Klingerman. “The fact that we are going to be raising a little bit of money for them is great as well. If 1,000 people come through the gate, that’s $5,000 that goes to (Uptown Music Collective).”

After UMC exits the stage, the well-known local rock group Clyde Frog will close the event out with a performance scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. With many of the band’s members now living outside of the area, it’s rare when music fans get to see Clyde Frog perform these days. But, knowing how big of a following the group has locally, those at the Liberty Arena wanted to make sure the band made an appearance at the Summer Beach Party. That’s been easier said than done, however.

“It was very hard to get Clyde Frog to this event. We had to basically agree to fly all of the members in,” Klingerman said. “As I’m sure you can imagine, it was fairly costly to bring them back home. It was important for us, though.”

Andreychik added that there is a “cool tie-in” between Clyde Frog and Uptown Music Collective, as several of the band’s members are UMC alumni.

“It will be kind of like a homecoming, if you will,” she said. “They have branched out to Nashville and New York City, and they only come back to the area a few times a year. We are just thankful that they decided to come to our event.

“When we were first putting this event together, we knew that live music is what really brings people together,” added Andreychik. “That is what brings people and that is what keeps them there. We wanted to get some bands that have great local ties and a great local following.”

Along with the live music and cornhole tournaments, the Summer Beach Party will also see alcoholic beverages served in a fenced-in area outside. Other events and activities include a longest drive and closest-to-the-pin challenge on the golf simulator, long toss contest, KanJam, spikeball and washers.

For children, the Summer Beach Party will feature two huge inflatables on the Liberty Arena turf, and a balloon artist and face painter onsite. There will also be a fastest-pitch contest, home run derby and soccer shooting, among other contests. The first 200 kids in attendance will receive a free 30-minute arcade card for the Liberty Arena’s Kaos Fun Zone.

“We are hoping the games help with the beach vibe,” Andreychik said. “We are also bringing in some sand and we will have inflatable palm trees and kiddie pools, and lots of other beachy elements.”

Since the Liberty Arena has partnered with the city to bring this event to Williamsport, Klingerman said that the Parking Authority will be allowing free parking throughout downtown Williamsport on June 1. The city will also be closing off Hepburn St. between Third and Fourth streets, just outside of the arena.

“We would never have been able to do this if it wasn’t for the support of the Mayor and his administration,” said Klingerman. “It has just been a collaborative effort in helping with barricades, and little things like garbage cans, bleachers, stages and closing off of the street. That is something that can’t be accomplished unless it is a community effort.

“From a synergistic standpoint, we believe that our activity is going to bring 3,000 to 5,000 people to the downtown business district,” added Klingerman. “This isn’t just about the Liberty Arena, this is about downtown Williamsport. We are hoping that people enjoy the entire day, walking around the streets and going to the different shops and establishments.”

Saying that the Liberty Group has 365 days a year to focus on its own best interest, Klingerman added that, “This will be a day where we will focus on the entire community and have a little fun.”

“We also want to get people from outside the area to come out and see what they are missing,” he said.

For more information on the Summer Beach Party or to register for the cornhole tournaments, call 570-980-9963.

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