Stroudfest ‘08 Celebrates Community Spirit

Stroudfest is an annual celebration of the community spirit in and around Stroudsburg, PA. This year’s Stroudfest will be held Saturday, August 30 from 11 am to 6 pm on Main Street in Stroudsburg.

The festival will include something for everyone. Start the day with a 5k Race in the morning, or sit back and enjoy the eclectic mix of music and dance at one of four live music stages. Over 100 vendors and specialty shops in the Main Street area will be on hand with a variety of arts, crafts and fun items for the whole family. Bring the kids along to enjoy face painting, roaming entertainers and the feeling of “community” that only Stroudfest can give. And when all the fun wears you down, relax and enjoy a fantastic meal at any of the dozens of food vendors and top-notch restaurants that downtown Stroudsburg has to offer.

Be sure to end this incredible day of festivities at the Trout party at the historic Sherman Theater, located at 524 Main Street. Artist-designed five-foot-tall Trout (when they’re that tall, they get a capital “T”) will be scattered around Main Street to raise awareness about the importance of the Brodhead Watershed to our area. Locate all 15 Trout and receive a prize at the party at the end of the day. Free desserts and music will be followed by a live auction of these 15 fabulous five-foot Trout. Come bid or watch those who do.

Throughout the day of Stroudfest there will be a wide array of amazing live performers on four stages around town, including:

Main Stage Located in Mattioli Circle. Performers will include Ansel Matthews Duo, Nancy and Spencer Reed, Awry, Cabinet, Five Percent, and Jonah Smith.

Second Stage Located at Brite cleaners on the 800 block of Main Street. Performers will include Soul Q, Steve McDaniel, Bill Rooth, Tom Graham, Pocono Duo, Jazz Juice.

Third Stage Located on the 500 block of Main Street. She Screams Scandal, Stasis, Mark Williams Band, Stealing Jane and Slightly Askew will perform.

Fourth Stage Located on the 600 block of Main Street. Great entertainment for families: Mr. gray with “Songs for Kids”, Nector Castro, plus DJ music, Funtime Entertainment Karaoke with Barry Possinger, and J & N Entertainment with Natalie Schultz.

Additional Roaming Entertainment Lost Ramblers, Beledi Dance Theatre under the direction of Diana Shahein will perform Egyptian folkloric and belly dances.

Sponsors of Stroudfest include Borough of Stroudsburg, Daybreak Kiwanis, George TV, L.T. Verrastro, Lite 93.5 WSBG, Monroe County Commissioners, Monroe County Transit Authority, Orobo Design, Pocono Arts Council, Pocono Medical Center, Pocono Mountain Vacation Bureau, Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce, Sherman Theater, Stroud Township, Stroudsburg Area School District, WBRE, WNEP TV and WYOU.

Stroudfest ‘08 is presented by Jacob Stroud Corporation, an organization dedicated to downtown Stroudsburg’s revitalization. Its mission is to improve the downtown image by enhancing its physical appearance, building consensus between organizations and the community, promoting downtown’s unique characteristics and restructuring and diversifying Stroudsburg’s economic base.

Stroudfest is what the Poconos are all about. Arts, music, food and fun; and best of all…admission and parking are free. Bring the whole family and enjoy all that is Stroudfest ‘08.