Home Free Museum Day 2007 2007 Schedule New for 2007 The Brig Niagara About the Erie Philharmonic Erie Maritime Museum The 1812 Overture Shuttle Service Map & Directions 3rd Annual Erie's Heritage Festival presented by the Erie County Historical Society WQLN, the Erie Philharmonic and the Erie Area Convention & Visitors Bureau THE LAST "BLAST" OF SUMMER! Erie, PA (April 30 2007) -- Erie's Heritage Festival - known locally as "The Last Blast of Summer" – returns again as the Lake Erie Region's popular community enrichment event. Erie's Heritage Festival is a day-long performance venue of Americana and World music performed by musicians from the Erie and Southern Ontario regions. The event concludes with a summer Pops performance by the Erie Philharmonic. The finale of the Pops concert is a dramatic presentation of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and John Philip Sousa's The Stars and Stripes Forever – complete with cannon fire, church bells, and fireworks. In addition to the bayside music festival, Erie's Heritage Festival is a showcase for interactive activities where families can experience living history through the cultural arts found around the Great Lakes. For 2007, Erie's Heritage Festival will feature: French Indian War, Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War military re-enactors The military re-enactors operate the 12 period cannons which are fired at regular intervals throughout the day and during the 1812 Overture. The re-enactors set up ‘camp' and are available for muster for all visitors beginning at 2pm. The Pennsylvania Army National Guard's Battery C, 1st Battalion, 107th Field Artillery The 1st Battalion, 107th Field Artillery unit dates back to President Abraham Lincoln's "Call To Arms" near the beginning of the U.S. Civil War. The 107th will bring three M109A6 Paladin, a 155mm self-propelled howitzer. The Paladin is currently the most technologically advanced artillery delivery system in the world. The Erie County Historical Society's Underground Railroad interactive classroom The Erie County Historical Society has developed an exhibit called Journey to Jerusalem, documenting Erie's significant role as a terminal on the Underground Railroad. This exhibit has landed Erie on the national Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Journey to Jerusalem will come alive this year during Erie's Heritage Festival as an interactive outreach program produced by the Harry T. Burleigh Society and the Erie County Historical Society. Erie Maritime Museum Maritime Heritage Tent Sail making, knot-tying, boat-building demonstrations will be presented by Erie Maritime Museum & Bayfront Center for Maritime Studies. The Erie Art Museum Art Heritage Tent This world & maritime artists' marketplace is presented by Erie Art Museum Folk Arts Program The Erie's Heritage Festival Third Annual Free Museum Day All Erie County museums and cultural venues will be open free to the public. These venues include: the Erie Art Museum, the Erie Zoo, the Erie Maritime Museum, and all museums operated by the Erie County Historical Society. Off-Shore Fireworks At this year's festival, fireworks will be fired off a barge 750' behind the stage on Presque Isle Bay. Fireworks will be visible from as far away as Summit Township. Erie's Heritage Festival is a joint venture between the Erie County Historical Society, the Erie Philharmonic, the Erie Maritime Museum, the Erie Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and WQLN.