19 Days to the 15th Annual Spring on Fourth event

15^th Annual “Spring on Fourth! What’s on Third? Street festival and Chili cook off

(Lehigh Valley, PA) The 15^th Annual “Spring on Fourth! What’s on Third? Street Festival and Chili Cook-off will be held on April 24^th 2010 from 11:30 am to 4:00 pm. South Bethlehem’s galleries, shops and stores are once again joining together for an enjoyable afternoon of music, food and fun. This year’s festival will be an extra special celebration with awesome events planned by community leaders throughout South Bethlehem.

Founded 15 years ago to celebrate Bethlehem’s historic, revitalized Southside, “Spring on Fourth! What’s on Third?” is a free, public event that takes place along Third, Fourth and New streets. Highlighting the celebration is the popular chili contest, live entertainment by a variety of performers, fun family activities and more from 12:00 to 4:00. In addition, many of the South Side merchants feature sales and special discounts throughout the afternoon.

Featured “Spring on Fourth! What’s on Third?” events include – A Community dance party on the Greenway, a BMX biking and skateboarding demonstration sponsored by Homebase Skate Shop, The Community Artists of Bethlehem present their 5Alarm Arts Fair at Campus Square, Tina Hemmerly and the Happy Hoopers, strolling performers and as always Clarence the Clown will be strolling through town.

This year’s “Spring on Fourth! What’s on Third?” chili contest, which takes place from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., features 30+ entries ranging from spicy, five-alarm chili to vegetarian versions of the dish.  Patrons are invited to sample the entries, with a block of three tickets – good for three samples – selling for $1 each.  New this year will be a passport ticket system available for pre-purchase; the passports can be purchased at the Banana Factory’s Gift shop, Comfort Suites, Cleo’s and Homebase Skate shop and are $5.00 each for 15 tastings.

The winners of the chili contest will be announced on WDIY 88.1 FM at 4:15 p.m.  Also join WDIY from 4 to 6 pm with a special celebration of community at Godfrey Daniels with a performance by Roman’s Kind of Blue after the Chili Winner Awards ceremony.

Community partner offerings include the Cops 'n' Kids Celebration of Reading at Looper's parking lot and The Banana Factory presents Arts Block Party at the Steelworker's Memorial Park with a Hot Tamale Stage and Arts projects. 

Embassy Bank is the presenting sponsor and WDIY 88.1 FM, Lehigh Valley Community Public Radio, Pulse Weekly and B-104 are the media sponsors. Other sponsors include the Morning Call, Lehigh University, Orasure Technologies, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, Saraceno Design, St. Luke’s Print Shop, U.S. Food Service, the Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission, CAT, Coalition for Appropriate Transportation, Bethlehem Parks and Recreation Department, Downtown Bethlehem Association, and the South Side Film Festival.