Canada Day International Announces Its First Cultural Festival in NYC

Saturday June 29 will be an unforgettable free celebration of Canada's best entertainment, food and personalities in New York City. For the first time, Canada Day International, the organizers behind the hugely successfulCanada Day in London, are producing Canada Day in New York, a free cultural, sport and music festival in Central Park.

With support from Presenting Sponsor BlackBerry, the festival promises to celebrate all things Canadian in the heart of New York City. The daytime festivities will take place at the Naumberg Bandshell in Central Park with highlights including photo opportunities with members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, a food festival featuring top Canadian chefs and an action packed charitable street hockey tournament with NHL Player and Alumni appearances.

A free Canada Day Concert will take place in the evening at Rumsey Playfield as part of SummerStage Concert Series presented by AT&T.

Award winning Canadian bands Brasstrounaut, Spirit of the West and Joel Plaskett are the first confirmed artists. The special guest headliner will be announced on May 22, 2013.

"The stage is set in New York's Central Park for a wonderful grand-scale celebration of Canada," says New York's Consul General of Canada, John F. Prato. "Introducing our country's innovative artists, chefs, winemakers, and more to New Yorkers underlines not only the excellence of Canadian exports across the spectrum but also the special nature of the relationship between New York and Canada. This event celebrates an important date in Canada's history, and we are very pleased to mark the occasion in Central Park, one of this city's jewels, with our friends from across the tri-state region."

In 1867, Canada became a kingdom in its own right. Outdoor parades, festivals, barbeques, air shows, fireworks, concerts and special ceremonies for new citizens unite the country in celebration. With more than 300,000 Canadians residing in New York, this event is set to become one of largest celebrations of Canada Day outside of Canada.

"We are committed to promoting Canada and its vibrant culture, food, tourism, music, business, and technology on a global stage and adding New York as a second city for our festival presents a natural choice", says Chad Molleken, Executive Director of Canada Day International."Canada Day London has attracted more than 350,000 visitors to date and continues growing. We bring together families with kids, students, hockey fans and music lovers from all backgrounds and nationalities to enjoy an entertainment packed day and create a great platform for our sponsors to connect with the public. Come and meet the Mounties, cheer on a hockey game, feast during the first Great Canadian Picnic or just come and relax in Central Park, we are set to bring a little bit of Canada for everyone!"

This festival would not be possible without the generous sponsor support from BlackBerry, Porter Airlines, Rainmaker Global Business Development, Thomson Reuters, TD Bank, RBC Capital Markets and CIBC and partnerships with City Parks Foundation, SummerStage: Presented by AT&T, theCanadian Association of New York and the endorsement of the Consulate General of Canada in New York.

For more information about Canada Day and to keep up to date with exciting announcements, please visit www.canadadayinternational.com. You can also find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Tweet us with hashtag #CanadaDayNewYork.

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