BUFFALO PARTICIPATES IN LOCAL LEGACIES PROJECT TO MARK LIBRARY OF CONGRESS BICENTENNIAL
Allentown Village Society, Inc., producers of Allentown Art Festival, to be documented and preserved for future generations by U.S. Library of Congress.
January 10, 2000
Contact: Peter K. Cutler (716) 851-4841

BUFFALO (1/10/00) - Mayor Anthony M. Masiello and representatives from Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan's office today announced that the Allentown Art Festival will represent the city of Buffalo in the National Local Legacies project of the Library of Congress Bicentennial celebration. Senator Moynihan nominated the Allentown Art Festival as one of New York State's official Local Legacies.

The Local Legacies project is designed to document and pay tribute to the nation's rich cultural heritage. The Library of Congress is fostering community projects to ensure that future generations will have access to important cultural "snapshots" of American tradition, folklore and everyday life.

"The Allentown Art Festival has been a fixture on the city's cultural landscape for over forty years," stated Mayor Masiello. "It is fitting that such a tremendous arts festival that has contributed significantly to our entire city and region should be recognized by the Library of Congress. Thanks to the key support of Senator Moynihan, this local legacy will demonstrate to future generations of Americans the depth and diversity of our city's cultural landscape."

In its 43rd year, the Allentown Art Festival has grown into one of the country's largest and most respected outdoor art and craft show. The festival is held every year on the second full weekend in June in the streets of what has now become the Allentown Historic Preservation District.

The Mayor and James Kane of Senator Moynihan's local office welcomed representatives from the Allentown Village Society to City Hall to review the final submission for this honor.