Pops On the River Returns Tonight

Pops On The River returns to Binghamton tonight (Thursday).  The Binghamton Philharmonic will perform in a concert beginning at 8:P.M. at the Chenango River Promenade just off the Court Street Bridge.  Himnan, Howard and Kattell (H H & K) are the title sponsors for the event.

The concert is really along the river and not on it.  Volunteers from Broome County Habitat for Humanity have been putting the finishing touches on the stage today which is constructed right along the river wall. In past years a floating stage stretched out onto the Chenango River. In the interest of safety for the performers and the lengthy time to construct a floating stage it was decided to have the concert stage right along the shoreline.   Spectators can enjoy the performance from the Court Street Bridge and along the Martin Luther King Promenade.  There is no admission charge.  Vendors will be on hand for food and refreshments.  Court Street is closed from the intersection with Hawley Street over the bridge and to the intersection with Front Street.

The last Pops on the River Concert was in 1994.  The concept for the beginning of Pops On The River came in 1979 from Marc Ferro who worked for WAAL FM at the time.  As the idea developed David Agard who conducted the B.C.Pops and Tom Libous, then with the First City Division of Lincoln First Bank, came aboard to help organize and get the initial performance underwritten in 1980. Pops On The River became an annual summer event until 1994.