June 19, 2006

People's Bank Skyblast Fireworks Kick Off With Annual Celebration

BRIDGEPORT, CONN. - People's Bank will kick-off the annual People's Bank Skyblast Fireworks, one of the central events of the city's summer-long Barnum Festival, with a celebration on Friday, June 30 featuring food, music and festivities from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the People's Bank Plaza, 850 Main Street, Bridgeport.

People's Bank is a proud supporter of the Barnum Festival - a 58-year-old tradition in Bridgeport and surrounding areas. The bank has sponsored the festival's fireworks show for the past 14 years.

The celebration, which is free and open to the public, will feature student performances from the Music and Arts Center for Humanity, a parade featuring the Park City Pride Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps, the magic of Amazing Andy, as well as appearances by Bridgeport Mayor John Fabrizi, People's Bank officials, Star 99.9 on-air personality Mike McGowan and the Barnum Festival Ringmaster and Royal family. Hot dogs, soda, ice cream and cotton candy will be sold.

The Bridgeport Fire Department will be on hand to discuss the importance of fireworks safety, and the Bridgeport Police Department will create photo identification cards for children.

This event is a pre-celebration in preparation for the People's Bank Fireworks Skyblast of the Barnum Festival by Bay Fireworks that begin at dusk on Friday at Bridgeport's Seaside Park.

Founded in 1842, People's Bank (peoples.com) is one of Connecticut's largest banks with assets of $11 billion, more than 240 ATMs and 155 branches, 72 of which offer convenient seven-day banking in Super Stop & Shop locations across the state. A diversified financial services company, People's Bank provides consumer, commercial, insurance, brokerage, financial advisory and trust services to personal and business banking customers. For more information about People's, its products and services, please call 800-772-1090, visit peoples.com or any of People's branches.