Alice Herrick, 21, walks on a tight rope outside of city hall today to promote the 2017 Kipona festival. Photo by Yaasmeen Piper.
Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse predicts a record-breaking Kipona celebration this Labor Day weekend—and not just in terms of attendance.
At the city’s 101st annual Kipona festival, which will be held Sept. 2 to 4 at Riverfront Park and City Island, two tightrope walkers will strut across the Susquehanna in hopes of breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest wire walk in high heels. Stunt artists Alice Herrick, 21, and Rilee Gallagher, 16, both of the Finucular Circus troupe in Philadelphia, will attempt the feat at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2.
Herrick, who was at the Tuesday morning press conference where Papenfuse announced the Kipona schedule, will be wearing 4½ -inch heels when she attempts to break the record. She said she is excited but nervous about executing the stunt.
“If I fall, I hope it goes viral,” Herrick said.
She and other wire walkers will perform additional walks (albeit in slippers, not heels) throughout the day on Saturday.
The tightrope walk is just one high-adrenaline event at this year’s Kipona, which is free and open to the public. On Sunday, the city and PinnacleHealth will erect a free, 28-foot high, 200-foot long zip line on State Street—the first of its kind at a Kipona celebration.
Some perennial favorites will return this year, as well, including the Native American pow-wow, Festival of India, the Dick Reese canoe race and fireworks on City Island at 8:15 p.m. on Sunday. Festival-goers will also be able to cool down at a Midtown Cinema movie tent, enjoy drinks at a beer garden, and view local craft goods at the artists market.
In all, more than 130 food and product vendors, artists and nonprofit organizations will be present at the event, Papenfuse said.
Kipona is presented each year by the City of Harrisburg in partnership with the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau and a number of corporate sponsors.
Sue Kunisky, vice president of the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau, reported that 55,000 people attended last year’s celebration, many of them from outside the city. This year, organizers are preparing for an even higher turnout.
“Kipona is a time to celebrate Harrisburg’s diverse cultures,” Papenfuse said.
Kipona 2017 will take place Saturday, Sept. 2 through Monday, Sept. 4 at Riverfront Park and City Island in Harrisburg. Visit Harrisburgpa.gov/kipona2017 for more information, including an event schedule and parking details.
Author: Lizzy Hardison
