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Saint Paul Announces Grand Excursion 2004 Plans
(Saint Paul, MN) - The final countdown is on to Grand Excursion 2004 and the city of Saint Paul is ready to welcome the throngs of visitors expected to descend on the area to greet the Grand Flotilla and steam locomotive train when it reaches its final port of Saint Paul on July 3. "We will be celebrating the river all year long with a series of activities and events that draw attention to the Mississippi, one of our greatest natural assets," said Brad Toll, Vice President of Tourism of the Saint Paul Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We stand ready to welcome the excursionists who will come in to Saint Paul on the riverboats and invite visitors from throughout the Midwest to participate in a Grand Excursion boat cruise or train ride while they enjoy all the activities planned for the city over the weekend." Although river-related celebrations will take place throughout 2004, the capstone event of Grand Excursion is the Grand Flotilla, a parade of riverboats that will gather in the Quad Cities June 25^th and travel up river to the Twin Cities, arriving July 3^rd at Saint Paul's Lambert's Landing to an elaborate welcome ceremony which officially launches the July 3-5 weekend gala in the Twin Cities. The Grand Flotilla will round the bend into the Port of Saint Paul with all of the pomp and circumstance deserving of this once-in-a-lifetime event. At the top of the bluff, the Milwaukee 261 steam locomotive, with vintage cars in tow, will steam into town thrilling the crowds below with shrill whistles and billows of smoke. Thousands of people will line the bluffs, riverside parks and bridges to cheer the flotilla as it reaches its final Port of Call. Visitors to the Twin Cities will enjoy a unique opportunity to celebrate the Mississippi River here in America's Heartland on America's Birthday. Church bells will ring, and crowds waving flags and hankies will greet the flotilla. The world's largest balloon arch will span the Riverwalk across from the landing and the bridges will be decked with bunting. Daytime fireworks and thousands of steamboat whistles will beckon the passengers ashore. From a stage near Lambert's Landing, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and Saint Paul Mayor Randy Kelly will host a bevy of live entertainment and commentary on the history of Saint Paul, about the Grand Excursions of 1854 and 2004, and about the river. Live audio remotes from the flotilla boats will bring the moment to life, culminating with a musical program composed by Philip Brunelle featuring his internationally acclaimed choir, VocalEssence. The Sounds of Hope international children's choir will sing and Dixieland bands will play lively tunes. The festivities continue with the final leg of the Grand Flotilla riverboat parade to Harriet Island where A Taste of Minnesota will entertain visitors with music, food and fun all weekend. The grand finale to the evening will be a world class fireworks extravaganza. Sunday evening a special "Mingling of Waters Ceremony" led by former Vice President Walter F. Mondale will recount a similar ceremony held in 1854 at St. Anthony Falls, and will feature conductor James Litton directing a program designed by Philip Brunelle, leading a children's choir performing an original score by Native American composer Brent Michael Davids. Grand Excursion flotilla cruises will be offered July 3-5 aboard the flotilla boats in Saint Paul. Authentic steam locomotive excursions aboard the Milwaukee 261 will also run between the two cities as well as on circle tours headed down river. Many museums, attractions and entertainment facilities will host river-themed exhibits and stage special performances, so visitors can enjoy wonderful entertainment, as well as the specific Grand Excursion activities in both cities throughout the weekend. Some of the special entertainment includes performances of Grand Excursion the Musical at the Great American History Theatre, which recounts the 1854 excursion, the University of St. Thomas Rowing Regatta on West River Road, and Lilly Belle, the Audubon Ark, the National Audubon Society's education boat, which will be docked at Fort Snelling. In addition, many museums will host Grand Excursion themed exhibits this summer. The Science Museum of Minnesota will open its Big Backyard Mini-Golf which also explores watersheds, runoff and soil erosion, and also will host a Digital River Basin Exhibit in its Mississippi River Gallery. The Minnesota History Center will present Cloudy Waters, which explores the story of the territory's original American Indian residents while The Mill City Museum will host "fashionable tours" of St. Anthony Falls and a hydropower exhibit. The Mississippi River Visitor's Center at the Science Museum of Minnesota offers a wealth of knowledge about everything along the entire Mississippi, and the Landmark Center will host Views on the Mississippi, a photo exhibit by Henry Bosse, a renowned photographer who documented the changing river during the late 1800s. The Twin Cities will celebrate the renaissance of its Mississippi Riverfront throughout 2004. For a detailed schedule and description of Twin Cities events and activities taking place during the July 3-5 weekend and throughout the year, or to view a selection of contemporary and historic images, please visit www.visitstpaul.com and follow the links to Grand Excursion. Boat and Train Ride Tickets Still Available Grand Excursion flotilla cruises will be offered in the Twin Cities July 3-5 and tickets for many cruises are still available. Passengers can choose from harbor, breakfast, lunch or dinner cruises, race, moonlight or fireworks cruises. Train excursions, powered by the historic Milwaukee 261 steam locomotive are also available between Minneapolis/St. Paul or on round trip rides down river. Prices for the trains or boats start at $25. For a complete selection of cruises or to purchase tickets visit www.grandexcursion.com or call 651-224-9409 or 1-866-GEX-2004.