This September 10-12, Hampton, Virginia will welcome an estimated 200,000 festival attendees to the 28th annual Hampton Bay Days, a 2010 Signature Event taking place during Hampton’s 400th Anniversary. The free event, one of the largest family-friendly festivals and largest “Green” events on the entire east coast, will showcase music by national recording artists The Fabulous Thunderbirds, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, and Joe Nichols. Friday, September 10 features Grammy-nominated blues/rock band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds. The group is probably best known for 1986’s “Tuff Enuff”, a Top 10 hit featured in the films Gung Ho and Tough Guys. The Fabulous Thunderbirds have opened shows for The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, and more. The band plays the City Hall Stage at 8:00 p.m. On Saturday, September 11, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic will take to the City Hall Stage beginning at 8:00 p.m. Known as the innovator of “P-Funk”, Clinton is a multi-platinum Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee with over 40 R & B singles under his belt. He has appeared in such films as House Party (1990) and PCU (1994) and worked with such artists as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ice Cube, Prince, Snoop Dogg, Outkast, and more. At 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 12, Joe Nichols lends a bit of country flavor to the City Hall Stage. Nichols has released seven studio albums, spawning 14 Top 40 Singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Charts. He has three Number One singles, including Brokenheartsville, Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off, and most recently, Gimmie That Girl. In addition to all of the great musical entertainment, the 28th annual Hampton Bay Days festival will also include over 75 merchandise and craft vendors. During festival weekend, more than 30 food vendors will also be available throughout the downtown area. Those looking for more conventional dining options can choose one of the many eclectic restaurants that line historic Queens Way. While at Bay Days, don’t forget to educate yourself on the value and importance of the Chesapeake Bay by stopping by the Bay Education and Children’s Area (Friday - Sunday through 6:00 p.m.), located between Eaton and Wine Streets. Featuring over 25 interactive booths, the area is great way to learn about environmentalism, conservationism, clean water, and one of our area’s most important natural resources (and the nation’s largest estuary), the Chesapeake Bay. Families will have the opportunity to discover live animal shows, aquatic art workshops, interactive presentations, and children’s entertainment all focused on having fun with the “Go Green Generation.” The fully interactive Wyland Mobile Learning Center returns to Bay Days for the second consecutive year, helping to educate children on how pollution affects our water. Through a series of exciting activities, visitors can spin the wheel of (mis)fortune to discover the food web, bring rain down over a polluted city to see the impact on a watershed, divert a flowing river to learn about water management, use a computer model to see changes in a lake region over 200 years, or transform a raindrop in the 30-person on-board theater. As a special treat to attendees, Wyland himself will be available for “Meet & Greet” opportunities. The renowned artist and marine life conservationist will lend his expertise to budding artists at our “Artist for a Day” mural painting experience (located in the Bay Education Center, next to the Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center), as well as autograph Wyland-designed 2010 Hampton Bay Days posters, 2010 Hampton Bay Days t-shirts, and his new interactive book (posters, t-shirts, and books available for purchase). Wyland painting and appearance times will be listed in the official schedule of events online at www.baydays.com by August 15, 2010. All items are available for purchase on-site during the festival or prior to the festival by placing an order with the Hampton Bay Days office. Those interested in tall ships will be thrilled to learn that The GODSPEED , a re-creation of one of the three ships that brought America’s first permanent English colonists to Virginia, will dock in downtown Hampton during the festival. The vessel will help highlight Hampton’s 400th Anniversary and the city’s history as a colonial seaport and fishing village, in addition to providing public educational programs focusing on man’s interaction with the ecology of the Bay. Hampton Bay Days also plans to highlight the merchant side of Olde Port Hampton with a dockside replica of the original customs house, re-enactors, and Hampton History Museum programs. Bay Days goes global this year welcoming Hampton’s Sister City dignitaries visiting from Anyang, South Korea; Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Southampton, England; and Vendome, France. These representatives will be on site to meet guests and share their country’s views on global “go green” initiatives and international culture. Other Bay Days festivities include a car show (complete with classic, antique and custom cars) and the brand new Hampton Bay Days Criterium State Age Graded Championship cycling race (presented by the Hilton Cycling Club and being held Saturday, September 11 – Sunday, September 12, 2010). Over 300 riders will compete to win races in Juniors – Masters categories. Guests can enjoy races on both days from 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Riders can register for this Virginia Cycling Association Bar Event online at www.bikereg.com. The Hampton Bay Days Fireworks Show (spanning 25-minutes) is one of the largest, longest, and most impressive fireworks displays at any festival. In order to clear the Settlers Landing Bridge for the fireworks, the Harbour Centre -Parking Garage and Settlers Landing Street will close at 8:30 p. m., an hour and a half before the 10:00 p.m. show. Folks who arrive after 8:30 p.m. will not be able to drive on Settlers Landing or park in downtown Hampton. This year, Hampton Bay Days is pleased to announce Hampton citizen and city councilman, Ross A. Kearney, II as 2010 Commodore. Kearney has been a member of the Hampton City Council since July of 1992 and has held several prominent positions in the City of Hampton, such as mayor (2004-2008) and vice mayor (1996-1998). In addition, Kearney has also held several leadership roles on numerous regional governance bodies. As 2010 Commodore, Kearney will officially open the Hampton Bay Days festival on Thursday, September 9, 2010 at the Hampton Bay Days Commodore’s Gala. The Hampton Bay Days schedule is as follows: Noon-11:00 p.m. on Friday September 10, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. on Saturday September 11, and Noon- 6:00 p.m. on Sunday September 12. Both festival and musical entertainment admissions are free, though a fee will be charged for crafts, games, and food and beverages. Parking will be available in the downtown area for $5.00 per vehicle but it is very limited. Non-profit organizations help staff parking lots and proceeds help local charities. More information on the 28th annual Hampton Bay Days can be obtained by calling 757/ 727-1641 or by visiting www.baydays.com. Additional information can be obtained by calling the Hampton Visitor Center at 757/727-1102 or the Hampton 311 Call Center at 757/727-8311. For hotel and package information, check out www.visithampton.com.