Whiskeytown, California - On August 20, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. at Brandy Creek Beach, the National Park Service will celebrate its 100 years of service protecting the national parks land, historic and cultural resources of the United States. The celebration will begin at 7:00 p.m. with the Friends of Whiskeytown hosting beer and wine sales, along with food vendors. At 8:00 p.m. the Shasta Symphony will begin its performance by conductors Dr. Dwayne Corbin and Dr. Dan Pinkston, featuring vocalist Cy Myers. This is a free event and open to the public.
Visitors will be able to launch their own personalized floating candle luminary in Brandy Creek Lagoon beginning at 7:30 p.m. The rangers will supply a small disc of wood that serves as the floating platform for the white paper bag with a small votive candle inside. Each bag has been stamped with an area to write your personal message. Kayak volunteers will manage the drifting candle luminaries across Brandy Creek Lagoon. The Friends of Whiskeytown request a small donation of a dollar or more ($5, $10, $25) in exchange for your personal floating candle luminary. The goal is to fill the lagoon with candle luminaries during the Symphony.
In addition, park rangers will have tables set up at the beach for both children and adults to create small paintings during the event that will be displayed at the park Visitor Center the following weekend of August 26 thru August 28.
The Whiskeytown and the Redding Yacht Clubs have requested boat owners to light their mast with white lights and anchor off Brandy Creek Beach just outside the swim area during the performance. The U.S. Coast Guard Flotilla 39 will be on hand to monitor the nighttime boat activities on Whiskeytown Lake.
"This is a wonderful way to celebrate a century of the National Park Service protecting all 412 national park sites across the nation, covering some 84 million acres, protecting both visitors and park resources," stated Jim Milestone, Superintendent of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. "Just like last year when we celebrated Whiskeytown's 50th Anniversary, we can now celebrate the National Park Service's Centennial Birthday in the same classy and unique way - having a symphony perform on the beach surrounded by an amphitheater of trees and a lovely lake," Milestone said.
Over 1,200 people attended last year's Symphony on the Beach. This event is being sponsored by the Shasta College Fund, Redding Bank of Commerce, the McConnell Foundation, Cosco.net, KIXE Public TV, JPR Jefferson Public Radio, and the Friends of Whiskeytown. A shuttle bus will take people from Brandy Creek Marina over to Brandy Creek Beach to accommodate overflow parking or you can walk via the short trail connecting the two areas.
For further information, please feel free to call the Office of the Superintendent at (530) 242-3410. Thank you for participating in the celebration of the Centennial of the National Park Service at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. Emails can be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with "Symphony on the Beach!" as the subject.
