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Liberty State Park, the jewel of Northern New Jersey in Jersey City, announces the first LIBERTY STATE PARK MUSIC AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL beginning July 1, 2000. With Liberty State Park's stunning panoramic view of one of the world's greatest and most picturesque harbors as a backdrop, the Festival launches with a concert by the Lincoln Center jazz Orchestra featuring Wynton Marsalis, It also encompasses a performance by Andrea Bocelli with the NJ Symphony Orchestra and two weekend events: Ships to Save the Waters Environmental Conference/ Festival 2000, a public gathering of environmental organizations, and a tribute to the arts and culture of the great State of New Jersey, the New Jersey Harbor Heritage Festival.

The public information phone number for all Festival events is 201.200.2622.

A special transportation plan for July 4 is being developed by the State of New Jersey. Information will be available at this number as well as at GET NJ.

The free-admission evening's backdrop on July 4 will be 300 tall ships and naval vessels in the Harbor as part of OpSail 2000 and the Macy's Fireworks, scheduled this year to erupt from the lower Hudson River.

The July 4 Lincoln Center jazz Orchestra concert -- on the traditionally celebrated birthday of Louis Armstrong -- marks the start of Jazz at Lincoln Center's season saluting the great trumpeter's centenary.

Saturday July 1/Sunday July 2
SHIPS TO SAVE THE WATERS ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE / FESTIVAL 2000
For Ships To Save the Waters Environmental Conference! Festival 2000, the vision of Hudson River Stoop Clearwater Inc, founder Pete Seeger, hosting organizations will network on water-based programs and environmental efforts and expose their work to the public at large. A free weekend of discussion (9:30am to 5:00pm) about environmental issues and education, along with music exhibitors, other activities including "open house"' on several traditional sailing ships.

Tuesday, July 4
WYNTON MARSALIS LEADS LINCOLN CENTER JAZZ ORCHESTRA IN CELEBRATION OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG CENTENARY
Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra featuring Wynton Marsalis perform a free concert beginning at 7:15pm and focusing on music by Louis Armstrong. The Orchestra will break for the fireworks at 9:00pm, and return with a second set. Other Armstrongrelated performers begin at midday, and jazz greats Diane Reeves and Clark Terry will make special guest appearances with L.C.J.O.. Other artists scheduled to perform include Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks plus the Gully Low jazz Band in a special performance of Armstrong's 1920 Five Spots repertoire. Additionally, exhibits of Armstrong memorabilia and related presentations are scheduled with the assistance of the Louis Armstrong Museum of Queens, NY and New Jersey's Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies.

Thursdays, July 6
ANDREA BOCELLI PERFORMS WITH NJ SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Andrea Bocelli, Italian singing phenomenon and multi-platinum. recording artist, is one of the great tenors of our time. Mr. Bocelli will perform a special concert -- his Thu rsday metropolitan area appearance this year -- as New Jersey's Liberty State Park and the New York skyline create a dramatic and breathtaking backdrop to this once in a lifetime event. The concert begins at 8:00pm and will feature the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Steven Mercurio. Known for his diverse popular re repertoire as well as his beloved opera classics, Bocelli has become one of the biggest selling performers in decades, selling more than 20 million records world-wide and winning over legions of devoted fans throughout the globe. Last year, he achieved the very rare feat of having four separate albums simultaneously featured on Billboard's top 200 chart. In just 3 years, he has achieved four platinum albums and earned Grammy nominations in both 1999 and 2000. Seating is a mix of reserved seats and first-come-first-served bleachers. Tickets are available for purchase through Ticketmaster beginning Monday, May 22 at 10:00. Phone 212.307.7171,

Saturday, July 8/Sunday, July 9
NEW JERSEY HARBOR HERITAGE FESTIVAL HONORS STATE IN WEEKEND OF EVENTS AND PRESENTATIONS
The popular, five year old New Jersey Harbor Heritage Festival becomes part of the Liberty State Park Music and Heritage Festival. The Festival is free and open to the public. From 11:00am to 6:00pm each day, it features non-stop music, period encampments, crafts, food and cultural events focusing on the state of New Jersey, and attracts upwards of 40,000 people.

For more information about liberty State Park Music and Heritage Festival, please call Aliza Rabinoff, Matt Hanks, or Mark Satlof at Shore Fire Media, 718.522.7171.

For more information about Andrea Bocelli, please contact Ken Sunshine or Josie Diets at Sunshine Consultants, 212.754.6750., or Carol Della Penna at Universal Classics Group, 212.333.8237.

Public Transportation From Newark Airport

From Newark airport take one of the shuttle buses to Pennsylvania (Penn.) Station railroad terminal in Downtown Newark.

From there take the PATH subway to Exchange Place in Jersey City.

From Exchange Place take the Light Rail to Liberty State Park.