Press/media

East Coast Hobo Gathering | home

Press/media

NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Bob Esposito
        328 Washington St.
        Pennsburg, PA.   18073
        (215)679-6849

    PENNSBURG, PA, MONTGOMERY COUNTY - The 12th Annual East Coast Hobo Gathering will be held starting Wednesday, September 17, 2003 and run through Saturday night September 20, 2003. The event will be held at the same location as in past years, the grounds of the Perkiomen School on Second St. at the railroad tracks in Pennsburg - also the site of the historic hobo jungle. Hosting the event will be "Red Bird Express" and "Keystone Bob".
    The hobo jungle will be opened to the public Thursday and the festivities will get underway at 5:30 pm with the serving of the traditional hobo stew. At 7;00 pm the official opening ceremonies will begin with the lighting of the campfire and salute to the four winds. Following the campfire lighting , entertainment will begin featuring music, poetry, storytelling about life on the rails, finishing at 10:30 pm.
    Admission is free as is the food. Donation cans will be set out for those wishing to make a donation to help fund the event. The gathering will be held rain or shine.
    This year we will have a special amateur radio field station operated by the Pottstown Area Amateur Radio Club. They will be on the air world wide using the special call sign W3H from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday.
    We can expect some top hobo performers to be on hand including: Liberty Justice, winner of the Folk Singer of the Year Award, Rik Paleri, folk musician who appears at the Philadelphia Folk Festival and played onstage with Bruce Springsteen, Banjo Fred, folk music educator and musician, Captain Dingo the train riding, guitar carrying hobo, everybody's favorite, Virginia Slim, our good buddy, Harmonica Mike, and many, many more.
    As always, you the media are invited to attend our unique event and learn more about the hobos of the past and the present day men and women still riding the rails as a way of life. Our hobo attendance is expected to top 100 this year including depression era hobos, present day riders, and other free spirits. Last years public attendance brought out some 1,700 visitors. The East Coast Hobo Gathering has grown to be recognized as the top hobo gathering nationwide next to the National Hobo Convention at Britt, Iowa. We have been featured on PBS, CNN, A&E, and other nationally known media outlets. Hope to see you here.

                                Thank You, Sincerely,
                                Bob Esposito, CO-host