FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

05-24-12 600AM

Community leaders will join the public to kick off the 75th anniversary celebration of the Golden Gate Bridge at a ribbon-cutting and kickoff to the May 27 Golden Gate Festival on Friday, May 25 from 10 a.m. to noon. The festival features a dedication of the new visitor facilities, plus services and programs developed as part of the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The ceremonial ribbon cutting highlights the new Bridge Pavilion, renovated Round House, improved Bridge Café and expanded Bridge Plaza, as well as the improved trails and new overlooks in the Golden Gate National Parks anchoring the span. The festival runs Sunday, May 27 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Festival speakers, in order of appearance, are Janet Reilly, chair, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District; The Honorable Edwin M. Lee, mayor of the city and county of San Francisco; Frank Dean, general superintendent, Golden Gate National Parks; Craig Middleton, executive director, Presidio Trust; Greg Moore, president and CEO, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy; The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Democratic leader, U.S. House of Representatives; Denis Mulligan, general manager, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District; and Larry Baer and Nancy Hellman Bechtle, co-chairs, Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary Steering Committee.

Parking is available at the Golden Gate Bridge Pavilion (in the southeast visitor parking area, San Francisco side of the Bridge).

The Golden Gate Festival on Sunday, May 27 features music, performances, family activities and a grand fireworks finale at 9:30 p.m. In addition, the USS Nimitz (CVN68), one of the world’s largest naval ships, and its crew of more than 3,000 sailors, will make a striking entry to San Francisco Bay sometime during Sunday’s waterfront festival. The supercarrier’s time of arrival in San Francisco will be confirmed later this week.

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