Survivors, their families and former residents of Port Chicago will be the guests of the City of Pittsburg and CAB Concerts at a series of events scheduled in the Old Town Pittsburg and the Creative Arts Building.
The centerpiece of the day's events will be a special performance of the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra performing Shelby's new "Port Chicago" jazz suite composition, a musical interpretation of the events preceding and following the horrific explosion that actually blew pieces of one of the ships as far as Pittsburg and shattered windows in half the buildings on Railroad Avenue.
The concert is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the main auditorium.
A video and panel discussion of the aftermath of the explosion, including a mutiny court martial of 50 sailors who refused to return to their unsafe loading jobs following the explosion, will be conducted in the Creative Arts Building's Little Theatre at 4:30 p.m.
Tickets for the event are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Veterans, seniors (55 and over) and all students can purchase tickets for $5. World War II veterans, and current members of the armed forces and National Guard will be admitted free.
Special $20 combination tickets will provide admission to the concert and dinner at one of four Old Town Pittsburg restaurants, Dad's BBQ, Downtown Cafe, El 7 Mares Restaurant or the New Mecca Cafe.
Downtown activities begin at 1 p.m. after the close of the Farmers' Market.
The Pittsburg Historical Society Museum will have special displays plus host county folklorist Wayne Korsinen and two panel discussions on life in the county at the time of the disaster and the death of the city of Port Chicago during the afternoon.
Entertainment in the museum's Sixth Street parking lot during the afternoon will feature Layce Baker and the Black Diamond Band, Nfocus jazz band and the Just Praise Gospel Singers. Attendees are advised to bring lawn chairs for the musical entertainment.
Port Chicago survivors will be treated to a catered lunch at the Heritage Plaza pocket park on Fourth Street when they arrive in Pittsburg from the annual National Park Service ceremony at the Port Chicago Memorial.
"The City of Pittsburg is pleased to have a chance to pay tribute to the survivors of this terrible tragedy and their families," Pittsburg Mayor Michael Kee said. "We hope the day's events will inform residents of Pittsburg and the county of one of the most significant events in county history."
Melody Baugh, president of the non-profit Pittsburg Creative Arts Building Corporation, said, "We are pleased to be able to offer a concert that will be so meaningful to survivors and their families. We are proud that Marcus Shelby wanted to perform in the Creative Arts Building and that we can use this concert as a way to thank our World War II veterans and current members of the Armed Forces and National Guard."
Ticket information is available at www.cabconcerts.com. Tickets are on sale in Pittsburg at Dad's BBQ, Downtown Cafe, El 7 Mares Restaurant, New Mecca Cafe, Pittsburg Historical Society Museum, Raley's, Ostertag's Tuxedo and in Antioch at The Prop Table.
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