21st International Festival of Arts & Ideas Kicks Off in New Haven

NEW HAVEN, Conn., June 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast and NBC Connecticut are partnering as one of this year's sponsors for the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, which kicks-off Friday, June 10^th and runs through June 25^th at venues across the Elm City.  This year marks the 21^st anniversary of the 15-day celebration, which will again be presenting a wide variety of entertainment including free concerts, exclusive performances, walking tours and tons of family fun and which is expected to attract over 100,000 visitors to the area.

"Comcast has played a defining role in shaping the future of media and technology, and we pride ourselves on bringing the most innovative products to our customers," said Michael Parker, Senior Vice President of Comcast's Western New England Region, which is headquartered in Berlin. "In addition to offering quality TV, the nation's fastest Internet and in-home Wi-Fi, we are also committed to supporting diverse and cultural local attractions such as this year's International Festival of Arts & Ideas and using our technology to drive innovation deeper into the heart of New Haven."

Comcast and NBC Connecticut will be joining forces to sponsor Family Day on Saturday, June 11^th, where NBC Connecticut on-air talent will be appearing with the First Alert 1 mobile weather Jeep and they will have Secret Life of Pets giveaways, and a photo-booth.  They will also provide state-of-the-art technology, including the availability of free Xfinity Wi-Fi on the New Haven Green during events on Thursdays through Sundays when most events are being held.  In addition, NBC Connecticut's New Haven bureau will be reporting regularly from The Green so watch for coverage throughout the Festival.

On Sunday, Charisse Lillie, Fellow and Vice President of Community Investment for Comcast Corporation and Executive Vice President of the Comcast Foundation will attend a panel discussion titled "No Minimum Age: Youth Activism and Social Change".  The panel will be held at the Yale University Art Gallery from 3:00 to 4:30 and is free to the public.

With over 100 Festival events to choose from, Xfinity Wi-Fi makes it convenient for you to download the NBC Connecticut News app or visit NBCConnecticut.com to conveniently check the schedule of events, as well as making it easy to Facebook, tweet or Instagram about the day's activities. 

About Comcast Corporation:

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to businesses. NBCUniversal operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.

About Comcast in Connecticut:

Comcast is committed to providing an unparalleled entertainment experience to residents and businesses in the 83 communities the company serves in Connecticut.  Comcast's Western New England Region, which includes five states, is headquartered in Berlin, Connecticut, and customers are served by a team of more than 1,200 Connecticut employees.  Comcast also boasts a call center in Enfield, Connecticut, service centers throughout the state, and seven state-of-the-art Xfinity Service Centers where customers can experience Comcast's Xfinity products and services firsthand. Comcast's popular Xfinity brand is also featured on the Xfinity Theatre, one of Hartford's premier music venues.  The company helps to strengthen the communities where its customers and employees live and work by supporting local nonprofit organizations.  In 2015, Comcast provided more than $2 million to community partners in the state, in the form of Comcast Foundation grants, sponsorships, volunteer hours, courtesy services and in-kind donations.

About NBC Connecticut:

Owned by NBCUniversal, NBC Connecticut / WVIT serves its audience with local news and weather information across multiple platforms. This includes more than 35 hours of newscasts each week on WVIT, news segments on CT COZI TV and digital content on NBCConnecticut.com. The station is Connecticut's leader with Facebook and Twitter followers and provides mobile users on-the-go breaking news updates and weather information through its customized applications. NBC Connecticut's commitment to excellence in journalism has been recognized with numerous Emmy Awards and the prestigious Peabody Award. NBC Connecticut supports the community through its signature Partners in a Caring Community initiative.

About the International Festival of Arts & Ideas: 

For 21 years, the Festival has delighted audiences with an outstanding mix of entertaining and inspiring programs. Internationally acclaimed dance, an eclectic array of world-class musicians, breathtaking circus, ground-breaking theatre and engaging speakers define the Festival as our region's premier arts and culture destination. The June Festival boasts over 170 events and at least 85% are totally free. Year-round programs include special town-hall events, a fellowship program for youth, planning and implementing mini-festivals in inner-city neighborhoods, and our Visionary Leadership Award. New Haven's walkable historic downtown core and warm June weather forms the perfect backdrop for this highly accessible, international event.

SOURCE Comcast Cable

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