Harrisburg Rock Festival (May 18-20 1973) 

By Emily R. Pettet 

It’s already been a year, and you’re back again to meld with the sun, sound, and strangers brought together by one common thread; rock. But there’s something different going on at the campus this year, and it isn’t the lack of a rain date. Is that a group of classical musicians opening the Festival? You might be a little thrown off by the now four day itinerary the school put together, but that four letter word is still ringing in your head – free. Well, most of it is free and you really don’t have to spend any money if you don’t want to, but isn’t this pot neat?*

For the year 1973, the Rock Festival evolved from a single day filled with music to a Music & Art Festival that had so many moving parts it wasn’t even possible to schedule a rain date. The Festival opened with the Philadelphia Chamber Soloists, though they were without their oboist, as well as a photo exhibition. The Capitolist reported a favorable reception and response of the classical musicians, who performed in a rather crowded Gallery Lounge in the Olmsted Building and captivated listeners even as the Watergate case hearings were being played in a room across the hall.

The next day, or night rather, boasted a Film Festival with such a large viewership that they couldn’t squeeze another person into the Student Center (on the west side of campus in what was more recently the school’s childcare center) if they tried. Unlike the rest of the Festival, however, and the Festivals that came before, this part came at a cost. The horror! A person could expect to pay a dollar for admittance, and an inflation calculator will tell you that’s a little over $7.50 in 2022 dollars, which still isn’t bad at all. If films like “Reefer Madness,” “Brand X,” and “Never Give a Sucker an Even Break” were your style, you were in for a great night of entertainment.

Then Saturday rolled around and set the stage for the first day of the arts and crafts exhibition, which also served as a platform for artists to make the money they spent on the Film Festival back by selling their wares. A folk concert was arranged for the day as well that roped in an estimated 4,500 people, a rather low number that planning officials chalked up to the lack of publicity. That didn’t stop folk artists like Straight Grain, the Dimeler Brothers, and John Krumm from soaking up the sun and playing their hearts out though.

That left Sunday to host the main event the Festival had been counting down to celebrate. Several new bands were slated to play, from Moxie to Featherstitch, and the Elvis Davis Band was preparing for Rock Festival round two. Then, not to sound too dramatic (but also to sound kind of dramatic), disaster struck. The rain decided to cast its shadow over the Festival once more, and the rock concert had to be canceled. Although the Main Street Gym in Middletown was considered for a rainy day venue, it could only seat 1,200 people, a fact that led to the rock concert’s cancellation. So instead of going out with a bang, the Rock Festival ended with a dull thud.

* A creative interpretation rendered based on facts of the event.