Crime Alert Berks County presents Peter Mayer and his 15th annual “Stars and Promises” Christmas Tour Wednesday, Dec. 9, at the new DoubleTree by Hilton Reading Hotel, 701 Penn Street. This will be the first concert to be performed at the new hotel, which opens just one day ahead of the concert on Tuesday, Dec. 8.
Concert proceeds benefit Crime Alert’s Blue Ribbon Campaign, Ribbons of Respect, which debuted this year and honors Berks County law enforcement officers. The group’s goal is to distribute 15,000 blue ribbons throughout Berks County in May 2016. National Police Week runs from May 15 through 21, 2016. The ribbons are a sign of support for police officers in Berks and beyond.
Crime Alert has presented an annual holiday concert for the past five years. The shows have been organized by Denny Lorah, a long-time Crime Alert board member and president of the Berks County Parrot Head Club, which has sponsored the shows. Over the past five years, these shows have raised more than $50,000 for Crime Alert Berks County.
“We can’t say ‘thank you’ enough to Denny and the Parrot Club for their support of Crime Alert over these past years,” said Barry Rohrbach, president of Crime Alert Berks County.
Lorah worked with Craig Poole, DoubleTree general manager who is also a Crime Alert director, to bring the show to Reading’s new hotel.
“This event is another way of supporting our law enforcement efforts and an opportunity to show the community another step forward in the downtown Penn Street revitalization project so dear to us all,” said Lorah.
Lorah is every bit as excited about Mayer, the lead guitarist in Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band, and his show. Mayer has released 13 albums to date and has performed with high-profile recording stars James Taylor, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Ringo Starr. He tours year round with the Peter Mayer Group.
“This is an awesome must-see show,” said Lorah. “I have seen the show eight times and if you see it once, you will not miss it when it is close to where you live.”
The Peter Mayer Group’s “A Restless World, A Silent Night” tour offers unique and diverse seasonal music featuring old and new carols. Both the staging and sound quality enhance the performance.
“As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season meets the commotion and uncertainty of our daily lives, many of us are left restless and searching for the hope, peace and joy that we are reminded of at Christmas,” said Mayer. “This year’s tour celebrates the songs and stories that lift us up at Christmas and bring us back to the heart of the holidays.”
Tickets can be purchased in advance at Mission BBQ, A-to-Z Vacuum and Security Guards Inc., all in Wyomissing; at iTickets.com; at petermayer.com; or by e-mailing Lorah at dennylorah@comcast.net. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.
Show time is 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. for a buffet dinner, which can be purchased at the Cheers restaurant in the DoubleTree Reading. Parking in the hotel’s adjoining parking garage is free.
Mission BBQ is the signature concert sponsor. Other sponsors include Customers Bank, Mortgage America, the Berks County Police Chiefs Association, Victor Emmanuel’s, Mike and Yvonne Setley, M.J. Reider Associates Inc., Denny’s Electric, National Penn Bank, Feeney Funeral Home, GMI, Pike Cafe, Colonial Electric, L&H Signs and White Star Tours. REP, formerly Reading Eagle Press, and DoubleTree Reading are in-kind sponsors.
Some sponsorship opportunities for this concert are still available. For more information on that, please contact Lorah at dennylorah@comcast.net.