Tamaqua's past, present and future will blend together Aug. 4 as "Dear Tamaqua ... In a New Light" takes to the downtown streets in a multimedia walking experience.

The milelong loop, starting at the Tamaqua Train Station, will feature local sights, sounds, tastes, memories and explore the love/hate relationship Tamaqua seems to have with itself.Based on more than 500 entries, written by current and former Tamaqua residents for the "Dear Tamaqua Project," the free, large-scale outdoor event will be part of the borough's participation in the National Night Out celebration."The most wonderful part of this project is that the community was given a voice," notes Leona Rega, Tamaqua Community Arts Center director and Dear Tamaqua project coordinator."It has been an opportunity for us to relish in fond memories and our rich heritage, openly share our concerns and now, focus on the future. This is a landmark event. One must experience it, as nothing like it has ever been experienced in Tamaqua."The production represents the next phase of the Dear Tamaqua project, a collaborative venture between the Tamaqua Community Arts Center, the Tamaqua Safety Initiative, and the Dear Tamaqua Leadership Committee. The project looks to build toward more complete ownership of Tamaqua's unique identity and serve as a catalyst for positive local change.During the first phase, residents were encouraged to share personal memories, experiences, concerns and hopes for the future in the form of letters. These 500-plus submissions served as the source material for this second-year production.Touchstone Theatre, a Bethlehem-based group with a long history of creating powerful, original community-based art, has partnered on the project to assist with the story-gathering of phase one and the artistic vision and execution of phase two."Dear Tamaqua … In a New Light" is written and designed by Touchstone Artistic Director and Tamaqua native JP Jordan and Touchstone Associate/Moravian College Director Christopher Shorr. Jordan also serves as director.Funded in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts through a partnership with Jump Street of Harrisburg, a community based arts incubator, the project is also supported by Air Products, Boyer's, LISC, and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Nonprofit and Community Assistance Center.The final phase debuts at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4 during National Night Out. Tours will then continue at timed intervals. The last group will leave the train station at 8:30 p.m. Rain date will be Aug. 5, same time.Also part of NNO will be the Tamaqua Salvation Army's Kidz Karnival.This event will be held from 2-9 p.m. Aug. 4, rain or shine. The karnival promises fun for children ages 3 through 12.Karnival goers will enjoy food, games, prizes, rides and activities at the North Railroad Street parking lot (across the tracks from the Tamaqua Train Station). Tickets are available at The Tamaqua Salvation Army, Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce and Hiles Brothers in Summit Hill. They will also be available the day of the event.Further information is available through Maj. Sharon Whispell at 508-574-9950 or Dina Depos at 570-668-0410.For further information including parking and mobility access, visit

www.deartamaqua.com.Volunteers are needed to man checkpoints along the route, assist people getting on/off trolley/hay wagons/fire trucks, provide information to visitors, empty trash receptacles, and more.To volunteer or to make a monetary or in-kind donation, contact Leona Rega, Tamaqua Community Arts Center Director, at 570-668-1192 or

leona@tacp.info.