The Belmont Festival returns to Garden City with a patriotic flair as the United States Air Force Band of Liberty Afterburner headlines the popular celebration on Friday, June 5 in honor of the Belmont Stakes, the oldest and final leg of the Triple Crown.

"A Salute to America" is the theme of the 2009 Garden City Belmont Festival which will take place on Seventh Street between the hours of 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Organizers are encouraging both participants and festival-goers to wear red, white and blue with a chance to win prizes by stopping by the KJOY, 98.3 FM booth.

Opening ceremonies will get underway at 7 p.m. with a tribute to active military and veterans from Garden City and throughout the nation who have served the United States. The ceremonies will culminate in the Armed Forces Medley which will be performed by Afterburner in honor of each branch of the military, followed by an Afterburner concert performance.

Afterburner is the United States Air Force Band of Liberty's high energy rock band which consists of a select group of professional Airmen-musicians who support the Air Force mission by providing musical products and services for military and community events. The seven member group brings an explosive blend of blues, rock, and R&B to their dynamic stage shows. The members of this versatile group are all active duty military and are based out of Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. They have appeared on national TV, headlined major festivals, and opened for artists such as Charlie Daniels, The Commodores, The Subdudes, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Lee Ann Womack.

Three local bands will also entertain crowds in Garden City on June 5.

Papa Rowe & the Bedell Blues Band will perform their traditional blues with a twist. Led by Long Island songwriter and lead guitar player Papa Jim Rowe, the band boasts two other soloists including Billy Lucano on keyboard and Jeff Howard on saxophone. Jim Rowe's son, TJ Rowe, is the newest band member on percussion.

Six Gun will make its annual return to the Belmont Festival. Six Gun is a country band made up of six members who have been performing together for more than 20 years. They've played at the Belmont Festival since its inception more than a decade ago.

The band Fivestone will make its inaugural appearance at the festival playing contemporary and classic rock tunes. All five members have played extensively on Long Island and will also be performing at Belmont Park during Friday's Party in the Park days beginning on June 12.

Festival-goers can also take part in a Wing Off chicken wing competition between five local eateries: Uptown Grille, J.P. McGeevers, Murphy's, Walk Street and the Garden City Pub. It is $8 for a plate of wings and a ballot. The people's choice award will be announced after the ballots are tallied at 9:30 p.m. All proceeds go to the Mollie Biggane Melanoma Foundation, a charity named for Garden City resident Mollie Biggane who died from melanoma at the age of 20.

While they're enjoying music and wings, crowds can also admire the artwork of children who participated in the Belmont Festival Poster Contest, sponsored by Sunflower Fine Art Gallery. Youngsters were asked to adhere to the evening's "red, white, and blue" theme and to portray thoroughbred racing in their designs. The resulting artwork will be displayed in shop windows along Seventh Street and Franklin Avenue, and locations of each child's artwork will be posted on www.sunflowerfineart.com/events The grand prize winners of the art contest will be announced during opening ceremonies.

The family-friendly festival, sponsored by the Garden City Hotel, Village of Garden City, Garden City Chamber of Commerce, Coca Cola, the New York Lottery and the New York Racing Association (NYRA), also includes many activities for children such as clowns, face painters, inflatables, and Sammy the Bugler who is renowned for his spirited "Call to the Post" at Belmont Park.