‘The Birds’ 50th Anniversary Festival Sept 1-2 in Bodega, CA

Feb. 28, 2013 - PRLog -- Save the Date. On Monday, September 2nd the town of Bodega, CA will host B50, a Festival to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock’s most famous movie; ‘The Birds,’ released in 1963.The B50 Festival is a family-friendly event providing a rare opportunity to visit the only remaining original film locations; the historic Potter School house and St. Teresa of Avila Church. Whether or not you love Alfred Hitchcock, there is a certain fascination with ‘The Birds’. Filmed in the Sonoma County towns of Bodega and Bodega Bay.

On Monday, September 2, come for the Parade of Tippi Hedren and Alfred Hitchcock look-alikes, accompanied by a marching band, and stay for the special local restaurant tastings.  In-between, enjoy free entertainment, contests, tours, local merchants with a variety of handcrafted wares and memorabilia from ‘The Birds’, a horse and buggy ride and special activities for kids!

The B50 Festival has a little something for everyone.  For Hitchcock enthusiasts, this will be a rare opportunity to tour the inside of the Potter School House and St. Teresa of Avila Church, get an autograph from Tippi Hedren (in Bodega Bay) and visit an incredible collection of Hitchcock memorabilia.  Children can enjoy a non-horror Kids’ Area with special games, storytelling, singing, and face painting.  History buffs will enjoy a docent-led walking tour of Calvary Cemetery, St. Theresa of Avila’s Church, the Potter School House and a walk down “Sonoma history” lane as we celebrate the bounty of Bodega, a hidden-gem many visitors pass by on their way to the beaches in Bodega Bay.

The B50 Festival and Kick-Off event coincide with Tippi Hedren's appearance at Bodega Bays’ “The Inn at the Tides” on Labor Day weekend.  Fans of ‘The Birds’ will want to make sure to be on the Sonoma Coast this weekend!

The filming of “The Birds” has been a source of intrigue in Bodega since 1961 when filming began. “We love talking to visitors from all over the world who ask about the filming of “The Birds’, says Mike Fahmie, owner of the Bodega Country Store, an early sponsor of the B50 Festival.  “People have been asking what the town will be doing to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ‘the Birds’ so we decided to do something fun.” Fahmie has been an avid collector of all things Hitchcock and “The Birds” and has a large display of memorabilia, which can be seen at the store and a new boutique museum called ‘Birdland’ in Bodega.

An exclusive Kick-Off event for diehard fans of ‘The Birds’ will take place Sunday evening, September 1 in Bodega.  A limited number of tickets will be available for a special evening which includes tours of the Potter School House, St. Teresa of Avila Church, a gourmet dinner at the renowned Casino Bar and Grill, special movie clips showing deleted scenes and the making of ‘The Birds’, plus an opportunity to interact with special guests.  Tickets will be on sale starting March 15, 2013 via the BodegaBirds.com website.

B50 is currently inviting Partners, including Sponsors, Merchants and local Restaurants, as well as volunteers to help make the event a success.  Interested parties can learn more www.BodegaBirds.com, or by contacting Event Manager Dan Arendt by email at info@bodegabirds.com or by calling (707) 861-0326.

All proceeds from B50 and the Kick-Off event will go to the Rancho Bodega Historical Society and the Bodega Land Trust, two worthy non-profit organizations which strive to preserve the history and open space of the Bodega area.