City Concert Features Helen Reddy, Don McLean : Fund-raiser: Fall Festival includes arts and crafts, entertainment on 10 stages and other activities.

Organizers of a city arts and music festival this weekend hope to raise $15,000 for three charities.

Proceeds from the Palmdale Fall Festival’s kickoff concert will benefit the Antelope Valley Child Abuse Center, Palmdale Senior Center and the Assn. to Aid Victims of Domestic Violence.

The city annually donates about $35,000 from its general fund to the three groups and officials would like to see the concert generate enough money to cover the contributions, Mayor Jim Ledford said.

Grammy-winner Helen Reddy and Don McLean, writer of the classic song “American Pie,” are headlining the concert that begins at 7:30 tonight at McAdam Park, on 30th Street East between Palmdale Boulevard and Avenue R.

Reddy’s top-10 hits include “I Am Woman”, “Ain’t No Way to Treat a Lady”, “Delta Dawn” and “You and Me Against the World,” while McLean’s top-40 hits include “Vincent”, “Castles in the Air” and “Dreidel.”

This is the seventh annual Fall Festival, although organizers consider it the eighth year of the event because of an equivalent Arts in the Park program conducted in 1985.

The festival usually costs Palmdale about $55,000, but city officials say it is worth the expense because of the public relations benefits. More than 30,000 people attended the 1992 Fall Festival, and 20% were believed to be from other parts of Southern California.

“In general, it’s a great event for the family,” said Steve Buffalo, city special event director. “There’s something there for just about everybody.”

Festival activities include 240 arts and crafts vendors, entertainment on 10 separate stages, an automobile show, face painting and a farmers’ market.

Paul Revere and the Raiders, Eddie Rabbit and a variety of other music acts are scheduled on Saturday and Sunday.

“It’s getting bigger and better and more polish to it,” Ledford said.

Tickets are $22, $17 or $12 for both the Friday concert and the festival or $2 for the festival only. Alcohol is prohibited at the festival and parking is free.

More information is available by calling (805) 267-5611.