Bernie Sanders' campaign kickoff full of symbolism

April Burbank | Burlington (Vt.) Free Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Bernie Sanders on 2016: 'Don't Underestimate Me' Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders warns not to underestimate him in the 2016 Democratic race for the White House. In an AP interview, Sanders, who is formally launching his campaign Tuesday, said he has a strong message that's already resonating. (May 25)

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign event Tuesday will be equal parts homecoming and political spectacle.

The independent senator has pulled together plenty of Burlington symbolism: At 5 p.m. ET, Sanders expects to stand on public land he fought for in the 1980s as he announces his presidential ambitions — while spectators munch Ben & Jerry's ice cream at the free, non-ticketed event in Waterfront Park.

Burlington-based band Mango Jam will play in the park. Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, of ice-cream fame, and Bill McKibben, the Vermont environmentalist and author, are expected to speak.

Plans for the event came together less than week before the big day, as Sanders campaign staffers unpacked a national campaign headquarters on Church Street. Volunteers on Friday had begun to call New Hampshire residents. The workers were surrounded by cardboard boxes and "Join the political revolution today" T-shirts.

The Vermonty kickoff is likely to draw people from across the state and beyond for the start of what Sanders and staff have described as a grassroots campaign for the Democratic nomination.

Richard and Margy Gerber of New York state plan to drive five hours to catch Sanders' hometown announcement. They also want to visit family in Burlington.

"I don't think I've ever been at a campaign announcement event in my life," Richard Gerber said.

Gerber remembers marching into Sanders' office during a visit to Burlington several years ago and telling a staffer that Sanders should run for president. Elevator doors opened, and Gerber suddenly found an opportunity to share the same message face-to-face with the senator himself.

"He sort of looked at me like I was crazy, I think, and just sort of thanked me for my support and got off of the elevator and went into his office," Gerber said, adding that he'd like to think his encouragement had something to do with the senator's decision.

Does Sanders have a shot at the presidency? "I'm realistic that it's not likely to happen," Gerber said, "but it'd be nice if it did."

Burlington last experienced a presidential announcement in 2003, when Democratic candidate and former Gov. Howard Dean spoke to a crowd on Church Street Marketplace.

The Burlington waterfront can accommodate thousands of Sanders fans, ice cream eaters and curious onlookers, but the location was the campaign's second choice.

"The original conversation was around using Contois, which is the auditorium in City Hall," said Jesse Bridges, who oversees city parks and buildings as director of Burlington's Department of Parks, Recreation and Waterfront.

Contois Auditorium can hold about 300 people.

"It became pretty clear pretty quick that there was going to be a few more people wanting to attend," Bridges said.

Plan B was Waterfront Park, looking out over Lake Champlain.

When Sanders was mayor of Burlington, his administration supported an effort in the late 1980s to preserve waterfront land for public use, a fight that went to the Vermont Supreme Court.

"It's something that he's very proud of," said Sanders campaign spokesman Michael Briggs, "and people in Burlington, I think, appreciate that."