MUMBAI: The week beginning 30 April 2007 will be marked as “Spider-Man Week In NYC”, in a joint celebration planned by the city of New York and Columbia Pictures.

A variety of festivities have been planned for all five boroughs, involving New York City landmarks such as the Central Park and Bronx Zoos, the American Museum of Natural History and the Apollo Theater. A highlight of the week will be the Tribeca Film Festival’s premiere of Spider- Man 3 in Queens, Peter Parker’s hometown, with additional screenings in all boroughs, says a release. Spider-Man 3 opens worldwide on 4 May 2007.

New York City native Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) will return home later this month after a seven-city international tour that launches in Japan on 16 April 2007. Keeping with the spirit of his comic book origins, Spider-Man Week in NYC includes themed events, talent appearances and giveaways in all five boroughs.

Spider-Man Week in NYC, the release adds, is the result of a partnership between Columbia Pictures and NYC & Company, the City’s tourism, marketing and events organization. The week kicks off Monday, April 30, with a cast appearance and street festival in the Today plaza in Rockefeller Center. The week continues with Spider-Man-themed programs offered through partnerships with the Tribeca Film Festival, and dozens of the city’s cultural institutions and tourist attractions, including a special volunteer day for children through the Little Apple Heroes program ( http://www.littleappleheroes.com), “spidery” tales for kids at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, “Spidey Chats” at the Central Park and Bronx Zoos, Green Goblin mask-making at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and a spider exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History. Original Spider-Man comic books will be on display at the New York Public Library, and the Apollo Theater in Harlem will host the closing day celebration with performances of Spider-Man inspired raps.

Spider-Man Week in NYC is one of the first integrated, citywide initiatives spearheaded by NYC & Company, the official marketing and tourism arm of the City of New York.

“Because New York City is Spider-Man’s hometown, we wanted to find a way to make the launch of the summer movie-going season and Spider-Man 3 really special for the city and its people,” says Sony Pictures Entertainment vice chairman Jeff Blake. The studio’s Columbia Pictures will release Spider-Man 3 in theaters worldwide.