Grab the family, a picnic and check out one of these performances on the Blossom Festival schedule.
SALUTE TO AMERICA
July 4 // Blossom Festival Band
The world's foremost John Philip Sousa authority, Loras John Schissel, returns to conduct the Blossom Festival Band. Sousa marches, a salute to the military, Tchaikovsky's "1812" Overture and fireworks make for a night you'll want to repeat next year. 8 p.m.
AND THE BEAT GOES ON
July 22 // The Cleveland Orchestra
Vocalists Farah Alvin, Roy Chicas, N'Kenge and Kristine Reese join forces with conductor Jack Everly and the Cleveland Orchestra to transport listeners back to the 1960s with orchestral takes on music from vintage television shows and films, as well as songs by Burt Bacharach, Simon & Garfunkel and Frankie Valli. 7 p.m.
80th BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE TO JOHN WILLIAMS
Aug. 12 // The Cleveland Orchestra
Star Wars, Indiana Jones, E.T., Harry Potter ... must we go on? OK, Jaws, Jurassic Park and, well, you get the idea. John Williams is the most successful and well-known composer working in film today. His soaring orchestral scores have become the soundtrack ingrained in our imaginations. The Cleveland Orchestra will mark Williams' 80th birthday with a program featuring his majestic compositions. We dare you to think of a better way to spend a night hanging out under the stars. 7 p.m.
MORE INFO clevelandorchestra.com