Five Weekends of Great Music and Good Times at Flights & Sounds Summer Festival

Tips on getting the most fun out of the Great Park's free music festival

August 2, 2011 – IRVINE, California – Whether the Great Park Flights & Sounds Summer Festival is a family tradition or this weekend will be your first visit to the Park, this major metropolitan and ever-evolving festival offers a unique experience every week. This year, the Park is bigger, the artists are bigger, and these tips will ensure big fun at the Park.

Friday or Saturday? Friday nights bring world beat dance parties to the Park, with a dance floor in front of historic Hangar 244. Saturdays feature main stage concert performances under the glow of the Great Park Balloon. On both nights, performances are produced by Irvine Barclay Theatre. Check out Friday and Saturday at the Park, and enjoy two unique experiences in one unique park.

When Does the Fun Start? Live music begins at 8:15 pm on both nights, but there is a lot to do before the music starts! The Great Park Gallery will be open before each show, with a free El Toro-inspired exhibition by OC artist Jorg Dubin. To enjoy the music from 400 feet up in the Great Park Balloon, it’s best to check in right at 6 pm — rides start at 7 pm and fill up quickly, weather permitting. The Great Park Carousel is also ready to take you for a spin. The Hangar Café opens at 6 pm, serving up snacks, dinner and beverages before and during the shows. Arrive at least an hour early to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Best Seat in the House? That’s up to you! If you want to take a break from the dance floor on Fridays, limited seating is provided. The Saturday concert stage is set in front of rows of general admission seats, but the best seat in the house may be a blanket - picnicking is encouraged on the expansive Terraced Lawn. On both nights, feel free to bring your own lawn chairs or blankets to make the most of the newly-expanded Park space.

What to Bring? Food and beverages are available in the Hangar Café, or you can bring your own picnic dinner. Sorry, visitors cannot bring in their own alcoholic beverages, but beer and wine are available inside the Hangar Café. While the Hangar Café accepts credit cards, debit and cash, there are no ATMs on park grounds, and you will need $10 cash to park (admission is free!) Dogs are welcome at the Park, except for in buildings such as the Gallery and Hangar Café. Also, don’t forget to bring a jacket - summer nights can still be chilly.

For more information on getting the most out of the Flights & Sounds Summer Festival, visit www.ocgp.org/events or call (866) 829-3829. The Orange County Great Park is located at Sand Canyon and Marine Way, and can easily be reached by the 5 or 405 freeways.

Upcoming Festival Events:

Friday Night: World Beat Dance Parties
August 12 - Nuriya - Salsa gone global with sizzling vocals, rumba flamenco, Afro-Cuban rhythms and Arabic melodies.
August 19 - Shotgun Wedding Quintet - From big band swing, to funk and gypsy jazz.
August 26 - H’Sao - High-energy dance music spliced with masterful a cappella vocals.
September 2 - BlackMahal - Punjabi funk with drums, horns and hip hop.

Saturday Night: American Music Styles in Concert
August 13 - Lucinda Williams - From folk, to country, rock and Americana.
August 20 - Jazz Mafia - One of the most powerful assemblies of virtuosic performers with top-tier brass and an always premium rhythm section.
August 27 - The Del McCoury Band - High lonesome vocals and knife-sharp band keep the bluegrass flame alive.
September 3 - Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Joyful mastery of traditional jazz.

About the Great Park

The Orange County Great Park, with its 1,347-acre master plan, is the focal point of the redevelopment of the publicly-owned portion of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro. The Great Park is currently nearly 60 acres and includes an iconic tethered helium balloon that rises 400 feet in the air, providing an aerial view of Park development. A $70 million development plan to expand the Park to more than 200 acres is currently underway, building on a core section of the Park for the most immediate and wide-ranging public benefit. The Great Park Farm, Palm Court Arts Complex, North Lawn recreation area and other features are already complete, and the South Lawn soccer fields and Community Garden will be complete in 2012. For more information, please go to www.ocgp.org

Press Contact:
Jenn Starnes
Public Information Officer
Orange County Great Park Corporation
(949) 724-6574