2012 Flights & Sounds Summer Festival Goes Out Rockin’ and Swingin’ with Two-Night Finale – Summer’s End Weekend August 30 and 31

Dance your way into Labor Day with rock n’ roll superheroes The Aquabats and red-hot swingin’ jazz and blues from Lavay Smith and Her Red-Hot Skillet Lickers

IRVINE – Themed Summer’s End Weekend, the finale of the Orange County Great Park’s 2012 Flights & Sounds Summer Festival features the costumed superhero rock group, The Aquabats on August 30 and the sultry sounds of Lavay Smith and Her Red-Hot Skillet Lickers on August 31. Both performances for Summer’s End Weekend will take place in the Festival’s Dance Concourse.

“The grand finale weekend of the 2012 Flights & Sounds Summer Festival at the Great Park offers unique performances that will appeal to audiences of all ages,” said Beth Krom, Chair of the Orange County Great Park. “It’s the perfect ending for our Flights & Sounds Summer Festival, which has showcased amazing performers and delighted audiences.”

Zoom on over to the Dance Concourse on Thursday, August 30 at 8:15 p.m. to catch The Aquabats perform their unique brand of high-energy ska and rock n’ roll. Originally from Orange County, the Aquabats and their trademark superhero outfits will thrill music lovers of all ages. The group’s lead singer, Christian Jacobs, is the co-creator, writer and director of Nickelodeon’s popular Yo Gabba Gabba! Children’s television program.

On Friday, August 31 at 8:15 p.m. visitors can dance to the hot and sweet sounds of Bay Area blues and swing when vocalist and bandleader Lavay Smith and her Red-Hot Skillet Lickers perform on the Dance Concourse. This Jazz and Blues diva sings a style influenced by Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington and other great musicians. Whether singing her own compositions or drawing on a large repertoire of classics, Lavay and her all-star seven-piece band whip-up an instant recipe for dancing and good times. Arrive early for dance instruction by Atomic Ballroom beginning at 7:45 p.m.

The annual Flights & Sounds Summer Festival originated in 2008 as part of the Great Park’s commitment to delivering top-quality arts and culture programs to Orange County. Curated in association with Irvine Barclay Theatre, the Festival has evolved into a signature event in the Southern California arts landscape.

The Hangar Café will open on both Thursday and Friday at 6:00 p.m. and will feature a fresh selection of delicious food and beverages. Admission is free. Parking is $10.

Unforgettable Experience in Unique Venues

Beyond the varied and rich musical line up, the Great Park Flights & Sounds Summer Festival provides a unique setting that adds to the visitor experience. The musical performances for Summer’s End Weekend take place in a specially-designed iconic venue at the Great Park.

• The Dance Concourse features the iconic black and white checkerboard dance floor and includes dance instruction from Atomic Ballroom at 7:45 p.m. under the glow of the Great Park Balloon.

The Palm Court Arts Complex Open During Summer Festival

The Palm Court Arts Complex will be open during the Flights & Sounds Summer Festival with exciting and diverse opportunities to view exhibitions and engage with artists in the creative process. Be sure to check out the following on view at the festival:

• Farmers to Flyers Exhibition in the Great Park Gallery
• Artist-in-Residence Andre Woodward Open Studio Hours in the Artists Studios
• Artist-in-Residence Amy Catarina Fiber Art Installation in the Palm Court Plaza
• Contemporary Artists Depict 1942 Exhibition in the Artists Studios

The Orange County Great Park is located at Sand Canyon and Marine Way, and can easily be reached by the 5 or 405 freeways.

For more information, visit, please visit www.ocgp.org or call 866-829-3829.

About the Orange County Great Park

Hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over Southern California enjoy the Orange County Great Park’s array of recreational and educational opportunities, including panoramic views from the iconic Great Park Balloon that rises 400 feet in the air. Other Great Park features include the Carousel, Farm + Food Lab, Kids Rock Playground, Walkable Historical Timeline, Palm Court Arts Complex, North Lawn recreation area and historic Hangar 244. In addition to free sports clinics, gardening workshops, weekly Farmers Market and other community events, the Great Park hosts an annual series of special events that provide unique experiences for the entire family, including the Growing the Park: Anniversary Celebration, Great Park Pumpkin Harvest, Great Night! Family New Year’s Eve, and the Flights & Sounds Summer Festival. With its approximate 1,300-acre master plan, the Great Park is the centerpiece of the redevelopment of the publicly-owned portion of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. For more information, please visit www.ocgp.org.