It’s almost time to spread the blankets and dive into the delicious picnic food and wine while enjoying the beautiful, world-class sounds. Cleveland Orchestra July 4 weekend at the bucolic Blossom Music Center.

Ten weeks of concerts and picnics at the Blossom Music Festival kick off July 2 at the Cleveland Orchestra’s summer home in Cuyahoga Falls, with a total of 14 different concert programs running for 19 performances over Labor Day weekend.

After:Cleveland Orchestra Announces Blossom Season With Return Of Movies, Some Lesser-Known Gems

The Cleveland Orchestra will open the 2022 season with the “Fanfare for the Common Man” concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, conducted by outgoing Associate Chief Vinay Parameswaran. The concert will feature the orchestra’s premiere of Gulda’s “Cello Concerto”, with the orchestra’s principal cellist Mark Kosower as soloist, and Copland’s “Symphony No. 3”.

Copland’s jubilant third symphony, composed to celebrate the end of World War II, is often called “The Great American Symphony”. It ends with themes from the popular “Fanfare for the Common Man”.

Fireworks will follow the concert, weather permitting.

The extended holiday weekend will continue with the star-studded “Salute to America” ​​celebration concert, featuring the Blossom Festival Band at 8 p.m. July 3-4.

The family-friendly event will feature patriotic marches, Broadway favourites, an Armed Forces salute, and more, led by fan favorite Loras John Schissel. The concerts will end with a fireworks display.

Single pavilion tickets start at $25 for adults, $15 for students and children. Single lawn tickets start at $25. Two free lawn tickets for under 18s are available for every adult lawn ticket purchased.

Customers can also save with the ever-popular lawn ticket booklets. The books include 10 vouchers for adults, 20 free vouchers for under-18s and two free upgrade passes, valid for the whole season. The cost is $180. Call the Severance Hall box office at 216-231-1111 or visit clevelandorchestra.com for more information.

The Blossom box office will be open from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on festival performance days throughout the summer season.

For information on subscriptionscall 216-231-1111 or visit clevelandorchestra.com.

Parking for Blossom Music Festival

Subscribers and guests who purchased tickets at least 10 days before a festival concert will receive dated hang tags in the mail. Those with tags displayed in their vehicle will be directed to a designated lot.

Prepaid parking in the nearest lot A is subject to availability for non-hangtag people. The cost is $25 per vehicle.

Those without a dated parking tag will be directed to unpaved lots at no additional charge.

A free tram service between the car parks and the pavilion is available continuously. A limited number of golf carts are also available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The gates to Blossom Park open 2.5 hours before the orchestra concerts. Picnic tables are located outside and inside the gates.

Concessions will be available for the 2022 season, including the Blossom Grille Restaurant and Tasting Room. The Cleveland Orchestra Store will also be open near the main entrance.

Throughout the festival season, Image Magnification (IMAG), an on-screen display of live concert footage, will be presented. The state-of-the-art LED screens, installed in the pavilion in 2018, are visible throughout the site.

Blossom’s story

Blossom Music Center, established as the summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra, opened in July 1968 with performances of Beethoven’s “Ninth Symphony” conducted by George Szell. The 200-acre musical park includes the acoustically acclaimed Blossom Pavilion, which seats more than 5,000 people and was designed by renowned Cleveland architect Peter van Dijk. The lawn can accommodate up to 15,000 more people outside in a natural grass amphitheater surrounded by woods.

The Blossom Music Center, located at 1146 W. Steels Corners Road in Cuyahoga Valley State Park, was named in honor of the Dudley S. Blossom family, primary supporters of the Cleveland Orchestra throughout its history .

Art and restoration writer Kerry Clawson can be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.