Tag: Pops in the park 2023

Time to prepare for the Cape Ann Symphony Pops concert 1 week away July 28, 2023!

FAQs from Cape Ann Symphony:

“We’re expecting a lot of folks to come to Stage Fort Park one week from today to celebrate Gloucester’s 400th with the Cape Ann Symphony. You may be wondering:

With thousands expected, where will we be able to park? Will there be handicapped parking?

There are a number of parking spaces, including handicapped, available at Stage Fort Park. However, they will fill quickly. So you should consider parking at a satellite parking facility and taking a Cape Ann Transportation Shuttle bus to the park. These shuttles will be running continuously from 5pm to 11pm. Parking and shuttle service will be free.

4 Satellite parking locations will be at:
Gloucester High School, 32 Leslie O Johnson Road, Gloucester.
O’Maley Innovation Middle School, 32 Cherry St. Gloucester.
Magnolia woods ‘recreation Area, 474 Western Ave., Gloucester.
Rockport Transfer Station Park and Ride, 2 Blue Gate Lane, Rockport.

What about toilet facilities?
There are toilet facilities at the park. However not adequate for thousands. So Porta Potties will be conveniently located.

Should I bring a chair?
Yes, if you wish. Or a blanket or whatever will work for you while sitting on the grass.

So come on down one week from tonight for a Pops concert not to be forgotten.
This Marquee Gloucester 400+ celebration event of the year starts July 28, 8pm.
Pack a picnic dinner, bring a lawn chair, and join your family and friends in Gloucester’s Stage Fort Park for a spectacular evening of pops music from the professional musicians of the Cape Ann Symphony!

Cape Ann Symphony Pops concert 2023 FAQs

Heidi Dallin shares a reminder about the free spectacle July 28, 2023 and a message from Cape Ann Symphony:

“We’re constantly being asked: How did pops concerts begin and why are they called Pops?

According to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Henry Lee Higginson founder of the BSO, proposed a new series of concerts which would “re-create the ambiance of summer evenings in Viennese concert gardens.” Such a series also would provide summer employment for the members of the Boston Symphony, who at that time, had to search for other work over the non-BSO season.

They began as the “Promenade Concerts,” soon became known as “Popular Concerts,” which became “Pops,” with the name officially adopted in 1900. The whole point being to bring to audiences shorter, well known, pieces from the normal classical repertoire together with new popular music of the current age. They are concerts that invariably leave the audience with huge smiles as they exit the concert venue.

On Friday, July 28 at 8pm Yoichi Udagawa and some 70 musicians of the Cape Ann Symphony will continue the tradition, playing outdoors to several thousand folks celebrating Gloucester’s 400th at fabulous Stage Fort Park.

They’ll be on a stage in right field of the ball field left of the large tree and playing shorter pieces by traditional composers such as Tchaikovsky, Copland, Rossini, and hugely popular current musicians including Williams, Anderson and Gloucester’s own Rob Bradshaw.

An audience of thousands is expected to fill the ball park and grass all the way up to the gazebo.

We expect thousands because

It’s so much fun! And it’s free!

For full information, including free parking instructions, please click the POPS INFORMATION button.

For this Marquee Gloucester 400+ celebration event of the year: Pack a picnic dinner, bring a lawn chair, your family and friends to Gloucester’s Stage Fort Park for a spectacular evening of pops music from the professional musicians of the Cape Ann Symphony.

Save the date, share, and see you there!”

Cape Ann Symphony