Ives Concert Park To Host 2nd Annual Free Family Fair September 21

By SHANNON HICKS

Published: Sep 19, 2008 12:00 am

DANBURY â After a successful debut last year, Ives Concert Park will host the second annual free Family Fair on Sunday, September 21, at the outdoor venue on the westside campus of Western Connecticut State University.

The gates will open at 2 pm for the festivities designed to entertain guests of all ages and ethnicities. Parking and admission will be free and the public is invited. A variety of food and beverages will be available for purchase.

The celebration will culminate with a 4 pm performance by the Ives Festival Orchestra, under the direction of WestConn Professor of Music Fernando Jimenez. The orchestra will perform the score for the Connecticut Balletâs performance of Peter and the Wolf. Local I-95 radio deejay Ethan Carey will narrate. The orchestra will then perform Beethovenâs rousing Fifth Symphony.

Activities throughout the afternoon will appeal to all segments of the community, with local multicultural and childrenâs performers on a satellite stage. Among the acts scheduled to appear are the Alay Philippine Cultural Group, The Jay Bardoli Salsa Dancers, The Sons of Portugal Folklore Dance Group, Ecuadorian folk dancers, Middle Eastern belly dancers and Polynesian dancers from A Common Ground, Southbury Cultural Drummers, Los Trovadores de Puebla mariachi band, and The Merry Ploughboys.

On hand to entertain the children will be the Shalamazoo Players, characters derived from the childrenâs book of the same name written by Danbury native Joe Shaboo; performer John Farrell and strolling Civil War reenactors. Additional highlights will include Hull Landscapingâs giant scarecrow, hay rides, and a huge obstacle course moon bounce.

Vendors who sell a variety of items ranging from sand art to Russian handicrafts also will be at the fair.

For information, call 837-9226 or visit IvesConcertPark.com.

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Ives Concert Park To Host 2nd Annual Free Family Fair September 21

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