Music Beckons In The Moonlit Mountains Of Western Maine
KINGFIELD, Maine – Music, mountains, moonlight. There’s no better way to spell ‘magic.’
On Saturday, June 28, as a full moon rises over the charming historic village of Kingfield, nestled against the peaks of Maine’s 4000-foot Western Mountains, Xiao-Lu Li, the conductor of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra (BSO), will raise his baton and the 65-member orchestra will strike the opening notes of the Kingfield POPS’ sixth annual outdoor concert.
At the end of the evening, fireworks will launch into the moonlit sky. More than 1500 cheering people will rise to their feet – as they do every year – and offer an enthusiastic standing ovation to the BSO and the Kingfield POPS.
In its sixth year, the 2008 Kingfield POPS promises to be the best ever, featuring not only the BSO, but also some exceptional regional performers and an increasingly popular Festival of the Arts. This magical musical event and full day of arts and cultural activities, fun, festivities, and fine food attracts visitors from near and far.
The highlight of the day is the performance by the world-class Bangor Symphony Orchestra, Maine’s oldest continuously performing community orchestra, well known for its crowd-pleasing programming. They will play an exhilarating program of familiar light classical and patriotic music that the whole family will recognize and appreciate.
As the lead-in to the BSO performance, great Maine musicians will play non-stop from the moment the gates open at 5:00 p.m.
Guests can bring their own picnic supper -- or they can buy supper, snacks or desert from one of the local vendors -- and dine al fresco against the backdrop of the mountains. Children will be amused by the clown and the BSO’s Instrument Petting Zoo, which offers the chance to investigate, ‘hands on,’ many of the instruments in a symphony orchestra. Selected POPS gear and souvenirs will be for sale.
During the day, at the Festival of the Arts in the village (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), visitors can meet artists and artisans, and interact with them as they exhibit their photography, jewelry, stained glass, blown glass, paintings, metal works, wooden bowls, and spinning yarn. New to the Kingfield POPS last year, the Festival of the Arts proved to be very popular and complemented the cultural focus of the event, said POPS President, Donald Tranten. “So far, the response has been tremendous, and we expect the Festival to continue to attract an increasingly diverse group of artists.” Maine musicians will play live music throughout the day.
In just six seasons, the Kingfield POPS has grown from a grass roots outdoor concert to the event of the season, a daylong family event that brings a world-class orchestra to this stunning venue in rural Maine. It also creates an opportunity for young Maine performers to participate in a prestigious musical event.
"The Kingfield POPS has become a focal point for showcasing the endless recreational and cultural opportunities that are available in the western Maine Mountains," said Donald Tranten, president of the Kingfield POPS. “Visitors to the POPS are at the hub of a region with heart-stopping vistas, fantastic hiking, biking, swimming, rafting, boating and fishing. You name it, we’ve got it. This is a gorgeous outdoor playground. We also have good facilities – and we take great care of our guests."
Admission is free for the Festival of the Arts, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tickets for the Kingfield POPS concert are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate. Children 17 and under are admitted FREE when accompanied by an adult. Gate opens at 5:00 p.m. For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.kingfieldpops.com or buy tickets by calling 1-800-639-3221. Tickets are also sold locally at Camden National Bank branches in Farmington, Kingfield, Stratton, Phillips, and Rangeley.
Directions:
Go to www.kingfieldpops.com for a link to a map and directions.
To get to Kingfield POPS from southern points, follow Route 27 North to Kingfield. Take a left on Route 142 in the center of Kingfield and travel one half mile to the Kennedy Farm on the right. Alternately, follow Route 4 south out of Rangeley to Phillips. Turn left on Route 142 just past the Phillips Elementary School and travel 15 miles to the Kennedy Farm on the left.
From Rangeley, you can also follow Route 16 to Stratton and Route 27 south to Kingfield. Take a right on Route 142 in the center of Kingfield and travel one half mile to the Kennedy Farm on the right.
About The Kingfield POPS:
The Kingfield POPS is a community-driven event . The mission of the POPS is to provide the Western Maine region with a sustainable annual music festival that strengthens the community by providing exciting live music experiences for diverse audiences and enrichment for area youth through music education, performance opportunities and festival involvement. Proceeds are used to bring educational, entertaining and inspirational music experiences to regional school districts. For information about the Kingfield POPS, contact Vici Robinson at (207) 265-5831.
Tickets:
You may order tickets online. Please be sure to include a mailing address or email address for confirmation. Please allow 24-48 hours for processing. A $5.00 handling fee will be added for all ticket orders. Your tickets will be mailed to the address provided or held at the gate if you prefer. For more information: info@kingfieldpops.com
