Latest news with #GreatParkLive
Los Angeles Times
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Pacific Symphony returns to Irvine for another ‘spectacular' summer season
Pacific Symphony, the resident orchestra of the Great Park Live amphitheater in Irvine, will return to the outdoor venue for another spectacular summer season, kicking off the Summerfest 2025 series with its traditional 'July 4th Spectacular.' This marks the second year the symphony has made Great Park Live its summer home, after the temporary live music venue replaced the FivePoint Amphitheater. 'We are thrilled to return for another season at Great Park Live, where music and community come together under the stars,' said Pacific Symphony president, John Forsyte. Presented by City of Hope Orange County, with support from the City of Irvine, the five-concert series will feature the Symphony's renowned conductors, including Pacific Symphony music director Carl principal pops conductor Enrico Lopez Yañez and principal pops conductor laureate Richard Kaufman. 'We know music has a transformative power to uplift, to bring people together, and to heal. That's something we celebrate at City of Hope Orange County,' Annette Walker, president of City of Hope Orange County said in statement. 'We look forward to celebrating another magical summer series with Pacific Symphony.' The Pacific Symphony performs more than 100 concerts each year. Its Summerfest series has become a fixture for outdoor entertainment in Orange County since 1987, when the orchestra began summer performances at Irvine Meadows, which became Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. Later, the symphony moved to the Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa before coming to the FivePoint Amphitheater in Irvine until its closure. The 'July 4th Spectacular' has become a patriotic tradition for the symphony and this year's Independence Day celebration will contain pieces that honor America and the iconic all-American hits from Jimmy Buffet and the Beach Boys. Led by Pops conductor laureate Richard Kaufman, the program will end with a fireworks display. On Aug. 2, Pacific Symphony uses the force with 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Concert.' The Pacific Symphony will perform the movie score live alongside the full-length feature film, making for an immersive experience for any Star Wars fan. On Aug. 23, attendees are invited to put on their boogie shoes for 'Disco Fever-Let's Dance!' as Lopez-Yañez is joined by vocalists Maiya Sykes and Ty Taylor to perform selections from the disco catalogue like 'Stayin' Alive,' 'I Will Survive' and 'The Hustle.' The show promises to be a fun but also deeply personal performance, inspired by Lopez-Yañez's father's love of disco. Then on Aug. 23, leads 'Beethoven's Emperor & Pictures at an Exhibition' with Michelle Cann on piano. The season closes out on Sept. 6 with the 'Tchaikovsky Spectacular.' Conducted by Francesco Lecce-Chong, the memorable program features Tchaikovsky's most iconic works, such as 'Piano Concerto No. 1' and 'Francesca da Rimini,' and crescendos into the incendiary '1812 Overture' complete with fireworks to punctuate the performance. The Great Park Live entertainment venue first opened in June 2024, serving the community as a temporary live music space until a more permanent venue is built at the Great Park. Forsyte noted that last summer's successful series encouraged the symphony to continue its summer tradition of playing music under the stars. 'This season builds on the energy of last year's Summerfest while introducing new, inspiring elements that elevate the experience,' said Forsyte. More elevated experiences are coming to the Great Park, as the the City of Irvine and the Great Park Board recently announced plans to add an aerial transport system known as 'Whoosh' to the park at the 2025 'State of the Great Park.' The event opened with a Pacific Symphony performance, and Forsyte said the symphony is happy to continue to bring orchestral music to the Orange County community in multiple capacities. 'We are dedicated to always bringing wonder, joy and connection through orchestral music,' said Forsyte. 'We can't wait to share these unforgettable moments with our community.' Pacific Symphony's Summerfest series runs July 4 to Sept. 6. Subscriptions are available with packages ranging in price from $189 to $580 with parking included. For details and tickets visit
Los Angeles Times
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Progress at the Great Park in Irvine, largest city park development in U.S.
Despite a light drizzle Tuesday, many Irvine community members spent the afternoon at the Great Park for the 2025 'State of the Great Park' event. The City of Irvine and the Great Park Board invited neighbors for a first look at the progress being made at the Great Park through immersive partner exhibits and a presentation from Great Park leadership. Great Park Board chairman Mike Carroll at the 2025 'State of the Great Park' event. 'You are the reason that Irvine leads the nation in building a city and community that we can all be proud of,' said Great Park Board chairman and Irvine City Councilmember, Mike Carroll, in an address to the crowd. 'Twenty years ago, this place was on track to be a massive international airport and 20 years ago community leaders fought back to preserve this place as a park for all of us to enjoy.' The lawn of Great Park Live resembled a carnival — a rainy one — with games, mini golf, bounce houses and food from Chick-fil-A, Wetzel's Pretzels and more. The program began with a performance by the Pacific Symphony, which makes the temporary live music venue its summer home, followed by remarks from Irvine Mayor and Great Park Board director Larry Agran and Great Park Board vice chairman and Irvine City Councilmember William Go. The ambitious public park in Irvine has been in various stages of development since Orange County voters passed Measure W, authorizing the former air station's use as a park, nature preserve and multi-use development in 2002. The park rivals New York's Central Park in size at nearly 1,347 acres and with a budget of over $1.2 billion, it is currently the largest municipal park under development in the United States. Detailed plans for several attractions coming to the park were revealed Tuesday at the event. The 2025 'State of the Great Park' event included a performance by the Pacific Symphony. The 'Heart of the Park' will feature a grand promenade with tree-top walks, a rotunda and a picnic garden. Museum pads will soon be ready for construction, building what will become 'Cultural Terrace' where guests will find Pretend City, Orange County Music and Dance and the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum. A trail system with new bridges and shade structures that will connect the different areas of the park called Bosque is also planned. The Great Park's retired military base past will be honored with Veterans Memorial Park and Garden, which will include the Great Park Central Library in addition to a botanical garden. The El Toro air traffic control tower will live on as an interactive museum, where residents can experience what it's like in a real air traffic control tower. Carroll also detailed the aerial transport system planned for the park known as 'Whoosh.' 'We believe aerial transportation will ease traffic and provide accessibility for people of all ages and all mobility levels,' said Carroll. 'So everybody can enjoy the Great Park from end to end.' The fully electric-powered, autonomous 'Whoosh' system will have elevated vehicles that travel on a fixed cableway and can accommodate up to 10,000 passengers per hour. A simulation of 'Whoosh' set up in the park for the event allowed families to imagine what it might look like riding the aerial transport system over the Great Park in the future. The 2025 'State of the Great Park' event included a simulation of the Whoosh aerial transport system coming to the Great Park in Irvine. 'The Great Park is a living reflection of Irvine's past and a bold investment in its future,' said Irvine Mayor Larry Agran. 'With every new addition, we're honoring our history, engaging our community and building something truly extraordinary.' The 'State of the Great Park' event follows the groundbreaking of The Canopy at Great Park, a dining and retail center by local development company Almquist that will also welcome the first SoCal T&T Supermarket. Carroll said the ongoing development of the Great Park continues the vision started back in 2002. 'We're not just building a park, we're building a legacy,' said Carroll.
Los Angeles Times
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Boots & Brews boot scoots into Irvine
If you weren't able to rope tickets to Stagecoach this year, don't put your cowboy boots away just yet. Another country music festival is making its way to Orange County's backyard, as Boots & Brews comes to Great Park Live in Irvine on April 11. The premier outdoor concert event brings live country music to venues across California and this year will be the first time the show has boot-scooted to Orange County. 'Boots & Brews was born in Ventura County in 2012,' said Vincenzo Giammanco, chief executive officer at CBF Productions, which produces the event. 'Since then, we now travel and do it at a bunch of different cities. We still do it in Ventura, Morgan Hill, Santa Clarita and now Irvine.' Country music singer Jake Owen, who has had 10 hits make the No. 1 spot on the US country charts, including 'Beachin'' and 'Barefoot Blue Jean Night' will headline, with Jerrod Niemann and RaeLynn also on the bill. Locally produced beers will be on tap along with cocktails and mocktails and attendees can look forward to a Western-themed vendor market with gear like cowboy boots and cowboy hats. A honky-tonk area will be dedicated to line dancing too, for guests of all abilities. Giammanco said he has been hoping to bring the festival to Orange County since its inception and was thrilled when the opportunity finally presented itself. 'A lot of times when we produce this show, a majority of our attendees are from the O.C.,' said Giammanco. 'When I found Great Park Live, which is new pop-up amphitheater, it intrigued me and when I went out there and did a tour, I knew it was perfect. You have beautiful grass, a beautiful stage and great weather.' Great Park Live is a temporary live music venue that opened last summer to replace the FivePoint Amphitheater, which closed in October 2023. Positioned in a corner of the Great Park Sports Complex, the outdoor live entertainment space has served as a summer concert venue for Pacific Symphony concerts and other live events, while the city of Irvine works to develop a more permanent amphitheater facility. Boots & Brews will be the first big show of the season for Great Park Live and Giammanco hopes it won't be the last time the festival comes to Orange County. He is looking forward to providing a memorable experience for country fans. 'When the headliner hits the stage and the lights go out and the place just goes absolutely nuts, you are seeing people singing the songs and you are seeing couples holding each other and sharing a moment; knowing that we helped create the atmosphere for those moments they'll remember for the rest of their lives is amazing.' Tickets for Boots & Brews start at $59.99 for general admission and $149.99 for the VIP Lounge. There are also party packs that offer tickets at a discounted price when you purchase four or more, and private cabana experiences too. For details on tickets visit
