Friday at 3 p.m. your kids should be at the fair
By Chris Smith
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Of all great reasons to take your children to the Sonoma County Fair, the
free symphony concert on Friday afternoon might just be tops.
Fifty members of the Santa Rosa Symphony will play in a pirate-themed performance in the Chris Beck Arena. The amazing Marcy Smothers will emcee and Snoopy will be there, perhaps chasing notes through the air.
“The Pirates’ Visit: A Swashbuckling Voyage,” conducted by Maestro Richard Loheyde, is a gift of the Sonoma Paradiso Foundation (sonomaparadiso.com).
The charitable group’s concerts have introduced thousands of local kids to the joy of classical music and its fund-raising galas have generated more than $6 million in grants to local programs serving children and families.
Tireless community booster and philanthropist Marcy Smothers will emcee Friday's concert.
Friday afternoon’s concert is free with admission to the fair. And thanks to the generosity of the fair and Sonoma Valley resident Debby Helm of the Helms & Sons carnival, families served by many local non-profits will also receive free admission to the fair and have an opportunity to purchase a midway rides wristband for just $7.50.
Just after 2 on Friday afternoon, a band of young musicians from the Santa Rosa Youth Symphony will play Pied Piper and roam the fairgrounds, leading little ones to what will be, for many, an uproariously delightful first encounter with classical music.
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