It's a Swing and Surf Weekend at the Great Park

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- It's all about the evolution of cool this weekend as the Orange County Great Park's "Flights & Sounds Summer Festival"  features dance from the swing era and music inspired by Orange County's breezy surf culture.  On Friday, let Jerry Mandel Swinging the Standards Jazz Band take you away to enjoy music from the greatest generation, and on Saturday the laid-back sounds of Donovan Frankenreiter will resonate with every generation.

Much of Orange County knows Jerry Mandel only from his years as president of the Orange County Performing Arts Center, but with a cast of skilled locals, sax player/bandleader Mandel plays standards from Gershwin and Cole Porter to Sinatra and Tony Bennett. Come early at 7:30 p.m and let dance instructors teach you how to glide across the dance floor with style.  

On Saturday, September 18th come catch the wave with surfer and singer Donovan Frankenreiter.  This Orange County native has a voice like a warm summer breeze, and while he's surfed professionally for more than two decades, music fans learned of him in 2004, when his debut solo album yielded the radio hit "Free."

"Come enjoy the music of two local performers delight in the sounds of swing, sun and surf," said Larry Agran, Chair, Orange County Great Park Corporation.   "We invite everyone to come enjoy these performances that will bring everybody in Orange County together for truly great time at 'Flights & Sounds Summer Festival.'"

Before Saturday's performance, visitors can enjoy the Great Park Comedy Corner at 7:00 p.m. featuring Taylor Williamson, Robbie Pickard and Ryan Niemiller.  Admission to "Flights & Sounds Summer Festival"  dance and concert series is free, and parking is just $10.

Be sure to come back next week for the grand finale of "Flights & Sounds Summer Festival" featuring Waltz Me: A Night in Vienna and BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet with Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and the Mardi Gras Indians.

Flights & Sounds Summer Festival  is presented by the Orange County Great Park Corporation in partnership with Irvine Barclay Theatre. Concertgoers can watch the show from chairs provided in a temporary concert pavilion or bring their own chairs to listen to the music from the Great Park Lawn. Before each performance, Hangar 244 is transformed into the Hangar Cafe, a lounge-like dining area serving up everything from snacks to full dinners.

The Orange County Great Park is located off the 405 or 5 Freeways at Sand Canyon and Marine Way in Irvine. Admission is to Flights & Sounds Summer Festival  dance and concert series is free, and parking is just $10.

The Orange County Great Park and its 1,347-acre master plan is the focal point of the redevelopment of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro. The Great Park is currently 27.5 acres and includes an iconic tethered helium balloon that rises 400 feet in the air, providing an aerial view of Park development. A $65.5 million development plan to expand the Park to 200 acres is currently underway. The plan will build out a core section of the Park for the most immediate and wide-ranging public benefit, including a sports park, agricultural area and an art and culture exhibition space.

For the entire festival line-up and more information, go to www.ocgp.org.

SOURCE Orange County Great Park