Late Summer Ives Park Events

DANBURY — Ives Concert Park, the outdoor venue on the westside campus of Western Connecticut State University, has added a few late summer events to its calendar, including two offerings this weekend. Entrance to the venue is off Mill Plain Road, opposite Stop & Shop.

On Sunday, August 26, the park will host a free multimedia event during the afternoon, and a performance by the a cappella group Straight No Chaser that evening.

The first program, “Nature Story,” beginning at 2, will feature classical guitarist Ted Morcaldi, a lecture on annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees by employees of Brookfield-based Shakespeare’s Garden, and a performance by Blues, Blues.

Blues, Blues — née Larry Hunt and Adelka Polak — will offer their masque theater production, which utilizes American blues and jazz music, mime, dance, and the European “clown” approach with masks and puppets. The duo’s blending of cultural and theatrical creates “a lively, humorous, music driven, nonverbal theatrical performance.”

In addition, a special sculpture art exhibit features works by David Boyajian, Denis Folz, David McNeil, and Marcia Spavik. The artists have promised that 30 percent of the purchase price of any of their work sold on Sunday will be donated to Ives Concert Park.

Sunday’s concert by Straight No Chaser will begin at 8 pm. Gates open at 6, and tickets are $27.50 to $47.50 each plus service charges. Call 866-558-4253 or visit IvesConcertPark.com for tickets.

“Country Music Under the Stars” will be offered on Saturday, September 1, with performances by Goldrush and The Town Hall Band, and country dance lessons by DJ Alan Kohn. Goldrush is a Newtown-based band that features MaryBeth Sippin in the lead vocals role, while The Town Hall Band is the summer moniker for the performers who have been performing as The Flagpole Radio Café Orchestra at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown for a few years. The band features Jim Allyn, Rob Bonaccorso, Rick Brodsky, Howard Bujese, Dick Neal, and Francine Wheeler. Between the two groups, attendees can expect a full evening of country, American roots, bluegrass, and picking & fiddling.

Gates will be opening at 6:30 and the music will begin an hour later. Tickets are $15 for adults, and $10 for students, seniors and ages 12 and under, while family four-packs are available for $40, plus service charges (for all tickets). Tickets can be ordered through CountryMusicUnderTheStars.eventbrite.com or IvesConcertPark.com; additional information is available by calling 203-837-9226.

On Saturday, September 8, Ives Festival Orchestra will perform under the direction of Dr Fernando Jimenez. Gates will again open at 6:30, the music will begin at 7:30, and this concert is being offered free of charge; donations to the concert park will be accepted.

The program will include a salute to Broadway with selections from Les Miserables and Wicked; music from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dean Man’s Chest, and Star Wars; and Copland’s Fanfare for The Common Man.