Join the Akron Symphony Orchestra and the City of Akron for a series of free outdoor concerts this summer at area parks.

The concerts will feature a bounty of popular favorites, including Rossini’s The Barber of Seville Overture, selections from Leonard Bernstein’s electrifying West Side Story, the concert suite from the Alfred Hitchcock classic Vertigo, as well as iconic music from Star Wars and The Rebellion is Reborn from The Last Jedi.

Barbara O’Brien, principal flute, will be the featured soloist on Borne’s Carmen Fantasy, arranged by French composer François Borne.

“We program a great variety of works, from classic pops to popular classics. I look for listenable, high energy, lyrical music, and also to some extent topical works,” said Music Director Christopher Wilkins. “These Akron Symphony programs are part of a long American tradition of popular orchestral concerts performed outdoors in the summertime for families. John Philip Sousa and Arthur Fiedler helped establish the tradition, the City of Akron and the Akron Symphony are keeping it strong here in Akron.”

The Summer Parks series will take place at 7:30 p.m. on the following dates:

• July 29 at Firestone Park
• August 5 at Glendale Cemetery
• August 12 at Hardesty Park
• August 19 at Goodyear Heights Metro Park

“It’s all about having fun. Bring a picnic and a Frisbee. Invite neighbors and friends who’ve never been to a Symphony concert before,” Wilkins said. “And be sure to stop by the Maestro Zone in front of the stage where children of all ages can come try out their hand at conducting. We’ll have a podium, conductor’s stand, the music, and a free ‘baton’ for them to use.”

Last year, thousands spent their Sunday evenings under the stars with the Akron Symphony Orchestra performing on the outdoor stage built for the Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival. The Akron Symphony’s summer concerts are free to attend and are supported by the City of Akron.