Outdoor
Arts Festivals Beyond Queens
Leave
a Popsicle out in the summer sun and pretty soon
it's going to melt. But most summer classics only
get better with time. Take Tanglewood for example.
The outdoor music festival, based in Massachusetts,
has been attracting performers and audiences for
many years. It's worth a trip out of the City
as are several other annual traditions.
3rd Annual NYC Main Squeeze
Accordion Festival
July
12, 2 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Riverside Park South - Pier I at 70th Street
(212) 408-0219
www.mainsqueezeorchestra.com
 |
| The acoustics at Tanglewood are an attraction. |
The
festival allows attendees to hear eclectic music
spanning across the globe, from South America
to Great Britain, resonating from the keys of
accordions. The instrument ignites listeners to
dance their hearts out, sparking interest in both
children and adults. Music from Colombia, Romania
and Ireland will have listeners shaking their
booties with a spicy style, clapping their hands,
and kicking their legs up in a jig. Artists include
The Italian Village Dance Music, Los Macondos,
Nicu Helerea and Patty Furlong & Coolmagort, in
addition to other accordion-equipped musicians.
Bring an eager ear and wear comfortable shoes.
The festival is part of the "Summer on the Hudson"
series.
Tap
City Festival - The Boat Ride
July
5 - 11
(646) 230-9564
www.atdf.org
Hundreds of tap dancers from around the world
come to New York City to teach, study, perform,
collaborate and explore. On July 7, grab your
tap shoes and take a boat ride on the Circle Line
for a sunset jam session on the water.
Approximately 300 passengers board at 7 p.m. and
the boat sets sail at 7:30 p.m. At last year's
festival, participants came from 28 different
countries worldwide in order to offer their take
on the dance.
Even if you don't have any rhythm, come along
for the ride. Bring a picnic dinner and, should
the tapping move you, frequent the cash bar. This
is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Tanglewood
Jazz Festival
(617)
266-2378
www.tanglewoodjazzfestival.org
Come enjoy some contemporary jazz at the Tanglewood
Jazz Festival, which runs from Aug. 29 through
Aug. 31.
Colombian harpist Edmar Castaneda will open the
festival at 8 p.m. with his trio featuring vibraphonist
Joe Locke.
Tanglewood, Mass., the location of the festival,
is the home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra during
June, July and most of August, but is given over
to the jazz festival for the final weekend of
the season.
Jacob's
Pillow Dance
June
14 - Aug. 24
358 George Carter Rd.
Becket, MA 01223
(413) 243-9919
www.jacobspillow.org
 |
| The Circle Line sets aside a night for tap. |
Want
to check out some cool dance moves? Jacob's Pillow
Dance Festival, America's first and longest-running
dance festival, kicked off June 14 and will run
until Aug. 24.
The festival, located in the Berkshire hills of
western Massachusetts in the town of Becket, features
shows such as the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and David
Michalek's Slow Dancing.
The festival features some free events. Ticket
prices vary for others.
Belleayre
Music Festival
July
5 - Aug. 31
Catskills, NY
(800) 942-6904
www.belleayremusic.org
Check out some superstars of music in a beautiful
setting this summer at the Belleayre Music Festival.
Located on the grounds of Belleayre Mountain in
Highmount, the festival features such talent as
Brian Wilson, Chris Isaak, Bebe Neuwirth and Vince
Gill.
Opening the event is Irish tenor Ronan Tynan,
who will team up with the Belleayre Festival Orchestra
under the directin of John Covelli.
