2012 Summer Blast Off!

So this is it folks, our summer season has officially started! It's time to kick it off with our annual Summer Blast Off! this Sunday, May 27 @ 8pm. Maybe you're already planning to be here or maybe you haven't been before, either way, let me give you a few reasons to try it out.

Who comes to the Wolf Trap Summer Blast Off?
Families
Couples
People on a budget (it’s free!)
People who love music
Marines
Firework connoisseurs
People excited to kick off the summer season with a bang
Picnic lovers
Winos
…and everybody in between!

What is the Summer Blast Off?
Blast Off! is a Wolf Trap summer tradition that happens in two parts. First, the United States Marine Band plays a beautiful set at the Filene Center from 8pm until about 9:30pm. Songs include a mix of patriotic, big band, and orchestral arrangements. If you’ve never heard the USMB perform before, you really must. They are the best of the best, and did I mention it's free?

Here is the USMB set list.

March, "Hail to the Spirit of Liberty"
Jubel Overture, J.245
"Napoli"
"Doodletown Fifers"
Suite from Band of Brothers
Suite from A White House Cantata
Overture Solennelle, "1812"
"God of Our Fathers"
"The Stars and Stripes Forever"
A Salute to the Armed Forces of the United States of America

The second part of Blast Off! happens after the USMB closes their set, everyone moves from the theatre to stake out spots on the hill behind the Meadow to watch the fireworks. Watching fireworks in a National Park on one of the first beautiful nights of summer is a treat in itself, but we've also put together an exciting accompanying playlist to sweeten the deal and to get you all pumped for our summer season! Some artists you can expect to hear on our fireworks playlist include Barenaked Ladies, Martina McBride, Gipsy Kings, Alan Jackson, and The B-52s.

I hope to see you all there this Sunday!