Mendocino Music Festival facts for kids
The Mendocino Music Festival is a super cool event that happens every July in the beautiful coastal town of Mendocino, California. Imagine listening to amazing music right by the Pacific Ocean! This festival has been bringing joy to music lovers since 1986. It's a mix of many different types of music, from big orchestras to jazz bands and even opera.
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Discover the Mendocino Music Festival
The Mendocino Music Festival is an exciting yearly event held in July. It takes place in the charming town of Mendocino, located on the stunning Pacific coast of Northern California. Since 1986, the festival has offered a wide variety of musical performances.
What Kind of Music Can You Hear?
At the festival, you can enjoy many different kinds of music. Evening concerts often feature a full symphony orchestra, which is a large group of musicians playing together. You might also hear a big band, an opera performance, or special guest singers and bands. There's also chamber music, which is played by smaller groups, along with dance, blues, jazz, world music, folk, and popular contemporary songs.
During the daytime, the festival offers more performances. These include piano concerts, more chamber music, and various jazz and other modern music groups. There's even a special recital for new, talented artists who receive scholarships.
Who Plays the Music?
A special festival orchestra is put together every year just for this event. It's made up of professional musicians from famous groups like the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Opera orchestra, and the San Francisco Ballet orchestra. Musicians from the Symphony of the Redwoods and other orchestras in the Bay Area also join in. These talented musicians are often hosted by local families in Mendocino during the festival.
Where Does the Magic Happen?
Each year, the Mendocino Music Festival sets up a huge tent that acts as a concert hall. This tent is about 16,000-square-foot (1,500 m2) in size. It's built in a beautiful spot overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the Mendocino Headlands State Park. The tent can seat more than 840 people! It's located right next to the Ford House Museum Visitor Center and across Main Street from the Kelley House Museum. The festival's main office is in the Old Bank Building, at the corner of Main and Kasten Streets.
How Does the Festival Work?
The festival relies on a wonderful network of over 200 volunteers. These dedicated people help out during the festival season and at other events throughout the year. The Mendocino Music Festival was started in 1986. It was the dream of three people: Allan Pollack, Susan Waterfall, and Walter Green, who was a principal bassoon player for the San Francisco Symphony.
