Mendocino Music Festival facts for kids
The Mendocino Music Festival is a super fun event that happens every July in the small, beautiful town of Mendocino, California. This town is right on the coast, with amazing cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The festival is like a big party for music lovers, offering many different kinds of music for everyone to enjoy!
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About the Mendocino Music Festival
The Mendocino Music Festival is a special event that brings together many types of music. It has been happening every summer since 1986. Imagine listening to amazing music while looking out at the ocean!
What Kind of Music Can You Hear?
At the festival, you can hear all sorts of music!
- In the evenings, there are big concerts with a full symphony orchestra.
- You can also enjoy a big band, opera, and guest singers.
- There are performances of blues, jazz, world music, and folk music.
- You might even see some dance performances!
During the day, there are more concerts. These include:
- Piano concerts.
- Smaller chamber music groups.
- More jazz and modern music.
- A special concert where talented young musicians, who have won scholarships, get to perform.
The Festival Orchestra
A very special part of the festival is its own orchestra. This orchestra is made up of professional musicians. They come from famous groups like the San Francisco Symphony and the San Francisco Opera orchestra. These musicians travel to Mendocino each year just for the festival. Local people in Mendocino are very kind and let the musicians stay in their homes.
Where Does It Happen?
Every year, the Mendocino Music Festival sets up a huge tent. This tent is like a giant concert hall! It is about 16,000 square feet, which is bigger than many houses. This special tent is built right on the Mendocino Headlands State Park, with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean.
The tent can hold more than 840 people! It is located next to the Ford House Museum Visitor Center. It is also across Main Street from the Kelley House Museum. The festival's main office is in an old bank building. This building is on the corner of Main and Kasten Streets.
How It All Started
The Mendocino Music Festival began in 1986. It was the dream of three people: Allan Pollack, Susan Waterfall, and Walter Green. Walter Green was a principal bassoon player for the San Francisco Symphony. They wanted to create a wonderful music event in Mendocino.
Today, over 200 volunteers help make the festival happen. They help during the festival season and at other events throughout the year. Their hard work makes sure everyone has a great time!
