Summer Pops 2019: All About Music, Weather, Blankets, & Parking

WESTERLY, RI—The harmonies of community and music come together to officially welcome summer in Westerly on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at 8 p.m., as the Chorus of Westerly presents its 39th annual Summer Pops performance in downtown Westerly’s Wilcox Park.

This year’s performance, part of the Town of Westerly’s 350th anniversary, features the 180-voice Chorus of Westerly, the Pops Festival Orchestra, the Artillery Company of Newport, and a fireworks finale extravaganza by Grucci. The performance is conducted by Andrew Howell.

The details

Summer Pops in Westerly is a free event and no tickets are required.The program takes place in Wilcox Park, located between Broad Street, Grove Avenue, and High Street, next to the Westerly Public Library (the owners and operators of the park). The main show begins at 8 pm and the pre-show begins at 6:15 pm. In the event of inclement weather, rain dates are scheduled for Sunday, June 23 and Monday, June 24, 2019.

Fortunately, the weather forecast appears perfect: Saturday in Westerly will see a high of 80, a low of 61, relatively low humidity and, save for an errant cloud, mostly sunny. At least that's what forecasters say. Don't hold us to it!

Those wishing to attend the performance can put down a blanket in Wilcox Park early to reserve a spot. Concert attendees can put down blankets and then leave them unoccupied beginning at 5 pm onFriday, June 21, 2019. Blankets and items put down before this time and left unattended likely will be removed. Unattended coolers, chairs, and other items besides blankets will also be removed.

Please note that parking in downtown Westerly and traffic through downtown is heavily restricted between 4 pm and the end of the show (near to 10 pm). Traffic patterns will be modified before, during, and after the event.

The performance

The American Band, a 60-piece ensemble led by conductor Brian Cardany, will be featured as special guests of Summer Pops 2019 on both the main program, which begins at 8 pm, and as lead act on The Pops pre-show at 6:15 pm.

The pre-show will also include performances by Pianist Michael Chicoria and The Westerly Morris Men. Also featured on the main show as Summer Pops special guest artist, being presented in conjunction with the Westerly Bricks and Mural’s Harmony Trail project, is seven-time Grammy winning saxophonist Paul Winter.

Summer Pops 2019 will also feature a new work celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Chorus of Westerly, the 350th anniversary, and the 40th anniversary of The American Band’s “reformation”, by talented New York composer and Westerly native John Tafone.

Tafone, who is currently working on the scores for multiple new musicals soon heading towards Broadway (and who premiered music from his new musical The Count of Monte Cristo two years ago), has written a work that will feature a fanfare sounding from all corners of the park and featuring nearly all of the event’s performers.

The finale includes Tchaikovsky’s famous 1812 Overture complete with chorus, orchestra, cannons of the Newport Artillery, the bells of Christ Church, and fireworks by Grucci.

Further information on the performance, including weather delay information if required, is available at chorusofwesterly.org or by calling 401.596.8663.