Blast off at Rochester Symphony's Journey Through Space Free Family Preview. The family-friendly event takes Rochester Symphony's full length Journey Through Space concert and repackages it into a kid-friendly size and format.
"We'll perform portions of Saturday's concert," says Rochester Symphony's conductor Jere Lantz. "We'll play the highlights, the big moments, the super high energy parts that we think the kids will love."
The outer space themed concert features Rochester Symphony's 80-piece orchestra performing selections from Gustav Holst's The Planets and John Williams' Star Wars Suite.
"The Planets was written almost exactly a hundred years ago and includes seven movements, one for each of the planets (except Earth)," Lantz said. "We'll be playing part of Mars, Venus and maybe Jupiter. These are pieces that if you were listening you might have heard in a movie score. The three or four pieces we'll play from the Stars Wars Suite are ones families will definitely recognize from the first three movies."
In between musical selections, Lantz will share kid-friendly trivia about the pieces, the composers and the orchestra instruments.
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"We started these kid-sized concerts in the fall of 2015 with our Haunted Hall Halloween concert," said Lantz, noting that kids are encouraged to come to the concert dressed as their favorite Star Wars character. "It was a hit. Now we try to do two of these shows every season. One that pairs with our first concert of the season, and one with the last."
Tickets to the event are free, but required. Families can get theirs by calling or going online. Because of the popularity of the event, tickets may not be available the day of the event.
"The mission at Rochester Symphony is to bring great music to life," says Lantz. "The idea is simply to get great music to people at the earliest age. When you connect the stories and the people, the music becomes much more real."
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If you go
What: Rochester Symphony's Journey Through Space Free Family Preview
Where: Lourdes High School, 2800 19th St. NW, Rochester
When: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 21
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Phone: 507-286-8742
On the web: www.rochestersymphony.org
More musical notes
• SEMYO, Southeastern Minnesota Youth Orchestra, is hosting a variety of music summer day camps, including: Jazz Band Ensemble, Summer Band Camp, and World Music and Drumming. Open to kids in grade 5 and older, registration information available at semyo.org/summercamp .
• Community Education offers a variety of music-themed summer opportunities for school aged kids, including: Let's Write Music (grades 3 through 6) and Explore Your Voice (grades K through 5). Go to www.rochesterce.org to check out all the offerings in the Summer 2017 Summer Enrichment catalog.
• Goodman Productions is holding a two-week The Sound of Music summer musical theater camp, July 10-22. Open to kids ages 8 and older, registration is available online, www.goodmanproductions.com .
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Family calendar
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At the zoo
Take a look at what they find at Oxbow Park's Animal Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday at 11 a.m. Family members of all ages will have fun watching the Zollman Zoo animals search for their Easter "eggs" — new things to play with or eat. Free admission to the program and to the zoo. Call 775-2451 with questions.
What else?Oxbow Park offers free, family-friendly programming most weekends, year round. Up next it's Solutions to Storm Water Pollution (April 22), Reptiles and Amphibians (April 29), and Feed the Snakes (May 6). Go to www.co.olmsted.mn.us for a list of all of Oxbow's upcoming programming.
We understand
Hang out with kids (and adults) who understand at Mayo Clinic's Healing Adventures Camp. Held Saturday, May 20, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch in Stewartville, the free, one-day camp is open to kids ages 5 to 18 who have experienced the death of a loved one. Space is limited, prior registration is required and must be turned in by May 5. Call Amy Stelpflug at 507-284-4527 for registration information.
Who else?Adults are invited to attend the Healing Adventures Camp parent/guardian session, Saturday, May 20, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Free for parents or guardians of children attending camp, call Amy Stelpflug with questions.
Safety inspections
Make sure your child's ride is a safe one at the Car Seat Inspection Clinic, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. April 19 at Rochester Fire Station No. 2, 2185 Wheelock Drive NE. Inspections performed by certified child passenger safety technicians. Appointments required. Schedule an appointment by calling Mayo Clinic, 507-255-5066,
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What's next?Car Seat Inspection Clinics are held year round. Upcoming clinics will be held May 24, June 20, and July 19. Call to save your spot.
At the farm
It's an Easter egg hunt for all ages at the Red Barn Learning Farm's 5th Annual Egg Hunt at the Farm, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, 27251 Minnesota Highway 30, Hayfield. Gather eggs, visit with the farm animals (including babies), bring a picnic lunch or buy lunch there. Cost is $6 (+ tax) for ages 1 and older. Purchase tickets online, www.redbarnlearningfarm.com .
What else?Rochester Trolley & Tour Company is offering a Red Barn Learning Farm Egg Hunt Trolley Tour, 9:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $16 and include a narrated trip to and from the farm (with special guest, the Easter Bunny) and admission to the farm/egg hunt. Go to www.rochestermntours.com for tickets.
Eggs-cellent
This Saturday at Quarry Hill Park, there will be an Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the 40/8. It starts at 10 a.m. Eggs and candy for the children. The box car will be at the west side of Quarry Hill Park — take Ninth St. Northeast from 11th Avenue Northeast to get to the right side of the park. The event will be held rain or shine.
