Community Concert with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra

By Dottie McGrew

Wrap up summer on a high note with the ninth annual Cleveland Pops Concert on the city square at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Rain date is Sunday, Sept. 9.

The concert is free; the music is delightful; the experience priceless.

The orchestra plays on the portico of city hall. The square and adjacent streets are
closed to traffic so the crowd spills comfortably across the streets and into the grassy front yard of The Hoover Company. Of course, early bird picnickers and concert goers stake out the best sites.

Cleveland Pops founder and conductor, clarinetist Carl Topolow traditionally opens the concert with a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and ends the evening with an equally rousing rendition of The Stars and Stripes Forever. In between is a mix of show tunes and popular melodies, garnished with Topolow’s friendly banter. All in all, the scene brings to mind the warmth of a Norman Rockwell painting.

Bring the family. Bring guests. Carry lawn chairs. Tote a picnic. Create a tradition.

The Cleveland Pops Orchestra performance is made possible by the generosity of Arcadis, Blimpie Subs & Salads, CT Consultants, Gipson Investments dba Jimmy John’s, Oho Legacy Bank, Russell’s Clock Shop and the City of North Canton.