Community Band goes traveling at Symphony in th Park

May 29—Music lovers won't have to go far to get to Route 66, Spain or the Grand Canyon this Saturday.

Songs saluting those destinations are part of Travel With Us, presented at Muskogee Community Band's Symphony in the Park.

The symphony begins at 7 p.m. Saturday at Honor Heights Park's south field.

Community Band Director Bruce Thompson said the music will come from "pretty much around the world."

"From Europe and Spain, all the way to Hawaii," he said.

Songs include Bobby Troup's "Get your Kicks on Route 66" and Hoagy Carmichael's "Georgia on My Mind."

The band will play Lindsay Buckingham's "Holiday Road" from the movie "Vacation."

Thompson said the band has grown to about 55 members over the past few years. Many are students, directors or alumni from area school bands, others are area musicians.

Symphony in the Park draws about 1,000 people to Honor Heights each year, said Muskogee Parks and Recreation special projects coordinator Joel Everett.

As a result, it helps to come early to ensure a good place to park, he said.

People are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. Many visitors and groups bring their own food.

Barbecue will be sold from a food truck.

Ten travel-themed banners painted by area artists will up for auction during the show's intermission.

The symphony will conclude with a fireworks display.

If it rains on Saturday, the symphony will move to the large hangar at the Hatbox Event Center.