Live music under the summer sky, picnic foods and beverages, Original Rainbow Cones, fireworks bursting among the stars. Enjoy all these summer delights at the Beverly Area Planning Association’s Music Under the Stars family concert Sun., Aug. 3 on the grounds of Morgan Park Academy, 2153 W. 111th St., Chicago. Gates open at 6 p.m.

The evening with free dance lessons for all ages by John and Maria Bell of The Dance Gallery. The Bells teach their easy, lyrical style of swing and ballroom dance steps in the hour before the band begins to play, with students learning enough to spend the rest of the evening sailing over the sidewalk dance floor.

Rich Daniels and the City Lights Orchestra: Music Under the Stars at Morgan Park Academy

Rich Daniels and the City Lights Orchestra take the stage at 7 p.m. to perform contemporary, popular, swing, big band and jazz. This popular band has played throughout the United States and abroad, and accompanied a variety of top notch musicians and groups, including Garth Brooks, Louis Bellson, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett, Michael Bolton, Ray Charles, The Temptations and Manhattan Transfer. Specializing in the big band sound that gets the audience tapping their toes or heading for the dance floor, the City Lights Orchestra has a repertoire that spans generations.

Seating for Music Under the Stars is on the lawn of Morgan Park Academy, one of Chicago's oldest and most beautiful private school campuses. Bring blankets or chairs from home, or rent chairs when you get there, just $1 each from Tents R Us.

Picnic style foods and beverages will be available for purchase from favorite local vendors Calabria Imports, Original Rainbow Cone, Restaurante Tenochtitlan, and Town Liquor, or pack a picnic basket. A fireworks display follows the concert.

Jungle Gym and Home Instead Senior Care will provide children’s activities and games during the concert.

The suggested donation for Music Under the Stars is $15 per person or $25 per family (two adults with children) or $10 for seniors. Groups of eight or more are invited to reserve a table in advance. Obtain tickets through BAPA, 11107 S. Longwood Dr., at 773-233-3100, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon. through Fri., or online any time at www.bapa.org.
Tickets are also available at the following locations: Town Liquors, 10000 S. Western; County Fair, 10800 S. Western; Calabria Imports, 1905 W. 103rd St.; Dance Gallery, 10628 S. Western; and Tenochtitlan Mexican Restaurant, 12947 S. Western, Blue Island.

Music Under the Stars is sponsored by: AT&T, Citi, Smith Village, Beverly Bank & Trust, Restaurante Tenochtitlan, Marquette Bank, Prudential Biros Real Estate, Matthew O’Shea -19th Ward Committeeman, Standard Bank & Trust, Suburban Bank, National City Bank, Dance Gallery, Law Offices of Michael P. McCready & Associates, Tents R Us, Jungle Gym, and Home Instead Senior Care. Special thanks to our host, Morgan Park Academy.