Festively lit historic garden paths coupled with live music on a balmy summer’s evening make for one of the Finger Lakes’ most unique experiences as Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park kicks off its popular Moonlight Stroll Concert Series on Friday, July 1. These 2-hour concerts will take place every Friday night July 1 through August 5 from 8:00 – 10:00 PM. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets as well as family, friends or that special someone for an evening out under the stars and strolls through beautiful gardens as live music floats in the air.

These concerts give guests a rare opportunity to partake of the beauty of Sonnenberg’s gardens at night - for this is the one time each year that the gardens are lit and showcased at night. Evening strolls in Sonnenberg’s gardens are a rare treat for the gardens take on a completely different demeanor when the sun drops – shadows grow long, hues deepen, and the fragrance of roses and other blooms become more pronounced in the cool evening air.

Sonnenberg will be bringing a variety of talented musical performers to its grounds for this concert series. The series begins on July 1st with the 4-piece rock band, Nightfall After Dark, that covers tunes from the 60’s and beyond. The second concert on July 8th promises to be a magical evening with the Tullamore Celtic Band whose traditional tunes will make guests feel as though they’ve been transported across the ocean to the Emerald Isle herself. On July 15th, enjoy the Rochester Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra which is a 19-piece ensemble performing jazz in the tradition of the Count Basie Orchestra. The very popular country band, Flint Creek, will be performing on July 22nd. The Panloco Steel Band on July 29th will heat up the night with smooth melodies and rhythms of the Caribbean. The concert series finishes on August 5th with classic oldies and pop rock of Dan Elliot and the Monterey’s.

Sonnenberg’s own Finger Lakes Wine Center will offer wine by the glass for sale each evening. Beer and light refreshments will also be available for purchase. All performances will be held on the Mansion veranda. Chairs will be setup on the lawn for seating but guests are also encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets to setup on the lawn.

Admission at the door for each Moonlight Series concert will be $10/adults, $8/Sonnenberg members, $5/youth 6-17, and 5 and under are free. Reservations are not necessary and all admission will be at the gate. The gates will open at 7:30 PM and all concerts will be held rain or shine. Event series sponsored by Lyons National Bank, Ryan’s Wine & Spirits, and Finger Lakes Community Arts Grant thru Auburn Public Theater.

Photos for media use available at: http://www.sonnenberg.org/about-us/press-releases-information-for-the-media/

Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park is one of America’s longest surviving estates from the Victorian Era. The elegant Queen Anne-style mansion was built in 1887 in Canandaigua by New York City financier Frederick Ferris Thompson, and his wife, Mary Clark Thompson, as a summer home. Between 1901 and 1920, the widowed Mrs. Thompson and her staff created the nine formal gardens seen today. The grounds are open to the public from May 1 through October 31 each year. Sonnenberg is a non-profit organization dependent upon the support of members and sponsors and its dedicated corps of volunteers. For more information on the revival of the grand estate on the “sunny hill,” contact Marketing Director Kimberly Burkard or Executive Director David Hutchings at 585-394-4922.