On Saturday, July 5, the 23rd annual Armory Square Candlelight Series celebrates the spirited holiday 4th weekend with a Syracuse Symphony Orchestra performance titled 'Star Wars Spectacular.' Beginning at 8:00 pm, Conductor Daniel Hege will lead the musicians in Calvin Custer's arrangement of the National Anthem, followed by a two-hour free concert including selections of energetic classical music to the vigorous Star Wars excerpts. During intermission between the program's first and second half, short films from the '08 Syracuse International Film Festival will be shown.

At 6:30 pm that same night, in continuing a tradition of introducing audiences to Central New York's up and coming younger stars, Candlelight will feature Lauren Sageer, a solo vocalist and 2008 graduate from West Genesee High School who sang with WG's Jazz Band, has performed before events at the Carrier Dome and is a recent recipient of SALTY Awards (Syracuse Area Live Theater Youth) for her work in school musicals.

After July 5, Candlelight continues its free Saturday night concert Series through
August 16 with the following major performance groups and opening young talent acts, all entertaining on the Main Stage located at the corner of W. Jefferson and Franklin Streets:

• Saturday, July 5 - Syracuse Symphony Orchestra


• Saturday, July 12 - Central New York Jazz Orchestra (the Stan Colella All Star Band)


• Saturday, July 19 - Syracuse Symphony Orchestra (Andrew Friedrichs Jazz Trio)


• Saturday, August 2 - Syracuse Opera (Vocalist Andrew King)


• Saturday, August 9 - Paul Robeson Performing Arts Co. (Sinanymous Jazz Quintet)


• Saturday, August 16 - Mario DeSantis Orchestra (Young talent TBA)
  

Other components of the six-weekend event will include fine outdoor candlelight dining with varied menus prepared by Armory Square restaurants. There will also be a choice spot in the Franklin Street Park for those who choose to bring their own picnic. All Armory Square streets are closed to vehicle traffic by 4:00 pm.

Street Closings: To allow for larger stage set-ups, some traffic and parking restrictions will occur early in the day on two of the above Saturdays. At 4:00pm, all streets in the Square will be closed to vehicle traffic through 10:00pm for reasons of safety, audience lawn chair seating, table set-ups by Armory Square restaurants (serving fine outdoor candlelight dining) and stage strike. (Other than restaurant fare offered, people may opt to picnic.)

The Candlelight Series is a program of the Armory Square Association, free to the public and made possible by a Grant secured by Senator John A. DeFrancisco. The City of Syracuse and the Downtown Committee provide additional support. This year's corporate and Armory Square business contributors are: T. J. Sheehan; 'Toasted Head, Robert Mondavi Private Selection and Woodbridge Wineries'; syracuse.com; Ambrosia; Blue Tusk; Kitty Hoynes; Industry; Jefferson Clinton Hotel; Jet Black; Mr. Shop; Pioneer Companies; RHS Holdings, LLC; and Way Off The Beaten Path.