The Fort Wayne Philharmonic is back to give your patriotism a boost.

The orchestra annually takes their Patriotic Pops concert around the region, offering free shows to attendees clad in red, white, and blue.

Familiar locales

The highlight of the quasi-tour is Moonshot: A Homerun Celebration on Tuesday, July 2, at Parkview Field. There, attendees purchase a $200 ticket and get signature cocktails, dinner, and VIP seating ahead. The Moonshot event begins at 6 p.m., preceding the free 8:30 p.m. Patriotic Pops at Parkview Field that ends with fireworks.

But the series kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26, at Pokagon State Park in Steuben County. Although the show will be free of charge, you will need to pay your $7 entry fee to get into the park, or $9 for non-Indiana residents.

From there, the show moves to DeKalb Outdoor Theatre in Auburn for a 7:30 p.m. performance on Friday, June 28. The following day, June 29, the orchestra travels to Berne to play at 7 p.m. at Muensterberg Plaza and Clock Tower. Wrapping up three shows in three nights, Oakwood Resort in Syracuse will be the place to be Sunday, June 30, as the orchestra performs at 7:30 p.m.

On July 2, the Philharmonic stays home, playing at Parkview Field.

The final performance is slated for Fourth of July, when patriotism will fill Bixler Lake Park in Kendallville at 8:30 p.m. with fireworks to follow.

On agenda

As for the actual performances, which will be conducted by Caleb Young, each will begin with the “Star-Spangled Banner.” From there, you will hear many of the songs you’ve come to know and love, such as Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer,” Leonard Bernstein’s “Overture to Candide,” George Gershwin’s “Cuban Overture,” Jenniger Higdon’s “Machine,” Adolphus Hailstork’s “Fanfare on Amazing Grace,” and Bob Lowden’s arrangement of “Armed Forces Salute.”

You will also get some songs from iconic movies, such as Alan Silvestri’s Back to the Future suite, but that won’t be the only music from a movie. 

The king of film scores John Williams will have four numbers, including a tribute to him and other film composers, as well as “Theme from JFK” and “Raiders March.” You will also get Williams’ “Olympic Fanfare,” which will be heard plenty as the Summer Olympics begin July 26.

That setlist will be consistent at the regional shows, while the one at Parkview Field will also contain “Gardens of Stone” and Williams’ “Star Wars: Suite No. 1 — Main Title.”