Great Park Celebrates 7th Anniversary at Growing the Park Event on July 14

IRVINE, Calif., June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Orange County Great Park hosts this summer's premier free family event to mark the Park's 7th anniversary at the Growing the Park celebration, a mid-afternoon through evening community festival on Saturday, July 14 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The event offers families the opportunity to watch vintage military planes honoring 100 years of Marine aviation and the daring Silver Wings Wingwalking team soar through the skies, enjoy community performances and live music, and test their athletic skills with sports activities, including exhibits from the LA Galaxy and Cal South Soccer. In the evening, visitors can watch the skies light up with a spectacular fireworks finale capping off a day at the Great Park filled with art, entertainment and family activities.

"Growing the Park has been an annual event that celebrates the progress of the Great Park and its connection to the diverse community that surrounds it. This year's celebration honors the history of MCAS El Toro and offers visitors a day of free family fun in every part of the Great Park," said Beth Krom, Chair, Orange County Great Park Corporation.

Five Fun-Filled Zones

Every section of the Great Park will be programmed with fun and engaging family activities across five themed zones.

• The Runway Zone honors military history featuring vintage aircraft and military vehicle displays, the Silver Wings Wingwalking team, skydiver performances, bi-plane acrobatics, and aerial entertainment, a Retro Air Designs shopping area, a flight simulator and more.
• The Great Park Gallery Zone includes the Palm Court Arts Complex and showcases the preview of the Farmers to Flyers exhibition in the Great Park Gallery, featuring historic photographs, artifacts, audio and video displays that tell the MCAS El Toro as part of the dramatic changes that occurred in Southern California in the second half of the 20th century. Visitors can also enjoy interactive storyteller Jim Cogan as he presents a fascinating, dramatic and adventurous journey through the history and lore of Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. The Artists Studios will feature current Great Park Artist-In-Residence Andre Woodward and his unique sculptures.
• The Back Forty Zone includes the Farm + Food Lab and celebrates Orange County's agricultural history with hands-on agricultural craft activities, cooking demonstrations and interactive community partner booths.
• The Outfield Zone features sports, health and wellness activities and includes field games and soccer demonstrations by representatives of the LA Galaxy and the Cal South Soccer on the North Lawn. LA Galaxy representatives will challenge visitors to improve their soccer skills with an interactive exhibit, soccer clinics and demonstrations from the LA Galaxy Futboleros. Other activities on the North Lawn will include an obstacle course and a preview of games to be featured at the Great Summer Games 2012 on July 28, including vertical jump, broad jump and SNAG golf.
• The Sky's the Limit Zone includes the Kids Rock Playground, kite flying and kite making, a variety of exhibits and activities, food trucks, live music performances and offers a great place to view the aerial performances and the fireworks spectacular.

Growing the Park takes place Saturday, July 14 from 3:00 to 9:30 p.m. Admission is free. Parking is $10. For this event, the entrance to the Great Park will be from Trabuco Road. Take the Jeffery Road exit from the 5 or 405 and turn right on Trabuco.  Follow us on Twitter @OCGreatPark to receive traffic and event updates on the day of the event. For program details or more information, visit www.ocgp.org.

About the Orange County Great Park

Hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over Southern California enjoy the Orange County Great Park's current array of recreational and educational opportunities, including views from the iconic Great Park Balloon that rises 400 feet in the air and provides a panoramic view of Orange County.  Other Great Park features include the Carousel, Farm + Food Lab, Kids Rock Playground, Walkable Historical Timeline, Palm Court Arts Complex, North Lawn recreation area and historic Hangar 244.  The Great Park also hosts a variety of special events that provide unique experiences for the entire family, including the Growing the Park Anniversary Celebration, annual Pumpkin Harvest, Great Night! Family New Year's Eve, Flights & Sounds Summer Festival and the weekly Great Park Farmers Market. The Great Park, with its approximately 1,300-acre master plan, is the centerpiece of the redevelopment of the publicly-owned portion of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro. For more information, please visit www.ocgp.org.

SOURCE Orange County Great Park

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