Celebrate America at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion’s Annual Star-Spangled Salute July 3

THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS – Kick off America’s birthday celebration with a host of patriotic favorites under the stars! Join us for Star-Spangled Salute as the Houston Symphony takes the Main Stage, Monday, July 3 at 8 p.m.  Sponsored by ExxonMobil, this free Independence Eve spectacular has been a tradition at The Pavilion for over 30 seasons. Tickets are not required for this event. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.

The symphony will perform a variety of Americana favorites led by conductor Steven Reineke whose boundless enthusiasm and exceptional artistry have made him one of the nation’s most sought-after pops conductors, composers and arrangers.

The event’s featured vocalist, Jimmie Herrod, brings singular power and expressivity to his globe-trotting career as a singer, songwriter and entertainer. Herrod first came to worldwide prominence as a finalist on the NBC nationally broadcast television show, America’s Got Talent, earning the rare “Golden Buzzer” recognition from actress Sofia Vargara and returning the following year on the AGT All-Stars series. As a solo artist, Herrod has appeared to critical and audience acclaim with the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and with the San Francisco Symphony and Oregon Symphony, including as a featured soloist for the globally televised PBS “Joni Mitchell Songbook” concert at The Kennedy Center. Traversing many musical styles and genres in many languages, including jazz, pop, funk, and his own original songs, Herrod has headlined concerts at the The Luxor Theater in Las Vegas, New Jersey’s South Orange Performing Arts Center and Portland’s Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

Pre-concert activities begin at 6:30 p.m. in the North and South Plazas and will feature photo opportunities with patriotic characters, a special art project, The Pavilion Partners Instrument Petting Zoo and sponsor activations. Pre-show entertainment in front of the Main Stage will be provided by The Woodlands Show Chorus and will begin at 7 p.m. The group is an award winning, women's auditioned a cappella chorus, comprised of nearly 80 singers, and chapter of nonprofit Sweet Adelines International.

Families are encouraged to enhance their performing arts experience with Mini Maestros, a free and exciting program that makes the arts both fun and accessible for kids of all ages. By signing up for Mini Maestros, children will receive: a special membership lanyard and badge, free reserved seating at all performing arts events, early entry for Hocus Pocus Pops, a free ticket to Children’s Festival and other great perks throughout the season. Families can register their children at any of The Pavilion’s performing arts events this season at a special booth located in the North Plaza or online at www.woodlandscenter.org/mini-maestros.

Preferred parking is available in the on-site Town Center Garage, located along Six Pines Drive. Parking is $15 per vehicle for this and most performing arts events. Tickets for on-site parking can be purchased in advance at Ticketmaster.com and The Pavilion Box Office. Guests also may park in any of the free parking lots off Timberloch Drive on the southwest side of The Pavilion. As a reminder, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – including The Pavilion Box Office – is a cashless venue.

For more information about The Pavilion, please visit our website at www.woodlandscenter.org. Follow The Pavilion on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

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Opened in 1990, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is part of The Center for the Performing Arts at The Woodlands, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides diverse, high-quality performing arts events for the entertainment and enrichment of a broad regional audience. Through numerous educational and community outreach programs, The Center is a catalyst for attracting new audiences to the performing arts and building strong ties between the arts and educational institutions.