The Moscow Arts Commission’s annual summer series, Entertainment in the Park will begin the 2013 series with a “bubbillusionist” — a magician who specializes in bubbles — Thursday at 6 p.m. followed by the Moscow Arts Commission Band.The series is also sponsored by the City of Moscow, Friends of the Moscow Public Library and Avista.
“(The bubbillusionist) works in math and science and according to his website, he can blow smoke inside of bubbles and make like 12-sided bubbles,” said Jacki Fulwood, youth services manager at the Moscow Public Library.
Kathleen Burns, who joined the city’s arts department in 2007, created the Entertainment in the Park series based on a similar program she worked with in Lacy, Wash. She thought the idea was well suited to Moscow’s family oriented community.
“Each year there’s a different summer reading program theme. Nationally they do the graphics so every year they look at that and then we just incorporate their themes and graphics at the library,” Burns said.
The students involved are primarily elementary and preschool aged children, but Burns said it’s also a venue for parents to just have a date in the park and have time together as a family in the park.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for parents and there’s no fee or cost or anything and the Entertainment in the Park is a great family event,” Burns said.
Entertainment in the Park begins every Thursday with a family entertainer at 6 p.m. followed by the Moscow Arts Commission band at 7.
The Moscow Arts Commission band is a community band for local musicians and is more than 30 years old.
Summer entertainers include The Reptile Man — a herpetologist from Seattle — on June 20.
“He works at a live reptile zoo. He’s bringing snakes and lizards,” Burns said. “I don’t know if he is bringing any baby alligators. I think the kids will be able to touch the animals if they want to, but he won’t be bringing anything that can eat anybody.”
The Realms of Avalon will talk about ancient weapons — swords, archery and archeology, specifically the wreck of Mary Rose — June 27.
Fulwood said there will not be an event July 4. The last day of Entertainment in the Park will be July 11 with a special performance of selected scenes from the Idaho Repertory Theater’s summer musical, Jack and the Beanstalk.
Due to Rendezvous in the Park, July 25, this year’s series will be cut short.
“So we will be having a special wrap up party for Entertainment in the Park at the 1912 Center at 6 p.m. on July 25,” Fulwood said.
Molly Spencer can be reached at [email protected].