The Oregon Symphony’s season kicks off with a bang (literally) on Sept. 3 with a free summer concert and fireworks at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland.

The concert culminates with the Oregon Symphony performing Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” along with cannon fire from the Oregon Army National Guard 218th Field Artillery and a fireworks display over the Willamette River.

Organizers say the event is the largest free concert in the state with an audience of around 20,000 expected to enjoy the festivities.

The event begins with an afternoon music festival featuring the Oregon State University Steel Drum Choir, Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Irish fiddler Kevin Burke, BRAVO Youth Orchestras, Hillsboro School District Mariachi Band, Stephanie Schneiderman (of well known Portland band Pink Martini) with banjo player Tony Furtado, Portland Taiko drums, Portland Youth Philharmonic and Bloco Alegria Portland samba band. The Oregon Symphony concert will also feature the Oregon Ballet Theatre and Portland Opera with selections from Holst, Dvorak, Bizet, Mozart and more prior to the spectacular Tchaikovsky finale. Attendees also can enjoy food carts and exhibits from various Portland arts groups.

For the first time ever, the Oregon Symphony concert will be broadcast live by the All Classical Portland radio station (KQAC 89.9 FM). “We’re in the business of bringing joy to people’s lives through music,” said Oregon Symphony President Scott Showalter. “All Classical Portland is helping us spread this music and the joy it brings to people around the globe.”

This event launches the 2015/2016 Oregon Symphony season whose September lineup also includes the National Circus and Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China (Sept. 9), guitarist Pablo Villegas (Sept. 12), Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions (Sept. 17), The Music of Pink Floyd (Sept. 19), Patti LaBelle (Sept. 20) and percussionist Colin Currie (Sept. 26-28). The Symphony season continues through May 2016 with more than 70 other classical, pops, kids and special concerts.

The free festival and Waterfront Concert begins at 1 p.m. Sept. 3 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland. The Oregon Symphony takes the stage from 7 to 9:30 p.m. In the event of rain, the festival will be postponed until Sept. 4. Concertgoers are asked to bring only low-profile chairs or blankets for seating in order to preserve sight lines for those behind them. For more information and a detailed performance schedule go to www.orsymphony.org/waterfront.

— Reporter: 541-383-0350, khimstreet@bendbulletin.com