This year's annual Symphony Under the Stars is set for Saturday, July 18, and the Helena Symphony and Maestro Allan R. Scott are promising this year's concert will be a "party."

Scott said rather than focusing solely on the country's 250th anniversary, the concert will focus on Helena celebrating anything and everything they have to celebrate this year.

Grab a blanket this weekend; here are the details of what to expect:

What: Helena Symphony presents the 22nd Annual Intrepid Credit Union Symphony Under the Stars Concert.

When: Saturday, July 18 at 8:30 p.m. *Attendees are strongly encouraged to come and lay their blankets out Friday evening to reserve a spot. Advanced blanket placement is allowed from 3-5 p.m. on Friday with a $5/blanket cash donation to the Boy Scouts.

Where: Carroll College Campus – Guadalupe Hill, 1601 N. Benton Ave.

Cost: Free

Contact: Call 406-442-1860 or email symphonystarshelena@gmail.com

Info: facebook.com/SymphonyUnderTheStars or symphonyunderthestars.com

** Going to the Show **

• To secure a good seat for the show, early blanket placement is allowed from 3-5 p.m. on Friday, July 17, with a $5 per blanket cash donation to the Boy Scouts.

• After 5 p.m. on Friday, there’s no fee to reserve a spot.

• Bring canned food to hold down your blanket and to donate to Helena Food Share Saturday night. This is their largest one-day collection event.

• Pets, plastic tarps, rocks, or stakes are prohibited on the lawn at all times.

• Picnic dinners are encouraged, and there will be a variety of local vendors on site selling food and beverages.

• Merchandise, including T-shirts and a variety of historic Symphony Under the Stars art prints will be available at a booth near the vendors.

Lacey Middlestead is a Carroll College graduate and has been freelance writing since 2009 for the Independent Record, various regional publications, and local marketing agencies. Contact her at laceymiddlestead.com.