ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Welcome to the 2024 Strauss Festival’s “Two Kingdom Tournament!”

This year’s festival, July 25-28 at Elk Grove Regional Park, will enchant with the story of two kingdom princes competing to win the hand of the beautiful princess. Audiences will be able to cheer on and vote for their favorite kingdom -- the purple or red -- as the competition unfolds. 

Classical Strauss music will be played by the 40-piece Camellia Symphony Orchestra and showcased in a variety of dances: polka, quadrille and waltz. Gorgeous costumes and amazing stage settings bring the story all together for guests to enjoy.  

The festival’s volunteer cast of 88 features dancers ages 3-80. Cast members include the Littles, Beginning Polka, Polka, Quadrille and Waltz groups, each with a unique style of dance. Strauss’ famous ending waltz of the evening, the Blue Danube, will close the program with a brilliant display of fireworks at the show’s conclusion each evening.

The Strauss Festival has several first-time dancers as well as veteran dancers that have been with Strauss for 20-plus years. This incredible legacy of volunteers and fans has grown over the last three and a half decades.  

Plan to have refreshments at the park as there will be food trucks: The Greek, Cowtown Creamery, Costa’s, Carpenter Coffee, Kona Ice and hot dogs by Elk Grove Rotary, just to name a few.  Bike Dog Brewery was a hit last year and will be back again this year with its keg beer. A variety of Bogle wines will also be available for purchase. 

 Check out the Strauss Merchandise Booth for 2024 Strauss shirts, stickers, mini flashlights and other Strauss merchandise. The Strauss History Booth will be open to display festival posters and memorabilia from the last 35+ years. 

There are three seating options: blanket seating, bleachers seating and seating for those needing ADA accommodations. Blanket seating includes an area for your blanket and/or chairs when the blanket is put down on the morning of the show you wish to see. The bleacher seating is available on a first-come basis. ADA seating is available and must be reserved ahead of time, with a limited number of seats available for each performance. For complete details on seating options, please see www.straussfestival.com, email [email protected], or call 916 714-2527.

“Two Kingdom Tournament” runs for four nights, July 25-28, with the promenade of dancers beginning at 7:30 p.m. At 8:15 p.m., the show begins, and it concludes each evening around 10 p.m.  For the 35th year, Strauss continues to honor the wishes of founder Iris Zimbelman that the Strauss Festival should be free to all that wish to attend. 

Even if it is hot during the day, by the time the show begins at 8:15 p.m., it is beautiful in the park. In fact, we encourage patrons to bring a sweater, as the Delta breezes tend to kick up in the evening. There is a small parking charge of $10 per vehicle at the park, which goes directly to the Strauss Festival.   

Please join us for this 35th year of an amazing, full stage production, “Two Kingdom Tournament,” at the Strauss Festival: an Elk Grove “gem” of which we are extremely proud!    

    

Beth Hedlund and Margie Jones are co-chairs of the Strauss Festival Board of Directors.