Tonight is Day 16 of Top of the Park, the popular, free (donations welcome) outdoor happening featuring music, movies, kicking back, running into friends, and a variety of other attractions.

Each day in cooperation with the Ann Arbor Summer Festival—which presents Top of the Park as well as main-stage ticketed events—AnnArbor.com is publishing a rundown of the night's happenings. Here's an overview of tonight's schedule, followed by a more detailed look at the events and attractions:

OVERVIEW

6:30-8 p.m. - Photo Night at the Roots Lounge
6:30-8 p.m. - Tasting Tuesday beer tasting
6:30-8 p.m. - KidZone
6:30 p.m. - The Ben Daniels Band - roots rock
8 p.m. - Dick Siegel & the Brandos - folk / rock
10 p.m. - Movie: "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"

ENTERTAINMENT DETAILS

The Ben Daniels Band - 6:30 p.m.
Chelsea native Ben Daniels is the charismatic guiding force behind this six-piece known for their poetic lyrics, tight grooves, originality, musicianship, and a sound that spans Americana, jazz, bluegrass, and rock.

Dick Siegel & the Brandos - 8 p.m.
Ann Arbor favorite Dick Siegel unites with upright bassist Dave Roof and guitarist Brian Delaney to push the limits of a string trio. Full of American roots influence - blues, folk, pop, rock, R&B and jazz - the sound of Dick Siegel & The Brandos breaks new ground, offering a modern take on classic forms.




Movie: "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" - 10 p.m.
Running time: 132 minutes. Rating: PG. (1977).
In this Steven Spielberg classic, Richard Dreyfuss stars as cable worker Roy Neary, who, along with several other stunned bystanders, experiences a close encounter of the first kind - witnessing UFOs soaring across the sky. After this life-changing event, the inexplicable vision of a strange, mountain-like formation haunts him. He becomes obsessed with discovering what it represents, much to the dismay of his wife and family. Meanwhile, government agents have close encounters of the second kind - discovering physical evidence of extraterrestrial visitors. Roy continues to chase his vision to a remote area where he and the agents follow the clues that have drawn them to reach a site where they will have a close encounter of the third kind - contact.




OTHER ATTRACTIONS

The Roots Lounge, presented by AnnArbor.com
Stop by The Roots Lounge, a new feature at the festival this year, presented by AnnArbor.com. With free public WiFi available through 20/20 Communications, it’s a place where you can post, share, tweet, read or just relax, listen and enjoy. And if your smartphone or tablet runs out of juice, stop by and use the free charging station.

Tonight it’s Photo Night. Join in the fun as AnnArbor.com’s photojournalists will take your picture and include it in an online photo gallery. Stop by between 6:30 and 8 p.m. Smile!

Tasting Tuesday - 6:30-8 p.m.
Learn about beer varietals and the brewing process in this craft beer sampling on Tuesdays at Top of the Park. For a $15 tasting fee, attendees can sample multiple beers of each evening’s featured microbrews. No reservations needed, just show up! This evening's tasting features the following wheat and summer beers: Saugatuck Delwyde Berry Wheat, Paulaner Hefeweizen, Anchor Summer, Leine Honey, Newcastle Summer.

KidZone - 6:30-8 p.m.
As described by the festival, "An interactive area for our youngest concert-goers, the Kidzone tent provides a fun and safe area for children and their parents to discover and explore a wide variety of hands-on activities with different community partners. From getting temporary tattoos, creating homemade instruments, or jamming out rock band style, KidZone offers different nightly activities for families at Top of the Park."


Top of the Park takes place in front of the Rackham Building on East Washington Street. In addition to the daily entertainment, a variety of local food vendors will also be on hand each night. For more information, see the Summer Festival website, and watch AnnArbor.com for complete coverage of festival events.


View Summer Festival Top of The Park 2012 in a larger map