First to fill a Puyallup Fair concert date? Chicago with The Tacoma Symphony

Hit songs “Make Me Smile,” “25 or 6 to 4,” “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” and “Saturday in the Park” have made American rock band Chicago a part of music history for 43 years – and counting.

Hit songs “Make Me Smile,” “25 or 6 to 4,” “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” and “Saturday in the Park” have made American rock band Chicago a part of music history for 43 years – and counting.

Chicago will perform with The Tacoma Symphony on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 7:30 p.m. at the Puyallup Fair’s 2011 concert series presented by Columbia Bank.

Tickets go on sale on at 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 19 – via www.thefair.com/concerts or by phone, 888-559-FAIR (3247). The new phone number will be staffed daily, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

To save the convenience charges, purchase tickets in person at the Puyallup Fair & Events Center box office at 9th Avenue Southwest and Meridian Street on Feb. 19, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Ticket prices are $60 golden circle, $40 infield, $40 and $30 grandstand seating. Seats are reserved and include Fair gate admission.

Chicago’s 2011 nationwide concert tour includes a special feature: The legendary group is joining forces with the American Cancer Society to create a world with less breast cancer by offering fans the experience of a lifetime. The winning online auction bidder in each market will receive two premium tickets, backstage passes and the opportunity to sing the No. 1 hit song, “If You Leave Me Now,” onstage with the band during the concert.

Fans can text the word Chicago to 20222 for a one-time donation to the American Cancer Society, plus bid on the auction, which includes the Puyallup concert at: http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=americancancersociety.

The Chicago tour will include original band members Robert Lamm on keyboards, vocals, Lee Loughnane on trumpet, James Pankow on trombone and Walt Parazaider on woodwinds, as well as Jason Scheff on bass, vocals, Tris Imboden on drums, Keith Howland on guitar, Lou Pardini on keyboards, vocals and Drew Hester on percussion. For more on the tour, visit www.chicagotheband.com.

The 2010-2011 season marks the 17th anniversary of Harvey Felder’s tenure as music director of the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra. Felder has led the growth of the TSO from a community orchestra to a regional professional orchestra of 80-plus musicians from throughout the Puget Sound region. Under the baton of Maestro Felder, the versatile ensemble is known for its warm, friendly concert environment coupled with artistically excellent renderings of the great symphonic classics, entertaining pops, educational programs, and intimate chamber performances. Visit www.tacomasymphony.org.

Tickets will be going on sale for the remainder of the Fair’s concert series lineup in the next few months. Visit the Fair website, www.thefair.com/concerts for updates, or sign up at www.thefair.com to receive email or text announcements prior to the concert on-sale dates.

For further information about the April 14-17, 2011 Spring Fair in Puyallup, or the Sept. 9-25, 2011 Puyallup Fair, visit www.thefair.com, or text “FAIR” to 75868.