ESCONDIDO -- As the sun slowly began to set, several thousand people stood in Grape Day Park with their hands on their hearts, listening to the familiar strains of the "Star Spangled Banner."

Immediately after, the San Diego Chamber Orchestra began a set of popular Broadway tunes including "Everything's Coming up Roses" and "My Favorite Things," all part of Pops in the Park.

For the second year in a row, California Center for the Arts, Escondido, presented the free evening concert and visitors came from all over San Diego to enjoy the music.

"I love Broadway music and it's been such a beautiful day," said Janice Bowles of Solana Beach. Bowles brought along Callie, a 4-year-old West Highland terrier, and Susan Delmastro of University City to enjoy the music. "I love (the ArtsCenter) and this is a nice park, plus it's free."

Tina Olstrem, director of individual giving and special events at the ArtsCenter, said the right price never fails to bring out the masses.

Olstrem said the event, sponsored by The Linden Root Dickinson Foundation, was popular last year and the Center hopes to make it an annual event.

"You can't ask for a better setting," Olstrem said. "It's the perfect family venue and a chance to see one of the great orchestras in San Diego."

Families were out in force Sunday evening, bringing with them picnic dinners, lawn chairs, blankets and of course, the family pooch. Susan Korean, of Fallbrook, kept a watchful eye on her son, Christopher, as he played with 6-month-old Yoko, a yellow lab training to be a guide dog.

"My sons are in the Boy Scouts and in order to earn their music merit badge they have to see a concert," Korean said. "We thought this would be perfect because it's a classical orchestra playing popular songs."

The performance, "From Broadway to Hollywood," featured hits from "Chicago," "Titanic" and "West Side Story." But it was a set of six songs from "Phantom of the Opera" that really made the audience cheer.

"Of course we want to hear ëPhantom of the Opera,'" said Ann Ries of Fallbrook, as she munched on a bag of popcorn. "This is really a great event because it brings the community together and it points out the center and reminds people it's here. It's really a wonderful venue."

John Santuccio, executive director of the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, echoed Ries' praise. Santuccio said the orchestra includes 50 musicians with 37 performing last night.

"I have been with a number of orchestras around the country, including the New York Philharmonic, the Syracuse Symphony and the Charlotte Symphony," Santuccio said, as the musicians began to gather on stage. "But this facility for Escondido is incredibly magnificent. It's a world-class facility and we are honored to play here."