HIGHMOUNT, New York ??” The Belleayre Music Festival will serve up a spectacular mix of music and fireworks as its season gets underway during the July Fourth weekend.

With great lodging and dining facilities in abundance, visitors are encouraged to “Enjoy a musical weekend in the Catskill Mountains.”The Temptations and The Four Tops will get the season off to a spirited start on Saturday, July 2 at 8 p.m. when they bring their timeless Motown tunes to the mountaintop at the Belleayre Mountain Resort. Songs like The Temptations’ “The Way You Do The Things You Do” and “My Girl” and The Four Tops’ “Baby I Need Your Loving” and “I Can’t Help Myself” (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” rank among the all-time classics. This promises to be a hit-filled evening from start to finish.

The music takes a patriotic turn the following evening when “Snap, Crackle and Pops” is the theme for a performance by the Belleayre Festival Orchestra, accompanied by the Community Chorale of the Catskills. The show, on Sunday, July 3 at 8 p.m., features a patriotic theme and is sure to bring smile to the faces of concert-goers. Maestro John Covelli will conduct the 60-member Belleayre Festival Orchestra and Richard Tucker directs the 100 area residents who comprise the Community Chorale of the Catskills. These two groups have joined forces at Belleayre for several years and always put on an exciting show. All tickets are just $20 and children under 12 are admitted free. Topping off the evening will be a large fireworks display against the backdrop of this dramatic mountaintop setting.

July Fourth Weekend is one of the most popular times for family getaways and the adjoining Ulster and Delaware County Catskills offer accommodations for every taste. Cozy motels, luxurious inns, quaint bed and breakfasts and everything in between are among the choices.Plus, dining and shopping opportunities are nearly limitless. The culinary options cover a broad spectrum – from white linen tablecloths to no-frills diners, meal choices are varied and plentiful. The same is true of shopping opportunities. The local area has become home to a rapidly growing number of specialty shops and galleries. Communities like Phoenicia, Margaretville and Andes are shoppers’ delights. Tourist railroads in Phoenicia and Arkville also provide a fun way to enjoy the countryside. Naturally, hiking and fishing opportunities are also abundant.

For information on where to stay, dine, shop or to simply enjoy the great outdoors on your holiday weekend getaway, please visit: www.catskillhighpeaks.com, www.delawarecounty.org or www.ulstertourism.info.

The Belleayre Music Festival annually presents a unique blend of classical, Broadway, blues, pop music and dance, along with its signature Catskill Mountain Jazz Series. Musical luminaries who have entertained at the festival in recent years include Ray Charles, Wynton Marsalis, Ricky Skaggs and Arlo Guthrie.The 2005 lineup is packed with talent to suit every taste. The remainder of the season includes:

July 9 at 8 p.m. – Ruth Brown plus “Roomful of Blues”; July 10 at 1 p.m. – A Free Family Event with Ensemble Pi; July 16 at 8 p.m. – Maureen McGovern; July 22 at 8 p.m. – Belleayrians II featuring John Covelli, Justin Kolb and Edith Meshulam Korman; July 23 at 8 p.m. – Kathy Mattea; July 30 at 8 p.m.- Verdi’s “Rigoletto” and July 31 at 1 p.m. – Free Children’s Opera “Goldilocks.”

Also: August 6 at 8p.m., Emmylou Harris with special guest Buddy Miller. The Catskill Mountain Jazz Series gets underway on August 12 at 8 p.m. with the Taylor Eigsti Trio; August 13 at 8 p.m. – Chick Corea Trio; August 19 at 8 p.m. – Roni Ben-Hur Quartet; August 20 at 8 p.m. – Jane Monheit; August 21 at 1 p.m. – Free Children’s Jazz Concert. Ailey II performs “Revelations” and more on August 27 at 8 p.m. and the season winds up in classic rock-n-roll style on September 3 at 8 p.m. with Three Dog Night.

Tickets for the Belleayre Music Festival may be obtained by calling 800 942-6904, ext. 406 or via website at: www.belleayremusic.org. The e-mail address is: [email]festival@catskill.net[/email]. Seats in the 800-seat Phyllis Litoff Pavilion range from $40 to $65. Opera Elite tickets (including Premium seats and a reception with the performers) are $100. Lawn seating is available on concert dates for $15 and children under 12 are admitted free on the lawn. Belleayre Jazz Club shows are general admission and tickets are $20 each for the August 13 and 20 club performances.

The festival is presented by the Belleayre Conservatory Inc., a non-profit founded to promote cultural programs in the Catskills. Concerts are held on the grounds of Belleayre Mountain in Highmount.Belleayre Mountain is located in the heart of New York’s Catskill Mountain region. The area is located just off Route 28 and is 37 miles west of Thruway Exit 19 at Kingston; 55 miles southeast of Oneonta on Route 28; 40 miles from the Route 17 exit at Roscoe; and 95 miles southwest of Albany and just two hours north of NYC.