Palm Coast Arts Foundation: Picnic and Pops draws 1,000 after being rescheduled twice

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

After the 11th-annual Picnic and Pops was rescheduled twice, Palm Coast Arts Foundation Executive Director Nancy Crouch was nervous. Would the third and final attempt draw anywhere near the 1,100 in attendance that was originally planned for the April 15 show? And could it possibly succeed even when the new date was Mother’s Day?

“It was great,” Crouch said. “We still had over 1,000 people there.”

The show, which was held May 13 at the PCAF stage in Town Center, featured the first female conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony, Deanna Tham, who was able to get the musicians “immaculately on cue,” Crouch said.

Also at the event was the drawing for a Viking River Cruise, which raised $15,000 for the Raise the Roof campaign. Coming up at the stage this fall will be a unique performance that will be announced soon; Shakespeare in the Park will also continue next February or March, Crouch said.

The attendance at Picnic and Pops, even with the delays, shows “that people are hungry for this type of entertainment, this cultural life,” Crouch said.

One woman enjoyed the performance so much that she already bought her table for next year’s show, so that she can be as close to the musicians as possible. To reserve your table 12 months early, call 225-4394. To donate to the construction of the Performing Arts Center, visit https://www.palmcoastartsfoundation.com.