The Palm Coast Arts Foundation’s signature annual event—the Picnic and Pops with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra—has not been lucky with the weather of late.
Two years ago the event was cancelled when its location, by Central Park in Town Center, was soaked by constant rain. Last year went well and the event sold a record 800 tickets. But this year the weather is again not cooperating: Town Center is soaked again. Even if the sun were to shine through Sunday, when the concert was scheduled, it would not be dry enough for patrons to have a comfortable evening on the grass.
So on Thursday, event organizers decided to move the concert to Destination Daytona’s Coca-Cola Pavilion near the Bruce Rossemeyer Harley-Davidson Dealership. Don’t be consumed: though it’s called Destination Daytona, the pavilion is located off of I-95 at Exit 273, at the intersection with U.S. 1, just two exits—a short drive–south of Palm Coast.
“Same time, it’s under roof, it’ll be completely dry and safe,” says the Palm Coast Art Foundation’s Sam Perkovich. “Everybody can bring their own picnic just like they always do.”
The pavilion is entirely covered, providing 35,000 square feet of space for the orchestra’s musicians and all expected guests. Perkovich said as many tickets—800—have been sold as were sold last year. But for those who will not make the brief drive south, the tickets are non-refundable, because the foundation is not cancelling the event.
There’s an alternative: “If somebody can’t go because it’s too far,” Perkovich said, “I’ve got 20 trustees here, someone will pick them up and take them to the event and bring them back.”
To make those arrangements, call the Palm Coast Arts Foundation office at 386/263-2991.
“We’re thrilled that Mandy Rossmeyer gave us the opportunity to do this instead of canceling, because cancelling costs us a ton of money,” Perkovich said.
The annual concert is the Palm Coast Arts Foundation’s chief fund-raiser. The organization’s future, permanent home will be in Palm Coast’s Town Center. The foundation secured a grant to begin construction of its own pavilion there this year, and will be announcing its “Raise the Roof” fund-raising drive at Sunday’s concert, to complete the project. But by next May, Perkovich said the concrete slab will have been poured at Town Center, and the musicians’ section of the pavilion will be covered.
This eighth edition of the Jacksonville Symphony’s Picnic and Pops concert will be conducted by Maestro Christopher Confessore, guest conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.
Confessore currently serves as Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra and Resident Conductor and Principal Pops Conductor of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. In addition to frequent appearances with the JSO, his schedule as a guest conductor included appearances with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, Sarasota Orchestra, Hartford Symphony, New Mexico Philharmonic, and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. He made his international debut in June 2004 conducting the Sibiu Philharmonic Orchestra in Romania.
The concert program will pay particular attention this year to the music of John Williams, the composer and conductor whose rousing music almost every American and most people on the planet have heard: he is the composition pen behind the music of the “Star Wars” and Indiana Jones movies, “E.T.,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Jaws,” “Superman,” “Saving Private Ryan” and dozens more. The tribute to be performed Sunday nioght was arranged by Paul Lavender, and will include samples from many of those hits. The full program appears below.
The event is scheduled for gate-opening at 6:30 p.m. at the pavilion, with the concert starting promptly at 8 p.m. Reserved Tables for 10 are $400; individual seating, $40 for PCAF Members or $45 for General Admission. All tickets at the gate will be $45.
Jacksonville Symphony Picnic and Pops Concert, April 19
