Written by Tristan Lueck
Photo by Rachel Newman
Next Sunday, Oct. 5, at Forsyth Park, Savannah will be hosting its annual Picnic in the Park, celebrating the National Arts and Humanities month. The event will feature live music by the Savannah Philharmonic and family friendly events, as well as the legendary picnic contest. This year’s theme is “Fly Me to the Moon.”
The event, started in the ’80s by the Savannah Orchestra, begins at 3 p.m. with registration for the picnic contest and ends at 9 p.m. with the Savannah Philharmonic’s performance. Contest winners will be announced at the intermission of the concert at 7:55 p.m. The event is free and first prize for the picnic winner is a $1,000 Parker’s gift card. Second and third prizes are $500 or $250 gift cards from Parker’s. Food and drinks will not be provided in the park; anyone who wishes to enjoy this event must bring their own.
Picnic entries range from the plain blanket and cooler set to the utterly decadent and extravagant. Picnickers are encouraged to stretch the limits of their imagination and be completely creative with their interpretation of the theme. Eileen Baker, director for the city of Savannah, described one of her favorite past picnics: “At one time we did Johnny Mercer and someone built a whole porch that was to symbolize one of Mercer’s places on Moon River.”
In the past, about 25 people have registered for the picnic contest. This year Kathy Lamb, the assistant to Mr. Parker, who is sponsoring the event, hopes to double that number.
“I would encourage people to decorate a picnic as a team,” she said. “In other words, it’s not limited to a family or one person. But a team can also participate and then simply divide up the prize.”
Lamb encouraged people to come out, saying, “It is just a great time to spread out a blanket, bring a picnic. The musical entertainment is going to be the best we’ve ever had for Picnic in the Park and its fun to people watch. People bring their dogs. It makes you feel really happy to be part of a community. Its just so relaxing and it just feels great to be there.”
Baker wishes for people to come out and enjoy themselves.
“It’s a time when everybody can just come together and just enjoy our beautiful park and enjoy our great orchestra,” she said, and also implored you to “Please pick up the trash, pick up some trash.”