Picnic and Phil: Reviewing the Picnics of Phil in the Park

Written by Atlas Harris. Photos by Ally Miller Henson

Forsyth Park came alive once more this Saturday for the annual Savannah Philharmonic’s Phil in the Park. While many attendees surely look forward to the plethora of free musical acts, another event dominates the Forsyth lawn: the Phil in the Park Picnic competition.

From 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., participants were able to register their picnics with the volunteers in the competition booth for a chance to win 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes, which were announced at the beginning of the Philharmonic’s concert. Prizes included tickets to the Philharmonic’s concerts later in the year, including Phil the Neighborhoods later this month, and the Holiday Pops! Concert in December. 

Across the green, hundreds of Savannahians claimed their turf with blankets, lawn chairs, coolers, and even fully set dining tables that hold plates on plates of delicious homemade food. Some picnic groups not only brought food and set up, but also decorated according to a theme, including a prop graveyard, skulls, tablecloths, and dramatic candles that set a spooky atmosphere in time for the season, along with matching costumes. 

Others had chafing dishes set up on gas stoves, serving warm food in buffet style under large outdoor tents. Alongside the larger picnics there were also smaller groups of attendees enjoying a simple lunch or dinner on a good old-fashioned blanket, proving that even if competitive picnicking isn’t for you, there’s something to enjoy for everyone!

Among the more extravagant picnics were this year’s winners: in first place was The Bonaventure Dinner, in second place Savannah the Bootiful (who have been picnic competition winners for ten years now!) and The Picnic Project in third.

If you enjoy good music and preparing good food, grab a blanket, some friends and maybe even a table to participate in next year’s picnic competition and partake in Savannah’s largest free music event!