PELHAM, NY — Come say good-bye to summer and hello to friends and neighbors you haven’t seen all season at The Picture House’s sixth annual, much-anticipated Picnic in the Park event on Saturday, September 16th from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. The night will kick-off in the beautifully renovated 1921 Picture House with cocktails, popcorn, and an advance screening of one of the most buzzed-about movies of the fall, the biopic Battle of the Sexes starring Academy Award nominee Steve Carell and Academy Award winner Emma Stone. After the film, guests will head to the park directly across the street where they will enjoy a gourmet picnic dinner, followed by dancing under the stars.
“We are thrilled that Picnic in the Park has become a hallmark event that so many from Pelham and the surrounding communities look forward to as they usher in the start of the school year—and a new season of movies and events at TPH,” said Laura deBuys, Executive Director of The Picture House. “We’re extremely grateful to our Director Level sponsors, Houlihan Lawrence and McClellan Sotheby’s International Realty, our tireless committee, and all of our guests for their commitment to supporting Picnic as it delivers essential support for scholarships, education programs, community-focused films, and more.” In addition to our Director Level sponsors, Westchester Talk Radio has signed-on to be the media sponsor of this year’s Picnic in the Park and will be broadcasting live from the event.
Like most successful nonprofit movie theaters, 50% of Picture House operations are funded through earned income like concessions, ticket sales, tuition, and theater rentals. The balance of funding comes from grants, membership, and special events like Picnic in the Park.
For the second year in a row, a small but highly-curated online auction will be open for guests and for those who cannot attend the event. Items that will be available for bidding include a weekend-long stay at a beautifully appointed ski condo at Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont and an exquisite piece of jewelry from Pelham’s newest jewelry store, Vincent’s Fine Jewelry which was recently named ‘Westchester’s Best New Jewelry Store’ by the editors of Westchester Magazine. Among the other silent auction items are a named seat in The Picture House, complimentary family movie passes for one year (includes The Picture House’s renowned popcorn!), and more. Bidding will be online only and will close at 7 PM on September 16th.
The 2017 Picnic in the Park event committee is co-chaired by Renee Gallagher and Picture House Board member Kelly Brown and the committee includes Jennifer Anderson, Kristin Austin, Linda Bethea, Cori Blake, Amy Cole, Jessica DeDomenico, Ashley Dolan, Mary Hefner, Zoe Henriquez, Kate Kerr, Scott Lehmann, Liam O’Neill, Julie Reid, Kristen Roberts, Gretchen Pursel, and Kristen Scarlett.
Picnic in the Park tickets start at $145/person until August 15th when the base ticket price increases to $160/person. Tickets are available to purchase at www.thepicturehouse.org. Various sponsorship levels are available and there is still time for businesses and individuals to support the event by purchasing an ad in the Picnic in the Park virtual journal which will be shown on-screen prior to the film and featured on The Picture House website.