Music on the Beach concert series continues Thursday at Sunset Beach in Tarpon Springs
By Michele Miller, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Friday, July 3, 2009
Dan Mashburn, left, and Connie Church of the De Lei’ed Parrots entertain about 1,200 on June 11 at the Music on the Beach concert. Ron and the Classics play this Thursday.
Picture brilliant sunsets, the soothing sounds of lapping waves mingled with steel drums, Dixieland jazz or "golden oldies." Add the appeal of being able to dig your toes in the warm sand and chill out in a beach chair while munching on hot dogs or a homemade picnic dinner, and you've got some pretty good reasons to make the trek to Tarpon Springs.
Turns out a lot of folks are doing just that for the Music on the Beach concerts held one Thursday evening each month at Sunset Beach.
Now in its ninth year, these family friendly, post-hump day celebrations are catching on in a big way. Organizers are counting record crowds — some who show up regularly to join in potluck fare under the shelters before the concert starts.
"It's going gangbusters — we're averaging about 1,000 to 1,200 a month," said Andy Svenson, who as a volunteer counts concertgoers, helps folks park their cars and passes the hat to raise money for future concerts.
This year the series is hosting 10 monthly concerts from February through November. All are held on the Thursday evening closest to the full moon, said Marleen Gravitz, one of the concert series' original founders, "so we can have a little drama on the beach."
And also perhaps a little refined R and R for folks like Barry and Melanie Metcalf, who for last month's outing toted a wooden fold-out table and chairs to dine on salad and mussels. Nearby, Dave Sanderson and Marge Fritsch danced on the beach to a Jimmy Buffett cover tune, along with a bunch of kids and Rayna Wagley, who twirled with her pet parrot, Captain Kiwi.
"This is always part of our Thursday night routine," said Sanderson, who attended with his wife, Connie. "The concerts are lovely."
"This is wonderful," said Melanie Metcalf. "There's very few places where you can come out and listen to the music and see the sunset with so many people who all want the same thing."
If you go
Music on the Beach
What: Ron and the Classics
When: 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday.
Where: Sunset Beach, Tarpon Springs (map available at tarponspringsmusic.com under "Directions").
Admission: Free (donations appreciated).
What to bring: Chairs, blankets, picnics.
What not to bring: Pets, alcoholic beverages.
Available on site: Hot dogs, popcorns, sodas, water, T-shirts.
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