Palm Coast, FL (April 25, 2021) – There’s something Old Florida about spending a leisurely afternoon on the porch, relaxing and listening to a little bluegrass music.
Guests to the Florida Agricultural Museum were treated to picture perfect weather for the second installment of ‘Sundays on the Porch’ – a creation of the museum’s new event coordinator Amy Lake.
Modeled after her days in North Carolina where an impromptu banjo playing pair on her restaurant’s front porch became weekly regulars and her husband’s pecan pie was a best seller with fans of the afternoon shows, the Ag Museum is now reaping the benefits of Lake’s creativity.
“I came out here in 2019 looking for a place to teach children’s art classes,” explained Lake, who also coordinates private events at the museum.
With decades of experience that includes a bed and breakfast that was a school and restaurant, a 1927 Vaudeville house that was also a movie and stage theatre, and an event company in an old piano factory, she sees it as a partnership that was meant to be.
“We have so much space out here,” she said, coming up with unique events like ‘Arts and Appetizers’ at the historic Clark House, and ‘Sundays on the Porch’.
Dozens relaxed in the Caldwell Dairy Barn on Sunday afternoon enjoying free pulled pork sliders courtesy of Texas Roadhouse, and chunks of fudge or boiled peanuts brought in by Lara and Roy Usina, owners of St. Augustine Sugar & Shells as the collection of musicians strummed on.
“It’s just amazing out here,” said Laura, a regular on the regional market circuit. “It’s quiet, you get to enjoy life, the music, like back in the old country times.”
Visiting the expansive property at the Florida Agricultural Museum for the first time, after returning from a tour, Ralph Huddleston said he appreciated the opportunity to learn more about Florida history with local historian James Fiske at the wheel of the guided tours.
“He was really good. A lot of information, he’s a good storyteller,” said Huddleston, joined by Tale Teller of St. Augustine Rita Saker, for the tour.
There is one more “Sundays on the Porch”, set for May 16th, and with the success of today’s event, Lake says it will be held in barn, allowing for plenty of shade and space for the handcrafted vendors like fine art purveyor Patty Magee to share their wares with visitors.
Already planning for her next adventure at the museum, the 30-year educator will host a special children’s theater summer camp for the first two weeks of June called “The Fuzzy Mouse Players”. The camp experience will allow 35 children to write, direct and choreograph their own play, wrapping with a performance for audiences at the Florida Agricultural Museum.
A smashing success in the past, Lake is looking forward to working with local children to bring the unique concept to Flagler and St. Johns counties.
“I’ve been doing this theory of theater since 1982, so a really long time. Kids love the fact that they own it from start to finish,” she said. “They get to write their own story on how they see it, and we try to guide the theory. It’s one big giant story.”
For more information on ‘Sundays on the Porch’ or ‘The Fuzzy Mouse Players’, visit www.floridaagmuseum.org.
Featured Photo: Florida Agricultural Museum event coordinator Amy Lake and executive director Kara Hoblick welcome visitors for ‘Sundays on the Porch’ in the Caldwell Dairy Barn on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
