Bucks County-Born Soul Artist To Headline Doylestown's Picnics On Pine

DOYLESTOWN BOROUGH, PA — Picnics On Pine returns to Doylestown Borough for its fifth season on Saturday, May 17, with an evening of music, socialization, and great food in the parking lot of Saint Paul's Episcopal Church.

Headlining the May picnic will be Bucks County-born and raised Americana soul artist, Don McCloskey. Backed by his powerhouse eight-piece band, McCloskey has lit up stages, and has earned critical acclaim and millions of streams, led by the band's breakout single, “First in Flight,” featured in the Season 2 finale of Apple TV+’s Mythic Quest.

WXPN calls him “a musical spectacle simultaneously lighthearted and emotional.”

Philadelphia-based violinist and songwriter, Zoe Lemon, kicks off Picnics On Pine marking her first show in Doylestown. Craft makers and vintage vendors will line the streets while Abington-based Jasper's Sunrise BBQ provides soul food for the occasion.

The picnics have been inviting audiences of all ages to experience live music and great food since their socially distant beginnings as "Distance Picnics" in July 2020. Now, after five years, the twice annual block party expands the original intention to not only provide a space for Bucks County to gather, but also for new audiences to experience Bucks County.

What makes Picnics On Pine so unique is that it's a blank canvas hidden in plain sight.

By day, it serves as a parking lot for Saint Paul's Episcopal Church on Pine Street just two blocks from State and Main Streets in Doylestown. In the evening, the lot becomes a music venue with a picturesque red barn as its backdrop and with the blessings of the Rev. Daniel Moore and wife Kristin Moore of Saint Paul's Church, as well as their staff and congregation.

During lockdown, Rev. Daniel and Kristin envisioned a potential safe venue in the church's parking lot at time when music was needed most. They invited lifelong Doylestown resident and concert producer, Joe Montone, to help them bring that dream to life.

"Without the Distance Picnics, there would be no Stage United," says Joe Montone, whose nonprofit Stage United is now responsible for providing Bucks County with greater access to live concert experiences. "It all started in a parking lot as a way to brighten our community during a very dark time."

“It’s amazing to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Picnics on Pine! What began as a joyful way to bring our community together during a difficult time has grown into a beloved staple of our town’s music scene," says Kristin Moore. "We couldn’t be more proud — or more grateful — to Joe for all he’s created and nurtured through this incredible event.”

Tickets and more information about the family-friendly show can be found by clicking here. The event opens at 4:30 p.m. with the entrance off of 84 East Oakland Avenue in Doylestown. The stretch of Pine Street from Oakland to Taylor Avenue will be closed for the event. Guests are encouraged to bring picnic blankets or folding chairs to enjoy the experience.