On Saturday evening, Riverside Symphonia’s annual Concert Under the Stars proved true to its “rain or shine” policy promise.
Under cloudy, humid conditions crowds nonetheless began pouring into Tinicum Park at 6 p.m., the air filled with hope the township might escape predicted, much-needed downpours.
The Riverside Symphonia is a professional orchestra that has served the Greater Delaware Valley, including Bucks, Hunterdon, Mercer and Somerset counties for more than a quarter century.
Attendees brought elaborate Independence Day-themed picnic supper setups. The park’s Great Lawn quickly filled with elaborate buffet tables, red, white and blue table settings — one included multiple candelabras — flowing bars and mouthwatering family-style food platters ranging from fried chicken, sliced steak, grilled vegetables, summer salads of all types and assorted baked goods.
The community mood across the packed Tinicum Park was typically upbeat, with many guests sporting expressive red, white and blue outfits and elaborate holiday hats.
While the skies continued to darken, the dry weather held out long enough to allow most to enjoy their al fresco suppers before the concert.
The Symphonia began playing a bit before its scheduled 8 p.m. start time, in anticipation of approaching rain cells. Anxious attendees could be heard mumbling about what to do, some choosing to pack up and leave early, many more holding out hope and settling in to enjoy the concert in progress.
Yet, less than 30 minutes in, the skies opened with a driving rain that gave no warning via a preview drizzle. Some attendees had come prepared, donning rain ponchos and quickly clearing the remains of dinner and dessert. Others held up their chairs as rain hats.
Undaunted, the Riverside Symphonia continued playing under the protection of the bandstand — until the first strike of lightning lit up the Great Lawn.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, we now have seen lightening, so the concert must end, but rest assured we will have fireworks!” announced Symphonia musical director and conductor Mariusz Smolji.
With that, the teeming skies quickly exploded with Tinicum’s classic display, this time without the Symphonia’s patriotic musical accompaniment.
As the downpour intensified, some quickly gathered their belongings and fled to their cars under the spectacular light of the fireworks display, while other attendees, already drenched to the bone, chose to go with the festive flow and remained to enjoy the 10-minute display before slogging back to their cars.
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