Citrus County Parks and Recreation has been hosting their successful Summer Stage and September Stage Open Mic Nights since June inside Central Ridge Community Center. Now that it is getting cooler, the big news is that the Open Mic event is moving to the outdoor stage, “Stage Under the Stars!” Two events will be held on Wednesdays: October 30 and November 27, across the street at Central Ridge Community Park, at 952 Lake Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills. Make sure to bring a chair, cushion, or blanket for seating! Local food vendors, Java and Vine, will have their trailer there with coffee and snacks for purchase.

Stage Under the Stars is a New Spotlight for Local Talent

“I’ve attended open mics all my life, and was excited to create this new program for Citrus County Parks and Recreation,” said Andrea Cuccaro, the Division’s Recreation Program Specialist. “I couldn’t be happier with the community’s response over the summer. It’s amazing how many talented local performers there are and through open mic events we can give them a voice locally,” she added.

“The summer events started with a crowd of thirty and just six performers in June, and now we have triple the performers and triple the crowd just four months later,” said Manny Coimbre, Sports and Events Coordinator for the division. “It’s been really satisfying to take Open Mic a step further and extend offers to local talent to open for our concert series acts,” he added.

“I want to thank the Citrus County Parks and Recreation team for putting on the Open Mic nights, which has given me and some of my singer/songwriting friends a place to showcase new songs,” said Presley Lawson, who opened for the presentation of The Doors of Perception at the Citrus Springs Community Center on September 28.  “I appreciate the investment that the Citrus County Parks and Recreation is putting into the local music scene, with so much talent around this is a great way to showcase some of our local musicians as well as broadening the entertainment scene for Citrus County,” Lawson concluded.

“There has been a great variety of acts and talent and it has turned into its own sort of community, as many performers continue returning for the next month’s open mic.” Said Chris Evans, who with his bandmates performs as a musical duo called ‘Chris and Rob.  “The audience has been very warm and welcoming, which is nice because it makes your first on-stage attempt less frightening and, of course, having people to perform for is essential.” The group has been invited to be the opening act for Absolute Queen, which will be the first show of the upcoming Parks and Recreation Concert Series on November 16 at the Citrus Springs Community Center.  “We are very excited to open for a band as solid as Absolute Queen.  I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone that doesn’t like Queen, and these guys do the legendary band justice,” Evans declared.

Check out Citrus County Parks and Recreation’s concert series by following the Citrus County Facebook page. For more information, call (352) 527-7540.