PENN TWP — The beginning of a second season of the Picnic in the Park free concerts at Succop Nature Park, 185 W. Airport Road, will help herald a major announcement about the property's future.

Chris Kubiak, development associate for the Audubon Society which owns the 50-acre park, said, “Next year is the 100th anniversary of the Audubon Society. We're having these free shows as a way to invite people and get them excited about our anniversary. We'll have a major announcement next April about the property and our plans for it.”

In the meantime, Kubiak said Succop Nature Park will host the second year in a series of free concerts.

“Last year was extremely successful. We had a large turnout, and people seemed to like it,” said Kubiak, noting that each band drew more than 100 people. One band — Plowshare Poets featuring Succop naturalist Ryan Stauffer — played before an audience of 200.

Kubiak said beginning at 6 p.m. people can bring their own picnic baskets and blankets and enjoy the music and natural surroundings.

The concerts, all slated to start at 7 p.m., will be performed in the space in front of the events shelter and will go on rain or shine.

This year the series starts with Fertigs Crossroads Aug. 20. Kubiak said the five-piece band featuring Ray Sherman from Butler on guitar plays classic country, as well as some blues and '50s and '60s rock.

Next, on Sept. 24, will be the Jake Rubenstein Band which plays “classic rock with a little bit of blues,” said Kubiak.

Finally, the Knoch Jazz Band will perform Oct. 15.

“We're trying to mix up our acts and give our community some different artists,” Kubiak said.

For Sherman, the Aug. 20 concert won't involve a lot of travel.

The 1979 Knoch High School graduate said he is looking forward to playing at Succop Nature Park.

“I haven't been there, though I grew up near there,” said Sherman.

“We are very excited about this. This is the kind of thing we like to do,” said Sherman. “This particular band prefers outdoor venues.”

“We like supporting local acts,” said Kubiak. “We feel we are part of the community and they are a part of the community and it's a good time to reciprocate.”

Also, he said, concertgoers will have the option of buying pizza on site for the Sept. 24 and Oct. 15 events.

“Medure's Catering are going to be bringing a portable brick pizza oven here,” Kubiak said.

While only in its second year, the Audubon Society has plans for Picnic in the Park to get bigger.

“We envision this growing. It could be like Hartwood Acres,” said Kubiak. “This is a great family thing where you can come out with the kids after work with a picnic dinner.”

“We had a lot of people asking about it,” he said. “And in the future we might expand the concerts to go from May to October.”

It's all part of the Audubon Society's aim to have more people visit the property, he said.

The Audubon Society renamed Succop Conservancy to Succop Nature Park with the aim of increasing the public's use of the property, he said.

“Here from dawn to dusk you can bird watch, picnic, walk your dog. We're going to have an off-leash dog park that we are going to be opening next year,” Kubiak said.

Picnic in the Park 2015

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All events run from 6 to 9 p.m. in the area in front of the event shelter. Bands are scheduled to begin playing at 7 p.m. Pizza will be available for purchase Sept. 24 and Oct. 15. All events are free.

4 Aug. 20 — Fertigs Crossroads

4 Sept. 24 — Jake Rubenstein Band

4 Oct. 15 — Knoch Jazz Band

For more information, call the Audubon Society at 412-963-6100.