News from Britt Hill – May 2025

WITH BRITT SEASON right around the corner, the Hill is coming to life this month. Load in has begun, and our grounds and production crews are hard at work painting, sanding, improving electrical, installing equipment, and so much more. Preparing for the summer ahead is no small task. There’s the literal sweeping out of more cobwebs than I can possibly articulate, making systems improvements and repairs, and the behind-the-scenes work of preparing print materials, finalizing merchandise, coordinating with our amazing food and beverage vendors… the list goes on and on.

This month, the music returns with the Jacksonville Elementary School Musical on Thursday, May 15. Britt has donated use of the venue and production staff to the musical for decades, and it’s one of our favorite days of the year. Watching the kids experience being on a big stage in front of an audience of thousands reminds all of us why we do this work. Our jobs are about engaging imaginations and allowing people the chance to step outside of their day-to-day normal lives for a few hours. What a privilege this is! Britt is proud to play a role in bringing this magic to life for the kids and families in our community.

I also hope you’ll save the date of June 6 for The Hill is Where the Heart Is, our annual kickoff party. This year’s admission-free show, where we’ll again be collecting non-perishable food items for ACCESS, features Miko Marks. Marks is a California-based singer who blends country, blues, rock, gospel, and soul—give her a listen and I think you’ll be even more excited for our opening day!

As always, community is our focus, and we’re making another big change this year to live into that. We’re excited to share that Walkabout Brewing will be our official beverage vendor on the hill, and Fat Kid Food Co will be handling the food in our permanent food stands. Of course, we are excited to welcome an array of food trucks, as well. We’re proud to be highlighting the people in our community who are exceptional at what they do, and we’re so grateful to them for joining forces with us this year.

There’s a lot to look forward to, and I can’t wait to see you on the Hill!

All best, Abby