Best of the Beach will bring some of the best moments from past Boston Pops on Nantucket concerts into the homes of viewers to enjoy this Saturday, August 14 at 8pm EST. Produced by Nantucket’s own Yellow Productions, the program will feature highlights from past celebrations of The Boston Pops for Nantucket on Jetties Beach. The telecast will be aired on NCTV Channel 18 and is brought to the community through the generosity of Jill and Steven Karp and the White Elephant Resorts, long-time supporters of this major Nantucket Cottage Hospital fundraiser.
“Over its 25-year history, the Boston Pops on Nantucket has become a highly anticipated Cape and Islands defining event of the summer,” said Gary Shaw, President and CEO of Nantucket Cottage Hospital. “Since we aren’t able to gather together on Jetties Beach for a second year, we wanted to provide our community with something that promotes healing, rekindles spirits, brings smiles, conveys hope, and offers a great listening experience as our way of giving back and thanking Nantucketer’s for their tremendous support to the hospital over these last 18 months. Nothing can truly capture the inclusive sense of community, celebration and joy we’ve come to expect each year from the Pops, but hopefully this broadcast will capture just a taste of it.”
This Saturday’s telecast will include musical performances by the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra performing with Kenny Loggins in 2016, a selection from the Beatles tribute band RAIN from the 2018 beach concert, and performances from The Spinners who were the guest performers in 2019. Best of the Beach will also feature a recorded firework show, streamed to the sound of the 1812 Overture. Tributes to medical professionals who served the Nantucket community throughout the pandemic will be included, along with a message from Gary Shaw.
“The team at Nantucket Cottage Hospital Foundation, Aisling of ACKtivities & Jon Rosbrook have worked really hard to bring a fun and entertaining show to everyone’s screens and we cannot wait for you all to see it,” commented Laura Cunninham, Creative Director of Yellow Productions. “There are so many great performances from years past and we’re sure it will bring back pleasant memories for a lot of people…It is such a pleasure and honor to work with the Nantucket Cottage Hospital Foundation again this year to create the virtual event. We got to meet so many wonderful people & film some really great pieces. We hope everyone will be watching it on Channel 18 alongside us.”
Viewers are encouraged to get comfortable in front of their televisions—perhaps set up indoor versions of the beach picnics they would have enjoyed during the festivities at Jetties Beach—smile, have fun, and dance!
“With the difficult news of The Pops cancellation this year, we wanted to give the community something we can all rally around in celebration,” Shaw explained. “Best of the Beach is just that: an opportunity for our community to get together in their homes for an event highlighting the spirit of inclusivity and celebration that The Pops brings to Nantucket year after year.”
Last week the Town of Nantucket’s Select Board voted to proclaim this week “Nantucket Cottage Hospital Thank You Week.” This recognizes the 24/7 dedication and sacrifice of the hospital staff through the pandemic as they care for community members and visitors and work to help keep people on our island safe and healthy.
“These last 18 months have been incredibly challenging for Nantucket and those that work at Nantucket Cottage Hospital. Our medical teams have spent countless hours adapting to a constantly changing care delivery environment, and yet, as difficult as that may be 30 miles to sea, our staff and families have not only risen to the occasion they have leaned into and embraced challenges head on! As Nantucketers, we are getting better together,” said Shaw.
As for 2022, according to Public Information Manager James Lanza, “we are going to continue to work with the Town to find a way to bring together our community next year for the 25th anniversary of the Boston Pops at Jetties Beach. This event is about bringing together the community we serve, and in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions, the entire community has a newfound appreciation for those community celebrations … like the Boston Pops on Nantucket.”
