Peacock in the Park was the brainchild of Rose Empress XXIX Lady Elaine Peacock. While Reigning as Empress of the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court in 1987, Peacock dreamed of producing a drag-style show in Portland's most glorious park; Washington Park Amphitheater.

Peacock checked with the local news/radio station KGW to establish the best day for the event as far as weather was concerned. KGW informed her that the last Sunday in June was   historically the driest day of the year. Peacock  and her lover Ray Southwick purchased a $5.00 permit from the Portland Parks and Recreation Bureau and the first Peacock and the Roses Show was planned and executed on the last Sunday in June 1987. The crowd was thin but very energetic. Hundreds of people showed up to see the elegant Peacock strut her stuff in the Park. Peacock was also joined by her mother Audria M. Edwards, sister Misty Waters and many other family members that day. The show began at 7:00pm and went until darkness fell and the performers were no longer visible. There were no sets, no food booths, no T-shirts or posters. Just a bunch of friends gathered together to witness history in the making.

In the fall of 1987, Audria M. Edwards passed away. The following spring, Lady Elaine Peacock, Misty Waters, Rosey Waters and Ray Southwick established the Audria M. Edwards Scholarship Fund. It was then that the decision was made to change Peacock and the Roses to Peacock in the Park and make it an annual fund-raiser for the Scholarship Fund. The first scholarship was awarded in 1989 before a crowd of several hundred friends and family.   

In the years that followed, Peacock in the Park became the place to be each summer. The maximum capacity crowd numbered in the thousands, the show featured a full set and a huge cast of talented performers. The show was moved to 3:30pm to accommodate the many performers and prevent darkness from stopping the show. Hot dogs, sno-cones, soda pop, chips, bottled water and T-shirts were all for sale to raise money for the Scholarship Fund.

In 1992, Lady Elaine Peacock turned the Scholarship fund over to The Equity Foundation to administer under their 501(c)3 non-profit status.  
 
Sadly, in 1993, both Lady Elaine Peacock and Misty Waters passed away. It was Peacock's wish that the show continue and that Kimberlee Van Patten and Maria become the new Scholarship Fund administrators and Peacock in the Park Show coordinators. As hostess of the show, Maria did an incredible job of carrying on the spirit and enthusiasm of the late Lady Elaine Peacock. Additionally, Poison Waters was the Mistress of Ceremonies for more than 10 years and had the crowd eating out of her hand. Maria and Poison proved to be a winning combination and each year the crowd grew and more and more money was raised for the Scholarship Fund.

In 1999, Kimberlee and Maria formed Peacock Productions, Inc. and gained 501(c)3 non-profit tax exemption status from the Internal Revenue Service, thereby making the Fund self-sufficient.  A new board of directors was formed and an Endowment Fund was started to ensure the continued success of the Audria M. Edwards Scholarship Fund.