Astoria Park announces lineup of free summer programming including fireworks and outdoor movies
The festivities officially kick off on Thursday, June 26 at 7pm with the 41st Annual Independence Day Celebration, culminating in a dazzling near the Hell Gate Bridge. It's a beloved Queens tradition that draws hundreds each year, picnic baskets and glow sticks in tow.
While the Great Lawn typically hosts the action, it has been off-limits since September 2023 due to a $6.5 million renovation project spearheaded by NYC Parks. The Astoria Park Great Lawn Pathways Reconstruction Project aims to improve accessibility and stormwater drainage, but not before wrapping up later this year.
The initial event listings caused a mild kerfuffle after referencing the still-closed lawn as the location, but Central Astoria has since clarified that all summer programming will now take place on the North Lawn near Ditmars Boulevard. NYC Parks confirmed that they're working with local groups to ensure events can go forward without a hitch.
Next up is the Summer Concert Series, held every Thursday in July from July 10 through July 31. Shows begin at 7 p.m., and the vibe is strictly bring-your-own-blanket. Think Motown, rock tributes and family-friendly jams under the stars.
The always-popular Summer Movie Series follows with screenings on Monday evenings: July 28, August 4, 11, and 18. Films start at 7pm, and moviegoers are invited to stake out a patch of grass early.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
04-08-2025
- Rhyl Journal
Thousands enjoy music at free Rhyl Summertime Weekender
People at the Rhyl Events Arena were treated to two days of non-stop music on Saturday and Sunday (August 2 and 3). Organised by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL) in collaboration with Rhyl Town Council, 6,000 free tickets were given to the local community and residents. Both days saw line-ups packed with performances and activities for all ages, creating an exciting summer celebration for the entire community. The festivities began with an impressive line-up of acts including The Big Pop Party Show – featuring terrific tributes to Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa and Meghan Trainor. Queen Rhapsody performed all of Queen's legendary hits and Kaiser Monkey Killers played classic rock anthems. Sunday's line-up offered an afternoon of legendary sounds with performances from Midnight Soul Sisters, whose soulful and Motown classics delighted crowds, and Elite Elton, who played the iconic hits of Elton John. Finally, Ska Britannia gave their customary energetic performance with some showmanship to boot. There was plenty for families and children to do, with a range of fun and free entertainment dotted around the arena throughout the day, including face painting, balloon modelling, a caricaturist and more.
Daily Mirror
27-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Jade Thirlwall thought music icon was her mum as she makes candid admission
Former Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall shared a 'fun fact' with her fans during her BBC Proms performance as she revealed a funny childhood memory Jade Thirlwall shared a hilarious confession during her impressive BBC Proms performance in her native North East. The Little Mix star, 32, treated her hometown to an excellent show alongside the Royal Northern Sinfonia at Gateshead's The Glasshouse. In between her flawless tunes, the South Shields-born star took time to give her fans an insight into her life growing up in the region. And prior to introducing her huge hit titled Fantasy, Jade shared a "fun fact". She told her adoring crowd: "My mam was always playing Motown music, specifically Diana Ross. Fun fact, I genuinely thought my mam was Diana Ross for a hot minute. To the point where she would go off to the bingo and she would be like 'I'm going to do a show' and I'd be like 'gag, that's my mam'. "At one point, do you know when you go to school and you take in a show and tell thing? I remember this, I took in a Diana Ross programme and the kids had, like, I don't know, Pokemon cards or some sort of toy. "And they would be like 'what's that?' and I would be like 'it's my mam'. Alas, it wasn't my mam, but I think my mam's just as special, if not more." She then went on to introduce a tune that was based from her love of Motown as she impressively sang "in my on Jadefied way". She admitted the tune was a way to tell her fans it is "okay to be unapologetically yourself" as she performed her own tune called Fantasy. Jade also treated those at the event that was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 to a number of other big numbers from her own repertoire. And she also showcased her huge talent with a number of cover songs, including Madonna's Frozen. Perhaps the cover of the night came in the shape of Sam Fender's Remember My Name. Paying tribute to the "King of the North," Jade produced a flawless and spine tingling version of the emotional tune. The number had fans in tears before Jade welled up too following its conclusion. She explained the sentimental meaning behind her choice and, with her voice breaking, she revealed the song had been played at a friend's funeral just weeks ago. The candid confession was met with huge support from the crowd, some of who shouted out to gush over their "Angel of the North". The show was a history maker as, as well as the broadcast on Radio 3 on the night, Jade's performance was also filmed to go out on television at a later date. It marked the first time the Proms had been filmed for television outside of London.
BBC News
20-07-2025
- BBC News
Stevie Wonder: 'I'll keep playing as long as I breathe'
At the age of 75, Stevie Wonder is still going strong. His latest UK tour, which wrapped up earlier this month received rapturous reviews, with critics calling the star "fresh and on form" for "a riotously joyful celebration" of his while contemporaries like Billy Joel and The Eagles are reducing their musical commitments, Wonder says he will never consider retiring."For as long as you breathe, for as long as your heart beats, there's more for you to do," the Motown legend told the BBC's Sidetracked podcast. "I'm not gonna stop the gift that keeps pouring through my body. "I love doing what I'm doing. An artist never stops drawing. As long as you can imagine is as long as you are going to be creative."The star also confirmed he was still working on a new album, titled Through The Eyes Of Wonder, which he first discussed in project has previously been described as a performance piece that will reflect his experience as a blind would be his first studio album since 2005's A Time To Love; extending a recording career that started in 1962, when he was just 11 years old. Wonder spoke to Sidetracked presenter Annie Macmanus, the day before he headlined the BST festival in London's Hyde Park - playing a two-and-a-half hour set that encompassed his biggest hits, from Superstition and Isn't She Lovely to You Are The Sunshine Of My Life and I of the set was drawn from the 1970s purple patch when he won the Grammy Award for best album three times in a row, for Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale and Songs In The Key Of told Macmanus that he never tired of revisiting those records."Songs are like children, they're with you forever," he said. "They are statement from the spirit within you. "And singing those songs is like me taking another breath." America 'going backwards' Earlier this month, during a concert in Cardiff, the musician addressed a long-standing conspiracy theory that he is not actually blind."You know there have been rumours about me seeing and all that?" he told the audience, "But seriously, you know the truth.""Truth is, shortly after my birth, I became blind," he told his disability a gift, Wonder continued: "Now, that was a blessing because it's allowed me to see the world in the vision of truth, of sight." In his Sidetracked interview, the singer talked about the importance of using music to spread positivity and speak truth to his life, he has been a vocal civil rights campaigner, and played a key role in the campaign to have the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr recognised as a national holiday in the who campaigned for Democrat Kamala Harris in last year's US presidential election, told Macmanus that America was currently beleaguered by "people trying to go backwards"."It's not gonna go down like that," he insisted. "I think that if you look back in history, there's always been a point when people wake up."And I think that, for those who think it is gonna go down like that, remember that God is watching you."You can listen to Stevie Wonder's full interview on the Sidetracked podcast on BBC Sounds.
