Celebrate Garden Expositions All Year Long
Queens Botanical Garden (QBG) in Flushing will commemorate the 50th and 75th anniversaries of the 1964-65 and 1939-40 World’s Fairs, respectively, all year long.
The garden evolved from the fiveacre “Gardens on Parade” exhibit showcased at the 1939-1940 New York World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. In 1961, the garden was moved to its current location on Main Street, Flushing to make way for the 1964 Fair.
These signature events changed forever the borough and spawned more than half of the county’s major cultural institutions, according to a garden press release. To mark these anniversaries, in addition to its ongoing schedule of seasonal activities, Queens Botanical Garden is presenting a series of special World’s Fair Anniversary events.
Unless otherwise noted, all events are free with Garden admission ($4 for adults; $3 for seniors; $2 for students and children; free for QBG members).
The events include the following:
– Mid-June: World’s Fair Entry Garden-Queens Botanical’s official gardeners will create special plantings, including an entry garden with living reproductions of the iconic World’s Fair Trylons and Perispheres.
– Tuesday, May 6, through Saturday, Sept. 28: Harvesting our History: the Story of Queens Botanical Garden-The garden’s gallery will host an exhibition created largely from our archives that looks back at both the 1939 and 1964 Fairs and traces QBG’s history. An opening reception will be held on Sunday, June 8, from 2 to 4 p.m.
– Saturday, May 24, through Monday, May 26, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day: World’s Fair Train Show- The Long Island Garden Railway Society Inc. presents a working “Gscale” model train exhibit in a World’s Fair-themed outdoor setting. On May 24, festivities will include food and craft vendors, a trackless train for rides through the Garden (feeapplies),anda4p.m.concertby John Yao’s Big Band co-presented by The Kupferberg Center for the Arts.
– Saturday, July 19, noon to 7 p.m.: World’s Fair Brew Fest- Participants will sample beers from around the globe and enjoy music, food and craft vendors. The Brew Fest partner is Great Brewers. Tickets are required; there are two tasting sessions (noon to 3 p.m.; 4 to 7 p.m.). Must be 21 years or over.
– Tuesday, Aug. 5, through Saturday, Nov. 1: The New York World’s Fairs and The Port Authority: Bringing Trade, Travel and Tourism to Queens, the Region and the World-A multi-media exhibit showing how aviation, the Port Authority and the States of New York and New Jersey contributed to the success of the New York World’s Fairs and to the economy of the region.
– Sunday, Sept. 28, 2 p.m.: World’s Fair Lecture-The garden will present Margaret Anne Tockarshewsky, former QBG staff member and currently the executive director of the New Haven Museum, and an expert on the histories of the fairs.
Queens Botanical Garden is located at 43-50 Main St. in Flushing. For more information, visit www.queensbotanical.org or call 1- 718-886-3800.
