Rail Exhibit This Holiday Weekend
This Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 24 through Monday, May 26, Queens Botanical Garden (QBG) in Flushing will host a World’s Fair Train Show created by the Long Island Garden Railway Society, Inc.
The society is one of dozens of organizations across the country that present model railroad layouts placed outside, usually winding through a garden setting. Garden railroading is sometimes described as the marriage of model railroading and gardening.
The World’s Fair Train Show will feature fully working “G” scale model trains traveling a track around a scaled-down Unisphere and other iconic features from the 1964 World’s Fair. A popular attraction was the Civil War engine, “The General.”
QBG’s Train Show will include a replica of The General, along with other period train cars. The trains will be in operation from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on all three days.
Opening day Saturday will be especially festive, according to the garden. The whole family is invited to enjoy food vendors, face painting, games, and “trackless train” rides which will run around select parts of the garden (additional fee applies).
John Yao and His 17-Piece Instrument will cap off Saturday’s activities with a concert beginning at 4 p.m. Yao, a graduate of the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, is a composer, trombonist, and arranger specializing in jazz fusion style. He and his ensemble have performed extensively throughout the region to great acclaim. This performance is cosponsored by the Kupferberg Center for the Arts.
The World’s Fairs were signature events which forever changed the borough of Queens and spawned more than half of the county’s major cultural institutions, including the garden.
“I have wonderful memories from the ’64 Fair and I would think most feel the same who were there,” said Danny Saporito, president of the Long Island Garden Railway Society. “This is real local history both 50 and 75 years. I think the community would want to promote the anniversary and I hope they do.”
Queens Botanical Garden is located at 43-50 Main St. in Flushing, Queens Botanical Garden is easily accessible by car, train, or bus. For travel directions and more information visit www.queensbotanical.org or call 1- 718-886-3800.
