This Sunday, June 22, celebrate the arrival of summer at Queens Botanical Garden (QBG) at its summer solstice event, which also kicks off the Festival de las Flores (The Festival of the Flowers), a traditional Colombian celebration now in its fifth year in New York City.
The summer solstice is the longest day of the year and the first day of summer. This year, QBG’s annual observance of this special day is combined with a celebration flowers with Festival de las Flores, popular traditional celebration originating in Medellín, Colombia.
It commemorates the time when the Silletero (porter) slaves had carry men, women and other cargo on their backs up the steep hills. When slavery ended, they carried flowers instead, to celebrate freedom and beauty. Today, this history celebrated with elaborate floral displays (Silletas) and festive performances.
The garden will celebrate both events in grand style. Visitors can enjoy crafts and food vendors, Spanish folklore and bilingual story time, old-fashioned children’s games, face painting, botanical crafts and activities, a petting zoo, miniature pony rides and more. The performance stage will feature live music by Rebollu, an ensemble of master musicians specializing in traditional Colombian instruments along with the fusion sounds of Boca. Of particular interest will be a large Floral Tapestry that will be constructed by the Festival organizers and displays of Silletas both completed and in progress.
The floral Tapestry will be on display at QBG through July 4. The garden will host the Silleteros (the floral artisans who construct the Silletas) through June 28. The public is invited to observe their work from 2-4 p.m. beginning Tuesday, June 24, through Saturday, June 28, and from 10 a.m. through noon on June 28.
The event schedule for solstice/festival is as follows:
– noon to 5 p.m.: displays of Silletas, Floral Tapestry and botanical sculptures;
– noon to 5 p.m.: craft vendors and food vendors;
– noon to 5 p.m.: old fashioned children’s games;
– noon to 5 p.m.: botanical crafts and activities;
– noon to 4 p.m.: face painting by SillyCheeks (additional fee applies);
– noon to 4 p.m.: petting zoo and miniature horse rides;
– 1 to 1:45 p.m. and 3 to 3:45 p.m.: bilingual storytime;
– 2 to 5 p.m.: live music by Rebollu and the fusion band Boca.
The lead sponsor of the Festival is Asocolflores, the Association of Colombian Flower Exporters. Additional sponsors include Avianca Airlines, White Rose Food, El Especialito, Univision, Radio WADO and Storage Deluxe.
Queens Botanical Garden is located at 43-50 Main St. in Flushing. Entry to the Summer Solstice/Festival de las Flores is free with garden admission ($4 for adults; $3 for seniors; $2 for students and children; free for QBG members). Onsite parking available for $6. The garden is also accessible via the Q44 and the Q22 busses or the 7 subway or LIRR train to Main Street/Flushing.
For more information, visit www.queensbotanical.org or call 1- 718-886-3800.
