Aug. 31, 2015 By Jackie Strawbridge
A daylong festival for local music and art brought 2,000 to the Astoria Park Great Lawn on Saturday, according to the Parks Department.
The Astoria Music Now! New World Queens festival, presented by local arts nonprofit Astoria Music and Arts, ran from noon to 9 p.m. A wide span of local talent was on display, from rock performers to tap dancers to visual artists.
“It did exceed my expectations,” said Nicole Mourelatos, who organized the festival alongside Astoria Music and Arts founder Justin Finley.
Mourelatos said one of her favorite moments in the festival was a pie-eating contest presented by Astor Bake Shop, which took place while heavy metal played behind contestants.
“I loved the rock and roll against the pie eating,” she said. “It was super intense; it was theatrical.”
Andrew Sarmiento, a 28th Street resident, said he stopped by the Great Lawn after seeing Instagram posts of the festival.
“I came here just to check it out,” he said. “It’s really nice. I like it – good music, over here, over there,” he added, gesturing to the festival’s main stage and acoustic stage.
“I’m enjoying the music. It’s fun to listen to different kinds of bands,” resident Lori Nicholas said. “It’s nice to be outside, it’s nice to see people from the neighborhood of all different stripes.”
