QNS Weekender: 9 things to do in Queens

There are many exciting things to do in Queens this weekend! From comedy shows to colorful 5K runs, there is always something for everyone to enjoy. 

GET TESTED AND VACCINATED

Before doing anything in person, get tested for COVID-19 and vaccinated and boosted! Also, don’t forget to wear your mask indoors and socially distance wherever possible.

To slow the spread of COVID-19, the New York City Department of Health suggests getting tested often. Here is where you can find several places in Queens to get tested this weekend:

• Enter your address and find a testing site near you at www1.nyc.gov/site/coronavirus/get-tested/covid-19-testing.page.
• NYC Health + Hospitals offers several testing sites in Queens.

The United States Postal Service is also offering four free at-home test kits per address. Visit special.usps.com/testkits to learn how to order your test kits.

Visit vaccinefinder.nyc.gov to find a Queens vaccination site near you.

FRIDAY, JULY 29

Corona Greenmarket (Roosevelt Avenue and 103rd Street): Support local farmers by buying fresh and seasonal produce! Open every Friday until Nov. 18, with an additional day on Nov. 23 for Thanksgiving shopping. grownyc.org. Free. Market hours: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., compost hours: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Open Paddle with Community Boathouse (Bay Breeze Park): Come for a leisurely paddle in Jamaica Bay! Open for new and experienced paddlers. There will be paddle leaders to help guide new paddlers. Registration doesn’t guarantee a kayak, as they are available first come first served. eventbrite.com. Free. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Transplants Comedy Show (QED Astoria): Enjoy a comedy show about transplants telling jokes and stories about not being from here! This week’s show features two immigrants: Irish comedian Katie Boyle and Libyan comedian Mohanad Elshieky. There will be crowd work, audience participation and stand up! qedastoria.com. Tickets are $10 per person. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, JULY 30

The Color Run (Citi Field): Brighten your day (and clothes) with this five-kilometer, untimed event! At each kilometer mark, Color Runners are doused in a different colored powder. Participants wear white at the starting line and finish the race plastered in color. Once the race is over, the fun continues at the Finish Festival, a larger-than-life party equipped with music, dancing, activity booths and more. thecolorrun.com. $24.99 (kids 8 and under), prices vary for other participant kits from $29.99 to $49.99. Begins at 8 a.m. All participants must be on the run route no later than 8:30 a.m.

Movies Under The Stars: James and The Giant Peach (Beach 17th Street Playground in Rockaway Beach): Have a fun Saturday night with this charming adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic book! Make sure to bring a blanket or lawn chair and arrive with ample time to find a great spot. Registration is required. nycgovpark.org. Free. 8:30 to 11 p.m.

SUNDAY, JULY 31

LIVE at Culture Lab LIC (The Plaxall Gallery): Immerse yourself in music with this outdoor concert! eventbrite.com. Free. 5 to 9:30 p.m. 

Act One: One Act Festival 2022 – Program A (38-02 61st St.): Join The Secret Theatre in their One Act Festival, a series of self-produced short plays competing for different cash prizes. The audience gets to choose the finalists. Masks required. Audience must arrive 15 minutes before the show starts. eventbrite.com. Registration required, tickets start at $15. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. 

ALL WEEKEND

NYC Restaurant Week (several restaurants throughout Queens): Indulge in some delicious food with NYC Restaurant Week while exploring NYC’s culinary culture! Enjoy dining at the 35 participating Queens restaurants. The summer 2022 program features various pricing options ($30, $45, $60), which restaurants may offer during meal periods of their choosing (lunch, dinner or both). Restaurant Week is now extended for a month, from July 18 – Aug, 21, to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Saturdays are excluded from the program. Check the hours of the restaurant you plan on visiting. nycgo.com.

Vander Ende-Onderdonk House Museum Tours (1820 Flushing Ave., Ridgewood): Explore NYC’s oldest Dutch stone farmhouse! Saturdays and Sundays, 12 to 5 p.m. $5 for adults, free for kids. eventbrite.com.