The Queens United International Party (QUIP) will return to Sunnyside Gardens Park for its fifth year on Saturday, Sept. 17, for a day of live music, food and dancing.
The QUIP is an annual, day-long celebration of the cultures and music of the New York City borough of Queens. As one of the nation’s most diverse places, with over 120 countries represented and 135 official languages spoken, Queens is the “World’s Borough.”
There will be several stages that will host an array of performers.
The day will begin with something for the kids, as The Good Ms. Padgett opens the festival with her unique songs for the whole family at 3 p.m. on the Shed Stage. Ms. Padgett performs with the help of her family: partner Miggy Littleton and 7-year-old daughter Penelope Littleton.
A Balinese percussion band from Queens College, Gamelan Yowana Sari, will perform at the picnic grove stage at 4 p.m. The first performer announced was Kakande, led by balafon master Famoro Diouabté. The group plays a funky, high-energy melange of music from their native Mali and their new home in New York which organizers say is “guaranteed to get you dancing!” The group will perform on the main stage at 5 p.m.
Sunnyside’s favorite neighborhood rock ‘n’ roll cover band, The Lowers, will perform deep classic rock from the 1960s-1980s on the Shed stage at 5:45 pm.
For some performers, it won’t be their first time playing to the Sunnyside crowds. QUIP will host Brooklyn Raga Massive for the fourth time on the Shed Stage at 7:30 p.m. The group plays a unique fusion of jazz and Indian classical music.
Festival organizers even created a playlist with more than five hours of music from this year’s performers, so attendees can start practicing their dance moves.
The event will also host local food vendors, including Secret Vegan Kitchen, which sells plant-based burgers and corn dogs, and DownEast Lobstah for some delicious crustaceans.
The event will be on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 3 to 9:30 p.m. It is open to the public and there is a suggested $15 donation at the door.
The event was established in 2017 at Sunnyside Gardens Park by a coalition of neighborhood residents and has grown each year to feature more incredible music from around the world and just around the corner.
All information can be found on QUIP’s website, Facebook, Instagram, or Tiktok pages.
