The Queens County Farm Museum in Floral Park is inviting New Yorkers to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Queens County Fair beginning Friday, Sept. 8, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, live DJ and a Motown concert.
“We are just so excited to welcome New Yorkers to Queens County Farm any day of the year, but especially for the 40th anniversary of the County Fair. It gives us a chance to talk about the important work this organization does connecting the community to the history of farming and also what farming looks like now in New York state and New York City,” said Jennifer Walden Weprin, executive director of the Queens County Farm Museum.
The party begins with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting at 6 p.m. with local officials and farm friends launching the long-awaited County Fair. DJ Malik Work will set off the sound system and greet fair-goers with some of Queens’ favorite sonic selections, followed by a performance of Dr. K’s Motown Revue Band bringing back the magic of the ’60s music scene with their authentic sound and dance moves.
East Coast Street Tacos will debut a limited-edition 40th anniversary Apple Cider Margarita and souvenir cup for the opening ceremony.
Then, brand-new surprises and activities await fair-goers of all ages as the Queens County Fair continues Saturday, Sept. 9, and Sunday, Sept. 10, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring a full lineup of traditional programming and food vendors.
There will be a Beer Garden showcasing NYS beer and cider curated by the Queens Night Market, along with the museum’s famed apple cider donuts and pies that are insanely popular. Food vendors include Teriyaki Plus, CBao Asian Buns, TaDa Noodles, Tania’s Kitchen, Our Green Acres Corn, Ed’s Italian Sausage & Polish, Long Island Seafood, Cousins Maine Lobster, Waffles & Dinges, Kelli’s Funnel Cake and more.
This year’s seasonal debut of the Amazing Maize Maze, New York City’s only corn maze sponsored by Con Edison, is shaped in the theme of the 1954 Ford Tractor donated by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Fair-goers will be the first to navigate the maze, which will run on weekends through the end of October.
“We’re really excited and it looks like it’s going to be a hard one to navigate,” Walden Weprin said.
The Blue Ribbon Competition returns where makers across New York are invited to showcase their work and compete for a coveted Award Ribbon, or perhaps a golden cow adorned Best-in-Show trophy.
The Main Stage Entertainment will feature noteworthy artists including Fogo Azul, New York City-based all-women Brazilian Samba Reggae drum line, Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, The Bone Squad, Surya Botofasina Band and MOMENTNYC: Tribute to Queens. The Family Entertainment Tent will feature Midnight Radio Show, NuTribe Dance Company, jugglers and acrobats for interactive family fun. Shinbone Alley Stilt Band & Harold the Unicycle Clown also make an appearance, plus free games for all to enjoy.
There’s something for everyone at the County Fair — from carnival rides, hay rides, farm games, a pie-eating contest, theatrical performances and much more.
New activities include:
- Taste New York Pavilion showcasing its delicious New York State growers and producers.
- A tractor exhibit highlighting the evolution of farming.
- The Cabot Cheese Cruiser Cheese Truck with free mac n’ cheese.
- The Heartee Mushroom Vessel featuring gourmet mushroom tastings, recipes and education materials from this leading vertical mushroom farmer.
- The Colonial Lab at the Adriance Farmhouse featuring historic house tours and demonstrations such as butter churning, colonial cooking and quill writing.
- Lewis Latimer House Museum’s Mobile Lewis Latimer Lab will make its debut showcasing its state-of-the-art mobile TinkerLab with free STEAM activities to fair-goers.
- The Con Edison Ecology Booth will bring free crafts, sustainability tips and the uber popular Adopt-a-Worm composting program to visitors. Plus, Apiary Talks in partnership with New York City’s Andrew’s Honey.
- Paint the Farm: The Arts Parlor offers free face painting, caricatures, farm-themed temporary tattoos and the Growing Artists Challenge, where kids can draw their favorite farm animals for an exciting chance to be featured in future Queens County Farm Museum maps and signage – in partnership with Commonpoint Queens.
- Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater Puppet Mobile (Sunday only).
The Queens County Farm Museum is located at 73-50 Little Neck Parkway in Floral Park. Tickets for the 40th Annual Queens County Fair start at $15. Single, two- and three-day passes are available. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit queensfarm.org/queens-county-fair.
