Pride blooms at Queens Botanical Garden with film screening, live performances

Pride Month is in full swing at the Queens Botanical Garden (QBG) this June, and the garden is featuring a lineup of fun events to celebrate Pride in style.

Located at 43-50 Main St. in Flushing, QBG is collaborating with artists and performers within the LGBTQ community for events such as a film screening and drag performances for a fun and festive night out celebrating Queer voices amidst the flowers and underneath the stars.

The first event is taking place this weekend on Friday, June 13, at 6:30 p.m. featuring a movie showing of A Mother Apart, presented by Queer Voices: NYC Festival, who is collaborating with the garden for the event. The evening will feature a showing of the film directed by Laurie Townshend. The film follows acclaimed poet and activist Staceyann Chin, who discovered her letters, providing Chin with the opportunity to explore her mother’s past and examine the way her absence shaped her life, including her art, politics, and parenting. The evening is slated to begin with live music from a DJ set, and refreshments, followed by the screening beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets must be reserved to attend and range from $3.09 for children, ages 4-12, $5.19 for seniors ages 62 and up and students with ID, and $7.29 for non-member adults.

The next event, their signature annual Pride event, Queens at the Garden, featuring Marti Cummings, is scheduled to take place on Thursday, June 19, at 7 p.m. The special fun-filled evening includes a line-up of drag performances, refreshments, a live DJ set and crafts. The event includes three performers, Nani Tsunami, Janae SaisQuois, and Cummings, who is also the host for the evening. The annual event is sponsored by New York Presbyterian Queens, and tickets should be purchased in advance for the event. The cost ranges from $20 for QBG members and $26 for non-members. Online booking fees apply. Tickets include after-hours access to the garden grounds, drag show performances and pride-themed crafts.

QBG hosts an array of cultural and festive events throughout the year to celebrate the diverse mosaic of the Queens community. Founded in 1939, the space is an oasis of nature, education, and community events that provide a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. To learn more about their upcoming events, workshops, and more, visit QBG’s website.