You are reading

Central Astoria announces full summer lineup in Astoria Park despite Great Lawn closure

Photo: Central Astoria LDC (Facebook)

May 15, 2025 By Shane O’Brien

The Central Astoria Local Development Coalition has announced a full schedule of free summer programming, including fireworks, concerts, and outdoor movie nights— despite ongoing renovations that have rendered Astoria Park’s iconic Great Lawn inaccessible.

Central Astoria, a long-standing nonprofit dedicated to preserving and enriching the Astoria community, will kick off its 41st Annual Independence Day Celebration on Thursday, June 26, at 7 p.m., with fireworks to follow after sundown. The pyrotechnic display will once again light up the East River and Astoria Waterfront near the Hell Gate Bridge, a tradition that draws hundreds of residents each year.

Although summer events in Astoria Park are typically held on the park’s expansive Great Lawn, the area has been closed since September 2023 for the $6.5 million Astoria Park Great Lawn Pathways Reconstruction Project, a capital improvement initiative led by NYC Parks. The lawn is not expected to reopen before December 2025.

Fireworks above Astoria Park at a previous year’s Independence Celebration (Central Astoria Local Development Coalition Inc.)

A post on Central Astoria’s website initially listed the Great Lawn as the location for all summer events, causing some confusion on social media among community members. However, NYC Parks officials have confirmed that the department is working closely with community groups to accommodate events elsewhere in the park.

Central Astoria has since clarified that its events will be held on the North Lawn near Ditmars Boulevard, allowing the popular programs to move forward as planned.

The Summer Concert Series will take place every Thursday in July, starting July 10 and continuing through July 31. Each show will begin at 7 p.m., and guests are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs for seating.

The nonprofit’s Free Movies on the Lawn series will return beginning Monday, July 28, with additional screenings scheduled for August 4, 11, and 18. Each movie will also begin at 7 p.m., with attendees again encouraged to bring their own seating.

All summer events are sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán’s office in partnership with the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

In addition to the summer programming, Central Astoria will celebrate the grand opening of the Astoria Park Performance Center on Wednesday, May 15, at 7 p.m.. Located on the site of the former diving pool adjacent to Astoria Pool, the new center will serve as a venue for local music and cultural events.

For updates or more information, visit centralastoria.org.

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Mayor Adams marks one year of ‘Padlock to Protect’ with pizza and progress in Queens

Mayor Eric Adams marked the one-year anniversary of the launch of the city’s “Operation Padlock to Protect” initiative at a pizzeria on the Rego Park and Middle Village border on Wednesday and touted the significant progress in shutting down more than 1,400 illegal smoke shops across the five boroughs and seizing more than $95 million in illegal product since last May.

“The city was fed up. We heard it at every town hall. This time last year, there were thousands of illegal smoke shops plaguing our city with unlicensed cannabis endangering our children,” Adams said. “One year later, we are proud to announce that we have turned the tide. Thanks to the tireless efforts by our city’s law enforcement officers, we’ve padlocked thousands of illegal shops and created safer streets for children and families. But we’re not stopping there.”

Driver sought in hit-and-run that injured 14-year-old on scooter in Elmhurst: NYPD

Police from the 110th Precinct in Elmhurst are looking for a hit-and-run driver who struck a 14-year-old boy and allegedly sped away from the scene earlier this month.

The incident occurred just before 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, as the youngster was riding a scooter on the sidewalk on 94th Street approaching the intersection of 50th Avenue when the motorist allegedly hit the kid and kept driving, police said Tuesday.