You are reading

Early Independence Day celebration, fireworks show returns to Astoria Park next week

A free Independence Day celebration with live music and fireworks will light up Astoria Park next week. The fireworks display at last year’s event, pictured. (Photo by Walter Karling)

June 19, 2023 By Michael Dorgan

A free Independence Day celebration with live music and fireworks will light up Astoria Park next week.

The Central Astoria Local Development Coalition (LDC) Inc. is hosting its early Independence Day celebration on the Astoria Park Great Lawn, on Shore Boulevard between the Hell Gate Bridge and the pool, on June 29 at 7:30 p.m.

The Central Astoria LDC Inc., a nonprofit organization, has been hosting its annual 4th of July event since the 1980s, and past years have drawn crowds of around 20,000 people.

The community event will feature a performance by Swingtime Big Band, a 20-person jazz band known for playing music from the swing era.

The musical performances will be followed by a firework show put on by Fireworks by Grucci, a family-run company that has been putting on firework displays since the 1850s.

A free Independence Day celebration with live music and fireworks will light up Astoria Park next week. The fireworks display at last year’s event, pictured. (Photo by Walter Karling)

The event has been known to draw around 20,000 people (Photo by Walter Karling)

The event also marks the beginning of the Central Astoria LDC’s 2023 Waterfront Concert Series and its 2023 Movies on the Waterfront season.

Marie Torniali, the executive director of the Central Astoria LDC, said the Independence Day celebration has proven extremely popular since it was first established in the 1980s.

“The Central Astoria Independence Day Celebration on the waterfront of beautiful Astoria Park brings thousands of people from every corner of the world to our amazing neighborhood, united to celebrate
Independence Day of our great country,” Torniali said.

The event is made possible by funding provided by former Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and a number of corporate sponsors.

A video clip of last year’s fireworks display

The community event will feature a performance by Swingtime Big Band, a 20-person jazz band known for playing music from the swing era

email the author: news@queenspost.com

Featured Events

Post an Event

View All Events…

No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

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

Recent News
Fall fun in western Queens: Your guide to the best seasonal events

Aug. 29, 2025 By Jessica Militello

With beach days and summer BBQs behind us, the start of September rings in the start of magnificent Fall foliage, Halloween and more fun activities that come with the start of Autumn, including a list of Fall events in the area. From apple picking to seasonal ciders and more, there is tons to explore in the community. From Mystic Markets to scary movie meet-ups and more, here is a list of Fall events you do not want to miss.

Read More
0
A hidden gem in Sunnyside: Bistro Punta Sal blends Peruvian and Italian flavors

Aug. 29, 2025 By Jessica Militello

On a quiet street in Sunnyside, Bistro Punta Sal has its French doors wide open, letting the late August breeze emanate throughout the space, which is ornate with flowers, paintings and an array of tables and chairs for intimate dinners with friends or a romantic date night. The cozy restaurant, located at 45-51 46th St., is a hidden gem in the neighborhood that is just waiting to be discovered, as the sights and aromas of the restaurant invite guests in. 

Read More
0
Off-duty paramedic spots South Richmond Hill two-alarm house fire that injures nine firefighters, two civilians on Friday morning: FDNY

Nine firefighters were injured, two of them seriously, and two civilians sustained minor injuries during a two-alarm house fire in South Richmond Hill on Friday morning, but it could have been worse if not for the actions of an off-duty veteran EMT.

Paramedic Craig Biscuiti was driving to work when he noticed a column of thick black smoke and heavy flames coming from the first floor of a two-story home at 95-36 111th St. just before 7:10 a.m.

Read More
0
Astoria doctor sentenced to more than two decades in prison for rape and sexual abuse: DA

An Astoria doctor was sentenced to 24 years in prison on Thursday in Queens Supreme Court for raping unconscious acquaintances and sexually abusing hospital patients.

Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng, 35, of Broadway, pleaded guilty on June 30 to four counts of rape in the first degree and three counts of sexual abuse in the first degree in satisfaction of the consolidated indictments against him. He additionally entered an Alford plea to one count of sexual abuse. The defendant — a former gastroenterologist at New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital — recorded the abuse of his unconscious victims with his cell phone in both his Astoria apartment and at the hospital.

Read More
0
Load More Articles