Family Festival | Governors Island Blog

Welcome to Governors Island

Governors Island, a 172 acre island in the heart of New York Harbor, is only 800 yards from Lower Manhattan, and even closer to Brooklyn.

The Trust is transforming Governors Island into a destination with great public open space, as well as educational, not-for-profit, and commercial facilities. In May 2014, 30 new acres of park and public spaces including a sunny terrace, groves of hammocks, ball fields, and monumental works of art opened for public use.

The Trust has also broken ground on the Hills, the crowning feature of the new park. In addition to the completion of the new park spaces and construction of the Hills, The Trust has nearly completed its ambitious infrastructure program to ready the Island for expanded tenancy and activity.

Check back here for updates and ways to get involved or subscribe to Governors Island Blog by email.

Great First Weekend on Governors Island

Posted on May 30, 2014 by lquint

Thank you to the 28K visitors who came out to the opening weekend on Governors Island!

The very first visitor in the new park was a little girl on a blue bike. Image courtesy of The Trust.

Rain clouds gathered Saturday, but the incredible weather on Sunday and Monday more than made up for it. Visitors enjoyed the new 30 acres of park for the first time and found many places to relax in Hammock Grove.

Laying in a hammock is one of the great pleasures of life. Image courtesy of West8.

Here are some of the highlights from the weekend!

Family Festival

The Governors Island Alliance’s Family Festival was action packed with crafts and bouncy castles. Image courtesy of The Trust.

Bike Rentals

Blazing Saddles rented lots and lots of bikes! Last weekend Surreys were very popular. Remember, you can rent a bike for free during Free Bike Mornings, 10AM - noon, Monday-Friday. Image courtesy of The Trust.

Blazing Saddles rented lots of bikes! Last weekend surreys were particular popular. Remember, you can rent a bike for free during Free Bike Mornings, 10AM – noon, Monday-Friday. Image courtesy of The Trust.

Food Vendors

Visitors last weekend had their pick of delicious food. So many people were looking for ice cream that Mister Softee ran out of ice cream Sunday afternoon. Don’t worry, the trust was restocked quickly. Read about the food options for this weekend here. Image courtesy of the Trust.

Visitors last weekend had their pick of delicious food. This delectable Hot Dog is courtesy of Little Eva’s. Learn about this weekend’s food options here. Image courtesy of the Trust.

This weekend there is more great events and activities on Governors Island. On Saturday, Dawn of Midi will be performing in Colonels Row as the first performance of the Rite of Summer Music Festival. The rest of the programs can be seen here.

Filed under: Announcements, Art on the Island, Bikes, Things people do in parks, Weekend | Tagged: Blazing Saddles, Colonels Row, Dawn of Midi, Family Festival, Governors Island Alliance, hammocks, Little Eva's, Memorial Day Weekend, Rite of Summer | Leave a comment »

Governors Island Public Season Is Around the Corner

Posted on May 15, 2014 by lquint

We are shaking in our flip flops!

Delicious ice cream. Image courtesy of Glenwoodnyc.com.

Blue Marble Ice Cream back on Governors Island. Image courtesy of Glenwoodnyc.com.

Governors Island opens next week, with 30 acres of park, delicious food, and many great events. For the first time, visitors will be able to join us seven days a week on the Island. Our summer events calender is on view here and you can take a sneak peak at some of the food options for the summer. Below are some of the great events to look forward to next weekend and into June.

The Opening Day Family Festival: Saturday, May 24, noon -4 PM
The Governors Island Alliance’s Family Festival is back again this year! There will be live musical performances by Astrograss, The Maybelles, Arm of the Sea Theater, and Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra, as well as lots of arts and crafts activities happening all day. Oh, and did I mention a bouncy castle?

The Governors Island Alliance Family Festival. Image courtesy of The Trust.

FIGMENT NYC: Saturday & Sunday , June 7 – 8, 10 AM to 6 PM
FIGMENT NYC, the free, inclusive, participatory arts festival is back on Governors Island. Explore the entire Island to discover sculptures, art installations, mini-golf, music, and much more. The Figment City of Dreams Pavilion, created by CDR Studio and funded through Kickstarter, is also being built!

CDR Studios, City of Dreams Install. Image courtesy of The Trust.

CDR Studio’s City of Dreams Pavilion install. Image courtesy of The Trust.

Jazz Age Lawn Party, Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15, 11 AM to 5 PM
Michael Arenella and His Dreamland Orchestra are bringing the incredible Jazz Age Lawn Party back to Governors Island. Held in Colonels Row, a dream of the 1920s where you can’t help but wear a pork pie hat, the Jazz Age Lawn Party will feature live music, dance performances, dance instruction, and a wide variety of 1920’s inspired refreshments and food.