Come celebrate opening day at the fifth annual Family Festival on May 30. Music and live performers, arts and crafts, maritime lessons and oysters will fill the day, and it's all free.
New this year is a befuddled clown, Dr. Ima Confused, courtesy of the Big Apple Circus and its wonderful Clown Care Program. Returning are the musical Hudson River Ramblers, exploring America's 'First River' in story and song. The Arm of the Sea Theater will present Mutual Strangers, depicting Henry Hudson's historic encounter with the New World through live music and mask-and-puppet theater. Yet another new clown, Loony Toony, brings juggling and magic and a giant bubble to climb in. Two closing acts will raise the noise level with 50's bluegrass, rock, retro-pop and honky tonk: The Jeff and Vida Band, returning for year two, and Mad Tea Party, a new group. Full details and performance times are available on a separate flyer .
New this year is a befuddled clown, Dr. Ima Confused, courtesy of the Big Apple Circus and its wonderful Clown Care Program. Returning are the musical Hudson River Ramblers, exploring America's 'First River' in story and song. The Arm of the Sea Theater will present Mutual Strangers, depicting Henry Hudson's historic encounter with the New World through live music and mask-and-puppet theater. Yet another new clown, Loony Toony, brings juggling and magic and a giant bubble to climb in. Two closing acts will raise the noise level with 50's bluegrass, rock, retro-pop and honky tonk: The Jeff and Vida Band, returning for year two, and Mad Tea Party, a new group. Full details and performance times are available on a separate flyer .
Sailors of the Half Moon, "Mutual Strangers" / Photo by Elijah Vanaver
Scattered on the green will be face painting, arts and crafts, hula hoops, games, more clowns, stilts, balloons and story-telling. Lisa Abbatomarco will help kids create puppets. The Weekday Cyclists will decorate bikes. The city Department of Transportation will fit helmets on bikers and the Fire Department will give lessons on safety.
Learn about marine life and oyster restoration from the New York State Marine Education Association and Harbor School students. A new Oyster Discovery Center is opening at the north end of the Island, near Pier 101 - a partnership of the Alliance, NY / NJ Baykeeper, the River Project and the Harbor School. Exhibits will explain oyster restoration, the marine environment and the history of oysters in the Harbor. There will also be a small oyster midden -- a pile of self-cleansing oyster shells that breed baby oysters to help clean the Harbor. These exhibits will remain all season.
On May 30 only, the Stevens Institute of Technology presents a program using underwater sensors to visualize ocean, weather, environmental and vessel traffic conditions along the New York-New Jersey coast.
Finally, come early and watch volunteers make nets and cages where thousands of oysters can be grown to restore reefs. This is a project of Baykeeper and the Stroud Water Research Center's Mayfly Club. They start at 10 in the morning.
Hudson River Ramblers
Learn about marine life and oyster restoration from the New York State Marine Education Association and Harbor School students. A new Oyster Discovery Center is opening at the north end of the Island, near Pier 101 - a partnership of the Alliance, NY / NJ Baykeeper, the River Project and the Harbor School. Exhibits will explain oyster restoration, the marine environment and the history of oysters in the Harbor. There will also be a small oyster midden -- a pile of self-cleansing oyster shells that breed baby oysters to help clean the Harbor. These exhibits will remain all season.
On May 30 only, the Stevens Institute of Technology presents a program using underwater sensors to visualize ocean, weather, environmental and vessel traffic conditions along the New York-New Jersey coast.
Finally, come early and watch volunteers make nets and cages where thousands of oysters can be grown to restore reefs. This is a project of Baykeeper and the Stroud Water Research Center's Mayfly Club. They start at 10 in the morning.