Only in Queens Summer Festival
Being a Queens, New York native and growing up not too far from Flushing Meadows Corona Park, I was excited to find out there would not only be a summer stage at the park, but a full on festival. The Only in Queens Summer Festival made its debut with a great line up of performances from Kid ‘N Play, Mack Wilds, and Ginuwine.
The festival had great weather with an abundance of sunshine. The Only In Queens Summer Festival was free and sponsored by the Queens Borough President, Melinda Katz who partnered with NYC Parks, Delta Airlines, and NYC & Company Foundation. There were tours of the New York State Pavilion, scavenger hunts, tons of food vendors, bounce houses, and so much more.
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz ©2016 HollyDayz 
Scavenger Hunt Winners ©2016 HollyDayz
As my friend and I walked into the park we began to see tons of tents from different companies and food vendors. There was a small stage with people performing. The music was loud and infectious as many gathered around to listen while taking a bite of whatever vendor they stopped at. As we continued to walk around we spotted the main stage that would host the great line up that the City Parks Foundation and New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer produced.
DJ Camilo ©2016 HollyDayz 
Kid ‘N Play Performing ©2016 HollyDayz 
Kid ‘N Play ©2016 HollyDayz
Once we got near the stage, Queens native DJ Camilo was already hyping up the huge crowd. Not too long after Kid ‘N Play came out and performed. It was great to see them as they let the crowd know that they were in fact from East Elmhurst, Queens (so am I) and how happy they were to be there. If you were wondering, yes, they did do their infamous Kid ‘N Play dance!
Mack Wilds Performing ©2016 HollyDayz 
Mack Wilds ©2016 HollyDayz 
Mack Wilds ©2016 HollyDayz
While they were performing I noticed actor/singer Tristan “Mack” Wilds of The Wire and 90210 fame walking around with his headphones preparing himself for his performance. Not too long after he jumped on stage and had the crowd moving. Wilds performed a handful of songs and was fun to watch. I was happy when he performed my favorite song of his, ‘Own It.’
Some of the many vendors ©2016 HollyDayz 
We got some delicious food from here ©2016 HollyDayz 
More vendors, but not all ©2016 HollyDayz
During the performances we were really hungry so we took a walk over to all the food vendors to find something to eat. There were so many vendors with such amazing choices it was hard to decide what to eat. We ended up getting some Sri Lankan food and ate it so fast you would never knew we had it! It was extremely delicious and we honestly should have went back and got more. I will have to pay a visit to their establishment.
Ginuwine performing ©2016 HollyDayz 
Ginuwine ©2016 HollyDayz 
Ginuwine ©2016 HollyDayz
We walked back to the stage to await the headlining performer, Ginuwine. His dancers and back up singers got the crowd going before he graced the stage. They even brought some people on stage to show off their dance moves. The crowd was amped up as Ginuwine hit the stage. He performed many of his well-known songs we all know and love including ‘Same Ol’ G’ ‘Pony’ ‘Stingy’ and more all while handing out roses. His set was very fun and personable.
Very happy that we got to experience the first annual Only in Queens Summer Festival and looking forward to what they will do next year! To see what other Summer Stages are happening around New York City, click here.
See some of the performances and more below!
Disclaimer: Although invited to the Only in Queens Summer Festival, all opinions are my own.
TravelTheGlobe4Less
I love it when you discover new things in your area. We have just been into my local city of Sheffield and happened upon a jazz afternoon. Awesome
Holly Dayz
That is great that you found some jazz to relax to.
galanda23
This summer festival looks like a lot of fun, although not my kind of fun. However, if you are from Queens which is not too far from Flushing Meadows Corona Park, it made sense to go there for this festival.
Holly Dayz
Actually the park is in Queens. It was a lot of fun.
Rob
Looks like a fun festival and free to boot. Great weather, great music and great food what more could you ask for?
Holly Dayz
It was fun and very nice to see them doing some cool things all over NYC.
Natasha
Genuwine? Wow haven’t heard that name in a while. I used to live in NYC and this makes me miss it very much. Always something to do and see!
Holly Dayz
I always miss NYC when I am away for too long. There is certainly always something going on in one part or another. And yep Ginuwine, 20 years in the business and still doing his thing.
Nisha
Local community fests are always nice. This is where as a family one can enjoy as a participant or audience . Hope this will be an annual event.
Holly Dayz
They really are. Great way to get everyone out and have some fun.
Carly Moore (@girloutofbounds)
I lovvvvveeee local festivals. There’s a few every year in Edmonton that I liked going to, and I’m starting to discover some in the part of England I live in now.
Holly Dayz
There seem to be so many, sometimes they go under the radar. Great that you are discovering more.
Michela
I am fan of music festivals too. This looks like good fun. I recently went to a fantastic blues festival in Italy.
Holly Dayz
It was a lot of fun. That sounds like a good time, blues in Italy.
Julie
Ooh, so many vendors. I’d probably spend the entire time just wandering and eating. Local festivals are the best, and when the weather cooperates, even better! Makes me miss NYC too 🙂
Holly Dayz
There were so many! It was hard to choose what food to try.
WanderingCarol
I had no idea this festival even existed. I would have loved to see some of these bands and tour the New York State Pavilion. Thanks for letting us know about it.
Holly Dayz
It was the first annual, so hopefully they will have another one next year that will be bigger and better.
melody pittman
Okay, so you know i”m old and have no idea who these people are, but it looks like a fun festival! I’ve been attending a few music festivals this year and stepping out of my comfort zone. 😉
Holly Dayz
Oh no don’t say that. You gotta know who at least 2/3 of these people are..been in the business for 20 plus years! It was a great time though. I hope you have been having fun at the ones you are attending!
Bharat & Supriya
Thanks for sharing the link to the Summer Stages. Hope to keep track of it sometime next year when we visit NYC again. Wish I had known about this last month when we were there 🙂
Also, the Sri Lankan food sounds delicious.
Supriya
Holly Dayz
Yes I am already looking forward to next years Queens one, but there are ton still happening across the 5 boroughs! The food was so good!
travelwith2ofus
Love these little festivals. Have not thought about Kid N Play in a while. Good to see these guys still doing their thing. Hope the festival continues to grow.
Holly Dayz
They are still out there doing there thing! I hope it does too.
kemkem
It sounds like a wonderful day out. I would have liked to see Kid N Play…blast from the past. Genuwine sounds familiar, but l think my focus would have been on the food 🙂
Holly Dayz
It was a great day! The put the food so far from the stage lol if it was closer I think I would have tried every little thing.
Naomi
What a cool place to have a festival! You must have had an amazing time
Holly Dayz
It was a great time. Looking forward to next years.
MimiCuteLips (@mimicutelips)
This looks like a good time. Kid n Play remind me of my childhood. When life was simple and carefree. Okay Ginuwine hit the stage, he is from my neck of the woods here in the DC area.
Holly Dayz
Took it back for ya there! Yep I know…repping the DMV.
Elle
Looks like so much fun! I’m sure you had a blast!!!
Holly Dayz
It was a lot of fun. Looking forward to next year.
KenyaRae
Sounds like some good ol throwback fun!
Holly Dayz
It was a great time.
Shamera Branson
That looks like you had so much fun! I’m hungry while eating this and just imagining about the delicious vendors that were probably there has my mouth watering! haha
Holly Dayz
I am hungry myself. I need to go find that Sri Lankan spot.
Jo
I’m from Queens, but never heard of this. Looks like a great event.
Holly Dayz
It was the first year they did this. Hopefully you can attend next year.
Kirstin N. Fuller (@thetravelindiva)
I love free summer community events like this one. I would have loved to see ‘Kid-N-Play’ do their signature dance. lol
Holly Dayz
I do too! Gives tons to do and it is all free which is even better. The community gets to come out and enjoy.
MUAKimPorter
WHAAT Kid n play AND Genuwine? Seems like a pretty cool line up. My husband is also from Queens. I’m a BROOKLYN girl. 😉
Holly Dayz
Yep they all came out! Great to watch them perform. Both of y’all should come out next year!
Real Wife Coach
I love festivals! I love food vendors even more! Looks like it was an amazing time.
Holly Dayz
It was fun. I love food vendors as well.
Tia @ FinanciallyFitandFab
I would love to see Ginuwine in person! You had some awesome seats!
Holly Dayz
He performs often, hopefully you can find some tickets to go see him.
Tiffany H.
This reminds of why I miss living on the East Cost the free concerts! Glad you had a great time, it would have been nice to see Kid N Play! Food makes festivals much more excited especially with variety of food trucks they have around.
Holly Dayz
Yes free concerts in the summer, gotta love that. Food always makes things better haha.
Valerie Robinson
Summer festivals are the best! This looks like such a great time. Lovely photos!
Holly Dayz
Thank you. I loved it. Had a fun time.
Tata
This concert looked so live! Im so d@&m jealous I wasn’t there lol!
Holly Dayz
It was a great concert and fun experience. I hope they continue to make it an annual event.