You are reading

Music Festival Featuring International Performers Coming to Sunnyside Gardens Park Next Week

An outdoor music festival is coming to Sunnyside Gardens Park Sept. 17. The Lowers, pictured, playing at the festival in 2021 (Photo: QUIP website)

Sept. 6, 2022 By Michael Dorgan

An outdoor music festival featuring performers from around the world — and around the corner — is coming to Sunnyside Gardens Park next week.

The event, called the Queens United International Party Music Festival (QUIP), will take place on Sept. 17 at the park located on 39th Avenue. The festival will kick off at 3 p.m. and is scheduled to last until about 9:30 p.m.

The festival will celebrate the cultural diversity of Queens with performers from Uruguay, Cuba, Mali, Indonesia, India and other nations. There will also be music from homegrown artists.

There will be plenty of food and drink on offer including beer from the Alewife Brewing Company, Tibetan dishes from Mom’s Momo, lobster rolls from DownEast Lobstah and ice cream from Big Shane’s Ice-Cream. There will also be vegan options provided by Secret Vegan Kitchen.

The event will also feature dance contests and activities for kids.

(Photo: QUIP Facebook page)

The festival was established in 2017 by a group of residents looking to bring people together through music and international cuisine.

It has since grown to be one of the park’s biggest annual events with around 1,500 people attending last year, according to Quinn O’Sullivan, one of the QUIP organizers.

“QUIP has become an event that spans generations, races, ethnicities and social classes,” O’Sullivan said.

“We have created a space where adults can have the freedom to dance like children and children have a chance to own the dance floor like adults.”

The festival will start at 3 p.m. with The Good Ms. Padgett, a group headed by musician Anna Padgett from Brooklyn. The group performs folk music inspired by the experiences of childhood from both a child’s and parent’s perspective.

At 3:30 p.m., Somer Suarez, an electro musician from Uruguay, will take the stage followed by Gamelan Yowana Sari, a Balinese Art Ensemble, at 4 p.m.

The Kakande Band will blast out Mali dance music at 5 p.m. while The Lowers, a U.K. rock band, will perform at 5:45 p.m.

However, the music won’t stop there.

The Melting Pot, a collective of jazz, funk, and hip-hop musicians from around the five boroughs will hit the stage at 6:30 p.m. while the Brooklyn Raga Massive, a group that plays a type of Indian classical music known as raga, will be on at 7:30 p.m.

Conjunto Guantánamo will top off the night at 8:30 p.m. with some traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms mixed with tunes from New York City’s Latin scene.

There is no admission fee. However, attendees will be asked to make a $15 donation upon entry that will go toward the park and pay the musicians.

For more information visit QUIP’s website by clicking here.

The Good Ms. Padgett

The Lowers

Brooklyn Raga Massive

email the author: news@queenspost.com

5 Comments

Click for Comments 
Private park that only opens to the public for money.

There we go again. Private park, that opens up to the public, to ask for money. Make it FREE for everyone to enjoy, when you open your doors to the public.

4
3
Reply
Raymondo McReardon

It is a suggested donation to try cover the costs of putting on an event like this – Vendors , bands , refreshments don’t come for free .

1
2
Reply
C'mon Man

International? I enjoy smooth jazz, something less offensive. Does music have to be woke now?!

7
17
Reply

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

Advocates urge passage of New York for All Act as Assembly session nears end

Jun. 16, 2025 By Jimmy Robles

As the State Senate concluded its legislative session on Thursday, immigrant rights advocates renewed calls for lawmakers to pass the New York for All Act before the Assembly adjourns on Tuesday, June 17. The proposed legislation, along with several other immigration-related bills, remains pending as the clock winds down on this year’s session.

Queens gun buyback takes 74 firearms off streets, including ghost guns and assault weapons: DA

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Monday that 74 firearms were taken off the streets at the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York in Jamaica during a gun buyback event on Saturday, June 14. The weapons were exchanged for bank cards pre-loaded with cash, with no identification required and no questions asked.

“Gun buybacks serve as a critical tool for reducing gun violence and promoting public safety within our communities,” Katz said. “This Saturday, working with the NYPD and clergy leaders in Jamaica, we received 74 surrendered guns — including five automatic weapons. As a result, these firearms will not be used to cause heartache and tragedy.”

Queens Distance Runners hosts second annual track meet at St. John’s University, spotlighting Olympian and local talent

Jun. 16, 2025 By Paulina Albarracin

Dozens of runners gathered at the DaSilva Field Track in St. John’s University for the second annual track meet last month. Hosted by Queens Distance Runners (QDR), a grassroots running organization, the sporting competition welcomed sprinters and distance runners of all skill levels to test their abilities, vying for the podium in track events from 100 meters to 5,000 meters.