Jazz Age Lawn Party brings the roaring ’20s to Governors Island this summer

GOVERNORS ISLAND, N.Y. (PIX11) — Put on your best flapper dress and boater hat and relive the roaring ‘20s at the Governors Island Jazz Age Lawn Party.

Travel back in time to the Prohibition era, when it was illegal to manufacture, transport, and sell alcohol — but many still gathered at speakeasies to drink and dance along to jazz music.

The Jazz Age Lawn Party celebrates the New Orleans-born style of music and will feature performances from musicians such as Queen Esther and pianist Peter Mintun. Swing dance troupes will also lead the crowd through some of the era’s trendiest moves, like the Charleston, Lindy Hop, and Jumpin’ Jive.

Festivalgoers will learn the Charleston and Peabody themselves and have the chance to win prizes during dance competitions on Saturday. Pastry chefs will also show off their best skills during a pie-baking contest, and kids can strut their stuff during the children’s parade on Sunday.

Between all those events, visitors can also enjoy a beer garden, a 1920s motor car exhibition, and old-fashioned games like pétanque and croquet.

This year will mark 19 years since musician Michael Arenella and His Dreamland Orchestra founded the Jazz Age Lawn Party.

The party is on Aug. 10 and 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is best accessed by the ferry to Governors Island. Tickets for the event are available online .

Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here .

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