By Karen Bloom
Garden City's "Museum Row" is buzzing with activity this weekend as restored Nunleys Carousel is welcomed into its new home alongside Cradle of Aviation Museum during Museum Row's Family
Festival.
With spring in the air, this is a great opportunity to let the kids loose exploring all that our local museums have to offer.
The Long Island Childre''s Museum, Cradle of Aviation Museum and the Nassau County Firefighters Museum & Education Center combine resources in what has become annual event on the Museum Row Plaza with all sorts of family activities. The Festival is held on Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3, from noon until 5 p.m. each day, rain or shine.
The highlight of this year's festival is the carousel's grand opening. Opening ceremonies take place at noon on Saturday, with County Executive Tom Suozzi, County Legislator Joe Scannell (D-Baldwin) and Nassau County Legislature Deputy Presiding Officer Roger Corbin (D-Westbury), among other dignataries in attendance. Free rides on the historical carousel will be offered throughout the weekend, 2-7 p.m. on Saturday and noon-5 p.m. on Sunday.
"We are delighted that the Museum Row Family Festival has grown in popularity each year," said LICM Executive Director Suzanne LeBlanc. "This special weekend provides a great way for families to discover the 'treasures' that exist on Museum Row. We are looking forward to welcoming Nunley's Carousel as a neighbor and believe it will enhance the Museum Row experience for families."
Visitors can partake of many interactive exhibits and programs, much of which take place outside. Each museum will showcase their exhibits, along with carnival rides and games, and 19th century children's activities presented by Old Bethpage Village Restoration. Entertainment includes the Long Island Harmonizers Chorus two barbershop quartets and the Girl Scouts of Nassau County chorus.
Visitors can sample each of each museums through the activities outside and then wander inside to fully experience all three museums, all for a $10 fee The one-price for all three museums is incentive to explore the museums families may not be as familiar with; the outdoor activities literally "leads" everyone from one museum to the next.
With the opening of Nunley's Carousel serving as the centerpiece event for the weekend, LICM has scheduled two "carousel" related craft activities for kids. Visitors be able to create their own carousel horse pennants as well as carousel mobiles. The weekend also represents the opening of the museum's new outdoor exhibit, Our Backyard. With this in mind, LICM staff has planned a garden planting activity: kids can design their own "green-haired sprout head" (think Chia pet).
Next door, the Cradle of Aviation and the Nassau County Firefighter's Museum highlight some of their popular exhibits. Festival-goers have the chance to step inside cockpits of Grumman's Mohawk and E2DC, participate in fire safety demonstrations, with craft activities, and more.
"Come out and see the beautifully restored carousel and taste the three museums" said Andy Parton, excutive director of the Cradle of Aviation Museum. "The restoration job is just amazing. Its a nice addition to museums here."
The Nassau County Firefighter's Museum - the newest of the three - is gearing up to familiarize visitors with its offerings. "Our museum is a unique one-of-a kind facility," said Executive Director Alana Petrocelli. "All of our exhibits are both fun and educational, and teach kids about fire safety. This festival provide s a great value for families to come and visit all of the museums.
In addition, a Kids Fun Run, part of the Long Island Marathon's "Festival of Races," will be held on Saturday at the Mitchell Field Athletic Complex nearby. Children up to age 11 can participate in varied heats by age. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m.; races start at 2 p.m.
Festival tickets, which provide admission to all of the museums for both days, cost $10 per person. There is an additional fee for carnival rides. Everyone who attends can experience all of the entertainment both outside and inside. Parking is available at Nassau Community College and Mitchell Field, with limited parking at Long Island Children's Museum.
Museum Row Family Festival
Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3, noon-5 p.m. $10 per person. Free timed tickets to ride the carousel are available at Long Island Children's Museum and Cradle of Aviation, beginning 9:30 a.m. on May 2, on a first come, first served basis.
Museum Row, off Charles Lindbergh Blvd. Garden City. (516) 224-5800.
Photo: Hofstra Dutch Festival
Swinging into springHofstra's Dutch Festival returns with a new twist
When we think of spring we think of tulips. Those colorful blooms attract thousands of people each year to Hofstra University for one of Long Island's favorite traditions, the Dutch Festival, The festival celebrates its 26th year on Sunday with its magnificent tulips that pay homage to the University's Dutch heritage (Founder William S. Hofstra traced his roots to the the Dutch province of Friesland).
This year Hofstra is stepping it up on the South Campus as it invites visitors to jazz up springtime, with swinging jazz music, lively dancing, a crafts fair, plant sale, and authentic Dutch food and beverages. And, of course, those many thousands of tulips in bloom.
Headlining this jazz festival of sorts is the popular New York's Most Dangerous Big Band, with the East End Trio, the Hofstra Jazz Ensemble, and the Hewlett High School Jazz Ensemble. Other entertainers include The Amazing Michael, Katie's Puppets, Wayne the Magnificent Magician, and Bob Cantwell and the Saturday Night Stompers.
"Musically there's something for everyone," said Bob Spiotto, artistic director of community arts programs and executive producer of Hofstra Entertainment. "We will always be deeply rooted in our Dutch traditions. We are jazzing up spring this year in a way that is very different. We're excited and we think audiences will be excited...with the sounds and sights of spring, the sound of people enjoying themselves. And the sound of fabulous music."
Dutch Festival
Sunday, May 3, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $5 per person, children under 12 free. Hofstra University, South Campus, Hempstead. For more information call the Dutch Festival Hotline at (516) 463-6582 or www.hofstra.edu/festivals.
