Queens Events in April 2022
By Rob MacKay and Tania Padgett
April showers bring May flowers and plenty of cool events. This month, the borough hosts film festivals, food fests, live music, comedy shows and bubbles. (Yes. You read that right. Bubbles, thousands of them.)
When it comes to great food at affordable prices, the Queens Night Festival is the best deal in town.
Saturday, April 23, 5 pm – 12 am, Queens Night Market at Flushing Meadows Corona Park is known for its global cuisine and $6 price cap. Because it has drawn monster crowds in the past, organizers set up April 16 and 23 as preview ticketed dates. Starting May 7, the market will be FREE to all. Get tickets here.
Sunnyside Restaurant Week serves up a wide range of great dishes from local eateries, such as these empanadas from I love Paraguay restaurant.
Sunday, April 17 – Saturday, April 23, Sunnyside Restaurant Week is bringing mouth-watering dishes for discounted prices by 43 eateries. Many businesses offer a three-course dinner menu for $30, while others will run breakfast, lunch, drinks or dessert specials. Hurry! It’s about to end. For the full list of restaurant participants, go here.
Johnny Depp, ahem, kills it in this film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd.
Saturday, April 23, 3:30 pm & Sunday, April 24, 1 pm, Museum of the Moving Image is showing films inspired by the work of celebrated composer Stephen Sondheim. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is arguably one of his best pieces. The 2007 film adaption, starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, is bloody good fun (wink, wink) and full of sociopolitical satire. 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria. 718-777-6800. $15 / $11 senior and students / $9 youth (ages 3–17) / discounted for MoMI members ($7–$11). Order tickets here.
Otter Lee, Ann Chunharakchote, Josh Ri’Esgo, Sabrina Wu and other comedians use humor to raise awareness of hate crimes against Asians in this live performance “We are here. Are you?”
Saturday, April 23, 8 pm, Crazy, Talented Asians + Friends: An Evening of Live Comedy. Led by NYC-born actor/writer Otter Lee, this troupe presents an evening of standup routines, sketches and wacky stories about triumphing over the COVID quarantine. Flushing Town Hall. 137-35 Northern Blvd. 718-463-7700. In-Person Tickets: $15/$12 Members/$10 Students. For more info and tickets, go here.
The Queens Theatre presents Tumbleweed, which explores beauty standards.
Saturday, April 23, 8 pm, Tumbleweed. The New American Voices Virtual Reading Series presents Marcus Scott’s Tumbleweed, which explores beauty standards in and out of the black community, interracial marriage, parenting, and other themes as young Willow’s natural hair stirs up heated controversy in the household. Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Ave. S., Flushing Meadows Corona Park. 718-760-0064. Reserve your FREE ticket here.
The Apple Blossom Carnival offers great family fun.
Saturday and Sunday, April 23 – 24, 11 am – 6 pm, Friday, April 29, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Saturday, April 30, 11 am – 6 pm, Apple Blossom Carnival. For kids big and small. This Queens County Farm Museum event has assorted carnival rides midway games, local food vendors and farm animals. $12.95 – $21.95 (all ages). 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park. 718-347-3276. $12.95 – $21.95 (all ages). Get info and online tickets here.
This Queens Botanical Garden puts a creative spin on climate crisis.
Sunday, April 24, 11am – 4 pm, Climate Arts Festival. Learn about climate crisis with fun-filled activities, such as workshops, art exhibits, interactive performances and more at this Queens Botanical Garden must-go. 43-50 Main Street, Flushing. 718-886-3800. Adults $6; Seniors (age 62+) $4; Students with ID $4; Children (ages 4 to 12) $2; Children (3 and under) FREE. Register here.
So many bubbles. So much fun.
Sunday, April 24, 3 pm, Kupferberg Presents: B-Underwater Bubble Show. Inspired by such fairy tales as Alice in Wonderland, The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan, this performance includes colorful costumes, laser technology, optical illusions and soap bubble tornadoes. Audiences enjoy dance, puppetry, juggling, contortionism, sand art and a little bit of magic. Queens College’s Colden Auditorium, 153-49 Reeves Ave., Flushing. 718-793-8080. $29 -$42. Get tickets here.
Happiness is contagious. Find out how much at this NYSCI exhibit.
Ongoing, New York Hall of Science, Happiness Experiment. You’ll learn about the culture and science behind how and why we experience happiness and walk away with a pocketful of habits that can inject more happiness into your life. Friday, 2pm – 5 pm; Saturday & Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm. Closed Monday – Thursday. 47-01 111th St., Corona. 718-699-0005. FREE with museum admission: Adults, $14 Children, Students, Seniors $11. Get tickets here.
Ridgewood has many national and city historic sites. Find out more on this tour.
Sunday, April 24, 2 pm – 4 pm, Walking Tour of Ridgewood. Join Queens Historical Society and Adrienne Onofri, author of Walking Queens, on a tour of Ridgewood with emphasis on history, landmarks, demographics, and food. Meet at 55-27 Myrtle Ave., Ridgewood. $5 for QHS members; $10 for non-members. Get tickets here.
Live music at JCAL with soulful artist AshtnMrtn.
Wednesday, April 27, 8 pm – 9 pm, AshtnMrtn. Good vibes are in store with this soul singer at the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, 161-4 Jamaica Avenue. 718-658-7400. FREE. RSVP here.
Have a fun Queens event? Send it to us at events@queenschamber.org.