Tulip Festival at Heckscher Park Is This Weekend

Thousands of bright tulips will serve as the main attraction for the Town of Huntington’s upcoming 17th Annual Tulip Festival this weekend.

Besides admiring these floral beauties placed in beds throughout Heckscher Park, there will also be activity booths for children, live entertainment and a children's parade. (check out entertainment lineup below)

This floral celebration will be held Sunday, May 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Here’s what you can expect from the 17th Annual Huntington Tulip Festival:

• Tulips— Thousands of them. They will be planted in selected beds throughout Heckscher Park.
• Performances— The Chapin Rainbow Stage will host a series of family-oriented performances organized by the Huntington Arts Council.

• Children’s Activity Booths— There will be a diverse selection activity booths with creative, hands-on projects for children of all ages.
• School Art Contest— Award-winning work from students will be displayed near the stage at the festival.
• Photography Contest— Entries by amateur and professional photographers will be juried to select the images most evocative of the beauty and family orientation of the Festival. Entries must be postmarked or received by July 31, 2017. Prize-winning images will be used in Festival publicity.

Museum exhibits will be open until 5:00 p.m.

Full entertainment lineup:

“Children’s Music with Mike Soloway”

• 12-12:45 p.m. at Chapin Rainbow Stage
• Mike is a teacher and performer of children’s music residing in Huntington. He has previously performed as part of the Huntington Arts Council's Summer Series and the spring Tulip Festival. Mike performs frequently at many childhood education centers on Long Island, as well as at area libraries. Mike also presents solo jazz guitar performances regularly at the Cinema Arts Centre of Huntington. This performance is presented by the Huntington Arts Council.

"INKARAYKU: Journey Through the Andes: An Interactive Children’s Concert"

• 1-1:45 p.m. at Chapin Rainbow Stage
• ‘Journey through the Andes’ takes children on a musical journey through the Andes Mountains, starting in northern Ecuador and ending in Bolivia. The concert features a storytelling narrative, singing along games and group dancing. Inkarayku members use large floor maps, theatrical costumes and props to transport youngsters to another time and place; giving them a one of kind educational experience. This performance is presented by the Huntington Arts Council and is sponsored by Astoria Bank.

"Songs & Puppetry” with Janice Buckner

• 2-3 p.m. at Chapin Rainbow Stage
• Janice, who is considered one of the nation's top performing artists for children, entertains audiences of all ages with her voice, guitars, puppets and sign language. Her "Learn Along Song Series" includes 11 CDs and songbooks and her "Creativity in the Classroom Work/Play Book" with a 20-song CD is used by pre-K and elementary school teachers throughout the country. This performance is presented by the Huntington Arts Council.

Councilman Mark Cuthbertson is the founder of the festival and Astoria Bank serves as the festival’s chief sponsor.

Off-street parking is available in the municipal parking lot behind Town Hall. Additional parking on side streets adjacent to Heckscher Park is located around the park. A limited amount of handicapped parking is located on Prime Avenue in the small parking lot in Heckscher Park next to the Heckscher Museum of Art.

Fore more information, call (631) 351-3099.

Directions

From the East – Via the Long Island Expressway (LIE): Take the LIE to Deer Park Avenue North (Exit 51). Continue north across Route 25 (Jericho Turnpike) at which point it turns into “Park Avenue.” Continue north on Park Avenue to Route 25A (Main Street) in Huntington Village. Turn left (west) onto Route 25A. Go about 2 blocks. Heckscher Park is on the right.

From the West – Via the Long Island Expressway (LIE): Take the LIE to Route 110 north across Route 25 (Jericho Turnpike) to Route 25A (Main Street) in Huntington Village. Turn right (east) on Route 25A to the next traffic signal. Heckscher Park is diagonally across the intersection on the northeast corner (Main Street and Prime Avenue.)

Courtesy Images