Jazz Age Lawn Party
The Jazz Age Lawn Party is a 1920's themed party that was started by Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra in 2005. People come dressed in 1920's clothing to listen and dance to period music performed by Mr. Arenella and his Orchestra. There are live dance performances, lessons, and booths selling clothing from the period as well as activities such as the Tintype photograph. The party is located at Governors Island in New York City on Colonels Row, the island is accessible through Manhattan and Brooklyn by Ferry only. [1] The party takes place two weekends every Summer and has grown exponentially since the original party in 2005.
History
[edit]Founder
Michael Arenella was heavily influenced by music from an early age, growing up in Georgia he began singing in his church choir and soon followed into studying music full time as he grew up. Arenella has always been drawn to the past, leading his interest in music to follow Jazz backgrounds and popular music from the 1920’s. In his adult life, Arenella became a composer and began making his own music that followed these specific period music. He moved to New York and shared his music with the city through the subways and slowly the Dreamland Orchestra came to be. The Orchestra keeps to the period they play and dress as if they were in the 20’s, with the goal of expressing the importance of joy that their music contains.[2]
Tickets
Tickets are currently $50 per person and are available to purchase with the Fever App and Website, tickets must be purchased before the event and are non-refundable.[3] Children under 12 years old are allowed in without a ticket as long as they are accompanied with an adult.
Attire
History
2005
In 2005 Governors island opened to the public for the first time[4], hosting the Jazz Age Lawn Party's first event.
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
[edit]Proraso USA. (2018, August 7). Jazz age lawn party. Proraso USA. https://proraso-usa.com/blogs/events/jazz-age-lawn-party
2019
2020
[edit]At the 2020 event performers including Queen Esther, Peter Mintun, Gelber & Manning Band, and Michael Arenella with his Dreamland Orchestra will perform. Live music and dance will occur as well as a car exhibition and vintage booths. There will be Covid-19 social distancing with masks. Everyone must show proof of a negative test result. There were less tickets this year due to the pandemic.[5]
2021
[edit]The party took place on August 14 and 15, 2024 for its 15th year. Live music, drinks, and period based activities will be live during the event. Throughout the weekend you could participate in Croquet, dance the Peabody and Charleston to Michael Arenella and the Dreamland Orchestra followed by other musicians. A motor car exhibition that showed off the 1920’s antique cars accompanied with games, prizes, and booths selling period based clothing and accessories. Covid-19 restriction consist of proof of the Covid-19 vaccine as well as a negative Covid-19 test that matches their legal ID. Hand sanitizer was stationed throughout the event. [6]
2022
2023
2024
[edit]The 2024 party happened on June 8-9 and August 10-11, 2024 from 11a.m - 5 p.m, the entertainment included Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra, Ziegfeld, Peter Mintun on the piano, Gelber & Manning band, Ziegfeld, with dancers Roddy Caravella and The Canarsie Wobblers showing the Charleston.[7] Special events through the weekends involved the Children's Parade starting at the main stage Sunday at 3 p.m, the Bathing Beauties and Beaus Promenade, The High Court Pie eating contest on Sunday, a Charleston lesson with Roddy Caravella followed by a contest on Saturday, and a Peabody dance lesson hosted on Sunday. [8]
References
[edit]Barron, James. “On Governors Island, You Can Dance at a Jazz Age Lawn Party.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 Aug. 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/08/09/nyregion/governors-island-jazz-age-party.html.
Karelis, Michael. “Photos from the 2015 Jazz Age Lawn Party at Governors Island.” Time Out New York, Time Out, 16 Aug. 2015, www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/see-our-favorite-photos-from-the-2015-jazz-age-lawn-party.
Vadukul, Alex. “But Would They Really Go Back to the Jazz Age?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 20 June 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/06/20/style/jazz-age-lawn-party.html.
Cunningham, Bill. “Bill Cunningham | Jazz Age Lawn Party.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 20 June 2014, www.nytimes.com/2014/06/22/fashion/bill-cunningham-jazz-age-lawn-party.html.
Nikas, Joanna. “Bill Cunningham | Jazz Age Lawn Party.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 21 Aug. 2015, www.nytimes.com/video/fashion/100000003867687/bill-cunningham-jazz-age-lawn-party.html.
“Jazz Age Lawn Party 2024 at Governors Island, NYC.” At Governors Island, NYC, jazzagelawnparty.com/. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra. (n.d.). Michael Arenella & his Dreamland Orchestra. http://www.dreamlandorchestra.com/home.php
Hoeffner, M. K. (2021, August 11). The jazz age lawn party returns to governors island this weekend. Time Out New York. https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/the-jazz-age-lawn-party-returns-to-governors-island-this-weekend-081121
The history of governors island. Governors Island (en-US). (n.d.). https://www.govisland.com/history
Time Out. (2019, June 5). NYC’s Jazz Age Lawn Party is coming back to governors island. Time Out New York. https://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/jazz-age-lawn-party
Proraso USA. (2018, August 7). Jazz age lawn party. Proraso USA. https://proraso-usa.com/blogs/events/jazz-age-lawn-party
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Jazz_Age_Lawn_Party_(Governors_Island) Archival-dance
- ^ "Appendix: Governors of St Helena". St Helena: 207–208. 2024-03-26. doi:10.1017/9781837650897.011.
- ^ "Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra". www.dreamlandorchestra.com. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
- ^ "Appendix: Governors of St Helena". St Helena: 207–208. 2024-03-26. doi:10.1017/9781837650897.011.
- ^ "The History of Governors Island". Governors Island (en-US). Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ Lawn, Richard J.; Binek, Justin G. (2023-12-13), "The Jazz Age", Experiencing Jazz, New York: Routledge, pp. 73–96, ISBN 978-1-003-27570-1, retrieved 2024-12-06
- ^ Lawn, Richard J.; Binek, Justin G. (2023-12-13), "The Jazz Age", Experiencing Jazz, New York: Routledge, pp. 73–96, ISBN 978-1-003-27570-1, retrieved 2024-12-03
- ^ "Appendix: Governors of St Helena". St Helena: 207–208. 2024-03-26. doi:10.1017/9781837650897.011.
- ^ "Appendix: Governors of St Helena". St Helena: 207–208. 2024-03-26. doi:10.1017/9781837650897.011.