🥟 Aug 4–10: Three big celebrations collide in Jackson Heights

Hey neighbor!

From dinner tables to parade routes, Jackson Heights has been keeping us busy.

Last week, another fantastic bunch of neighbors joined our monthly community dinner. Groups headed to Juquila, Cora, Leo’s and Kitchen 79, where they shared a meal and got to know some new faces.

Fancy joining us for the next one? Just sign up, answer a few questions, and we will match you with five neighbors at a local restaurant. Save your seat for Tuesday, August 25, at dinner.jacksonheightsinsider.com

Dinner was not the only thing bringing neighbors together last week. Northern Boulevard was packed for the annual Ecuadorian Parade that brought music, dancing, beautiful traditional outfits and and a huge crowd. Even the mayor joined the festivities.

And the celebrations are not slowing down. This week the World’s Borough Bookshop is turning three, Jackson Heights Day is taking over five blocks of 34th Avenue, and the neighborhood will host its first-ever South Asian parade. Let’s dive in!

This Week in Jackson Heights

Tuesday, August 4 to Monday, August 10

Featured Event

🌏 South Asian Parade | Sunday, August 9, 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM | 37th Avenue, from 69th Street to 89th Street

Jackson Heights hosts its first-ever South Asian Unity Parade, bringing together Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani, Nepali, Sri Lankan, Bhutanese and other South Asian communities. Expect colorful traditional clothing, music, dancing and cultural performances celebrating the neighborhood’s incredible diversity → Celebrate South Asian unity

🍽️ Quick Tip: A Smarter Way to Plan Dinner

If you’re already making dinner plans, Seated is worth having. You link your payment card, “activate” a restaurant in the app, eat like normal, and then get up to 30% back in gift credit after your meal (that you can use for Amazon, Uber or other brands). Local restaurants it works at include Salvaje Social Club, Bistro Eloise and Los Arrieros. Grab the app here, use code jonathan1763, and you’ll get a $10 bonus in dining credit after your first meal (win-win). → Download Seated

Tuesday, August 4

Paella Nights at Addictive Wine and Tapas Bar | 4:00 PM to 10:30 PM | Addictive Wine and Tapas • saffron, seafood and patience rewarded → Pass the paella

Dungeons & Dragons at The Queensboro | 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM | The Queensboro • beginners welcome, seats are limited → Roll for adventure

Wednesday, August 5

Kids in Motion | 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM | Travers Park • free outdoor games, guardians should stay nearby → Get them moving

Thursday, August 6

Craft Hour with Queens Botanical Garden | 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM | Jackson Heights Library • botanical crafts for ages 14 and up, no RSVP needed → Make something leafy

QueensLink Jackson Heights Town Hall | 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM | 34th Avenue Open Street at 93rd Street • learn about rails, trails and the neighborhood’s future → Join the conversation

Friday, August 7

Free Mammogram Screenings | 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM | 74-09 37th Avenue • for NYC women ages 40 to 75, appointment required → Check your eligibility

César Orozco & SonAhead, Grammy Award-Winning Cuban Timba | 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM | Terraza 7 • Cuban son, jazz and serious rhythm • $20 → Feel the timba

Saturday, August 8

Apicha CHC Community Celebration & Health Fair | 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM | 37th Avenue • screenings, performances, face painting and ice cream → Celebrate community health

Mapping Queens: Voices Behind the Festivals | 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM | The World’s Borough Bookshop • meet the people creating Queens celebrations → Hear their stories

Sunday, August 9

Les Petites Gallery | 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM | 34th Avenue and 83rd Street • browse art in the open air → Meet the artists

South Asian Parade | 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM | 37th Avenue, from 69th Street to 89th Street • the first one ever, bring your cheering voice → Celebrate South Asian unity

Jackson Heights Day | 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM | 34th Avenue, from 81st to 86th Streets • five blocks of food, music and family fun → Spend the day outside

Monday, August 10

Pencil’s Up! Sketching Workshops | 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM | A.R.T. Shop • relaxed drawing practice for teens and adults ages 13 and up → Sharpen your skills

Restaurant Week Summer 2026 in Jackson Heights

(Until August 16th)

Participating restaurants:

More to do in Queens

In partnership with events newsletter Astoria Live – another local events newsletter well worth having in your inbox

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Live at the Gantries: Bartlett Contemporaries | Tue, Aug 4, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM | Gantry Plaza State Park • bring a chair and dancing shoes → Catch the sunset sounds

Dance Performances at Socrates Sculpture Park | Sat, Aug 8, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM | Socrates Sculpture Park • dance lessons, performances and ASL interpretation → Make your move

Spirits from Both Sides: Arturo O’Farrill x Vincent Hsu | Sat, Aug 15, 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Flushing Town Hall • Afro-Cuban and Taiwanese jazz, dance floor included → Dance across continents

Heads-up: times and places can change, so make sure you confirm event details with the organizers before you go.

And remember – this list is just a selection of everything that’s going on locally. You can check out full listings for more events at JacksonHeightsInsider.com/events

High-Fives & Local Love

Shout-out to the brands keeping this newsletter going:

Own a local business? Help keep this neighborhood newsletter free and community-powered, with your logo featured above → Sponsor Jackson Heights Insider

And a big thanks to our personal supporters: Leslie Garcia, Rachel Schwartz, Lisa Reswick, John “Sandy” Needham, Felice Amera, Emily Moore, Oda Friedheim, Joseph Faillace, Emily Hackenburg, Zach McCurdy, Diana Chery, Nikki Amberstone, John Capouya, Nancy Cardenas, Ursula Avelino, Philip Washburne, Paola Bakos, Joseph Varghese, RJ Harden, Barbara Goodwin, Patricia Marjoribanks, Sam Raker, Ankit Gupta and Arlene Gilbert.

Want to join them in supporting this newsletter? → Become a Jackson Heights Insider supporter here (and unlock extra perks)

That’s all this week! See you on 34th Avenue, where apparently every block has its own festival now 😉

Jonathan (JBS)