September 21, 2009

Central Park hosts 'Wizard of Oz,' Ken Burns screenings

Central Park is gearing up to host two free events celebrating a few things green.

Even the Empire State Building will go green this Thursday for “The Wizard of Oz” 70th Anniversary Emerald Gala Celebration.

The film will be screened outdoors in Central Park on Sept. 29 with a free 7:30 p.m. concert featuring Jennifer Hudson, ?uestlove and Julianne Hough performing contemporary songs from the “The Wizard of Oz.”

But before the Emerald City events, Central Park this Wednesday will host a free event for Ken Burns’ new PBS documentary, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.”

The Wednesday event in the East Meadow, Feel Free A National Parks Celebration in Central Park, will start at 6:45 p.m. and feature performances by the Counting Crows, Augustana, Eric Benet, Gavin DeGraw, Jose Feliciano, Carole King, Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas and Peter Yarrow.

The National Parks documentary will also be celebrated this week with special night tours of Liberty and Ellis islands.
Ellis Island will open Sept. 24 only and the Statue of Liberty will open Sept. 25 only. Tickets for either night are $29 and inlcude round-trip ferry service and dinner from the islands’ concessions. Although 1,200 tickets are available for each night, as of Friday only 300 tickets had sold for the night visit to Ellis Island and 800 for Liberty Island. If advance tickets don’t sell out, Statue Cruises will make tickets available the day of the night cruises, a company spokesperson told NewYorkology.

If the night trips are deemed a success, more dates may be added in the future.

September 21, 2009 8:36 AM in Cheap Stuff, Kids, Midtown, Out of Manhattan, Romance, Sightsology, Upper East Side, Upper West Side

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