Jazz Age Lawn Party 2026
Returning for a second weekend by popular demand
Autumn Edition!
November 7 & 8
Live Hot-Jazz
orchestras
1920s-style
photo ops
Cocktails, wine, and gourmet picnicking
Jazz Age Lawn Party 2026
Returning for a second weekend
by popular demand
November 7 & 8
Experience JAZZ AGE LAWN PARTY amid dreamy fall foliage!
Autumn Edition!
Now celebrating our 21st anniversary in New York City, we are the world's original and most authentic Prohibition-era-inspired gathering.
It all started in 2005 as a small gathering on NYC’s Governors Island and has since been consistently selected by the New York Times as one of the year’s most memorable events. Jazz Age Lawn Party, a historically sold-out experience, attracts thousands of time travelers each year, who come together to discover the music and zeitgeist of the 1920s. Founded and hosted by Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra, it offers a unique, interactive opportunity to relive one of the most colorful and formative epochs in American history. Don’t miss out!
Performances
Get ready for the finest live hot jazz, a sprawling dance floor under the trees, and performances from the world’s finest Jazz Age artists!
Michael Arenella and His Dreamland Orchestra
The world’s premier Jazz Age dance orchestra, specializing in the Hot-Jazz of the 1920s. Conductor, composer, musician and crooner Michael Arenella presents a personally transcribed, one-of-a-kind songbook for your listening and dancing pleasure!
Risa Branch
Distinctive, powerful, sweet, and soulful, Risa Branch’s vintage voice evokes classic jazz with bluesy, gospel-rooted swing. For over a decade, she has transported international audiences to jazz’s heyday through festivals, clubs, and concert halls, earning features in The Syncopated Times, Tenderly Magazine, Spain’s Heraldo, and numerous podcasts and interviews.
Roddy Caravella and the Canarsie Wobblers
This fun-loving dance troupe conjures the rebellious and exuberant spirit of Roaring ‘20s youth.
Activities & Special Events
Go back in time to the 1920s and rub elbows with other fashionable flappers and sporting gents, bedecked in their freshest holiday linens and straw hats. With so many activities on offer, you'll be spoilt for choice!
Charleston and Peabody Dance Contests
See who’s the Bee’s Knees in this lighthearted dance-off.
The High Court of Pie Contest
Flex your pie-baking skills at the High Court of Pie. Sunday only! Categories and celebrity judges to be announced. Email jazzagelawnparty@gmail.com for more info.
Practical Info
Date: November 7 and 8, 2026
Opening hours: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Duration: 6 hours each day
Location: Governors Island. You will need to reserve a ferry ride to access the location. Please consult the FAQs and location section below for more details.
Age requirement: All ages are welcome! 21+ with valid ID to consume alcohol
Access: This experience is ADA compliant
Children’s Parade
Open to all adult-supervised children 12 and younger. Vintage-inspired kiddie-couture encouraged!
Location
Governors Island
Governors Island is a 172-acre island in the heart of New York Harbor, accessible by ferry from Manhattan and Brooklyn. It offers breathtaking views of the city, an award-winning park, lawns, art installations, cultural events, and various historic buildings and landmarks. The island is a unique and picturesque destination for visitors to experience the beauty of New York City and the harbor.
More information about the ferry can be found in the FAQs.
Directions to the Governors Island - Manhattan Ferry
The Governors Island ferry departs from the Battery Maritime Building located at 10 South Street, adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry in Lower Manhattan. The ferry terminal is accessible as follows:
By Subway:
1 to South Ferry Station
4,5 to Bowling Green Station
R to Whitehall St. Station
By Bus:
M6, M9 and M15
Directions to the Governors Island - Brooklyn Ferry
The ferry from Brooklyn departs from Pier 6 at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Columbia Street.
By Subway:
4, 5, 2 or 3 train to Borough Hall
A,C of F train to Jay Street
By Bus:
B 63
By car:
Cars are not permitted on Governors Island. Parking is available in Lower Manhattan near the ferry terminal and in Brooklyn near Pier 6 on Columbia Street
Gallery
Still have questions? Find your answers here!