A Carnival Comes to New York

[Denise Mattia]

PARK AVENUE ARMORY OPENS DOORS TO NEW YORK FAMILIES

By Denise Mattia

This Columbus Day Weekend, the Park Avenue Armory is presenting an extraordinary indoor Carnival—a whimsical and theatrical event featuring breathtaking performances and a range of nostalgic games, authentic carnival rides, and activities. The 55,000 square-foot Wade Thompson Drill Hall will be transformed by Hickey Shields Design into an edgy and fantastical carnival stage set, described by some as “Tim Burton-esque,” and anchored by a soaring fifty-foot Ferris Wheel and classic midway rides and games.

Performers, Rides, Games and Workshops

The carnival includes a flying elephants ride, a fun slide, balloon darts, duck pond, and water pistols. An array of curated art performances in a specially-designed bijoux theater and performances by stilt-walkers, jugglers, contortionists, and magicians from the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus will provide constant entertainment. Circus arts workshops will be offered by artists who work in balloon sculpture, juggling, and pantomime.

Carnival
Extras

Food
offerings will include traditional carnival fare with a twist, with blue and pink cotton candy, candied and caramel apples, a variety of foods-on-a-stick
(including rock candy, candied and caramel apples on-a-stick, chicken “lips,”
thunder pickles, and chocolate covered cheesecake). Hot Dogs, Soft Pretzels, Corn Dogs will be sold from
concession stands.

The
Armory Tradition

The Carnival follows in the tradition of the original 1879 Fair held in the Drill Hall that raised funds for interior décor by such artists as Louis Comfort Tiffany and Stanford White. One hundred and thirty years later the 2010 Carnival will allow New Yorkers to enjoy one of the City’s most important landmarks that for decades was not open to the public. This festive event will complement the edgy and immersive artistic programming that is one of the principal missions of the not for profit cultural institution. Proceeds from the Carnival will support the Armory’s artistic and educational programming.

Hours and Admission

Saturday, October 9: 11am to 7 pm

Sunday, October 10: 11 am to 7 pm

Monday, October 11: 11 am to 7 pm

Admission is free for children under 13 and Armory members; $5 for adults. Single
tickets for rides and games will be available for purchase; $20 for unlimited
ride wristbands.

Park Avenue Armory Programs

Part palace, part industrial shed, Park Avenue Armory fills a critical void in the cultural ecology of New York by enabling artists to create, and the public to experience, unconventional work that could not otherwise be mounted in traditional performance halls and museums. With it soaring 55,000-square-foot Wade Thompson Drill Hall—reminiscent of 19th-century European train stations—and array of exuberant period rooms, the Armory invites artists to draw upon its grand scale and distinctive character to both inspire and inform their work. The Armory has recently completed the first phase of a multi-year renovation and restoration project, undertaken to support the Armory’s expanded programming. This December, the Armory will present Leonardo’s Last Supper: A Vision By Peter GreenawayVerdana;color:black"">. An epic and immersive multimedia work based on Da Vinci’s masterpiece, the Armory’s presentation will mark the first U.S. appearance of the artist’s installation work.

all photos by Denise Mattia