Events
Events
We encourage you to check out our upcoming events calendar. Due to COVID, all in person events require social distancing and registration in advance.
Daffodil Giveaway
Saturday, October 2, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Beach 59th St and Rockaway Freeway
Join the 20th anniversary of the Daffodil Project – sign up now to get free bulbs! A living memorial to the victims of 9/11 and the largest civic effort in city history, the Daffodil Project gives out bulbs for free to plant in public spaces across all five boroughs. RISE is hosting one of the Queens distribution sites. Advanced registration is required.
Masks are required and safe social distancing must be maintained. This event is hosted rain or shine. Supplies will be distributed on a first come first serve basis.
RISE/NPCA Jamaica Bay Community Cleanup
Saturday, October 2, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Meet at RISE Center, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Join RISE for a clean up along Jamaica Bay. Local residents and children of all ages are encouraged to participate in this stewardship event. For this cleanup we will be clearing the area of any litter in order to prevent any bay pollution. As active members of our community we need to do our best to keep our bay clean for all visitors and wildlife.
Students can receive community service hours for their efforts. Registration is not required. This event is hosted rain or shine!
Masks are required and safe social distancing must be maintained.
Special thanks to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), NYS DEC, and Patagonia for sponsoring this event.
Rockaway Bike Tour FUNDRAISER
Saturday, October 9, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Join Tom Finkelpearl, former Commissioner of NYC’s Department of Cultural Affairs and longtime part-time Rockaway resident, for a private bike tour of the Rockaways focusing on the area’s history, especially the impact of legendary NYC Parks Commissioner Robert Moses. The ride runs roughly 10 miles, mostly along the Rockaway boardwalk west to Jacob Riis Park, and returns to RISE Rockway.
After the tour, we invite you inside the RISE Center, for light refreshments and viewing of “Hinterland,” a new photography exhibit by local artist Susannah Ray.
All participants will receive a RISE drawstring bag, tshirt, and water bottle.
Masks will be required for entering the RISE Building, but not for the ride itself.
Tour is limited to 15 registrants. Advanced registration is required for this event.
You will need to bring your own bikes, helmets, and fill out a liability waiver form.
Street parking is available near the RISE Building.
RAINDATE: Sunday October 10
Fall Foraging Tour w. Wildman Steve Brill
Saturday, October 16, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
RISE Center - 5803 Rockaway Beach Blvd
This fall, RISE will be hosting a tour with America's go-to foraging team, "Wildman" Steve Brill and his daughter Violet. The vastly under appreciated natural habitat of the Rockaways offers all the best wild foods of the seashore.
The sandy soil of the Rockaways is poor, limiting tree- and grass growth, but benefiting other species that can take advantage of the unblocked sun and nutrient-poor soil. Wild greens will be doing great here, and there are dozens of species that thrive.
Masks are required and safe social distancing must be maintained.
This event is free but advance registration is required. This event is rain or shine.
Sandy Anniversary Clean Up & "Quarantree" Plant Giveaway
Saturday, October 16, 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
RISE Center - 5803 Rockaway Beach Blvd
For the 9th Anniversary of Storm Sandy, RISE is bringing people of all ages together to care for our shoreline and create a natural protective buffer for the Rockaway community.
As we learned from the storm, the natural vegetation and dunes that exist off our shores serve as a protective buffer to the homes and businesses in the area. Many of these dunes are compromised by storms and shoreline erosion and need to be cared for to be effective.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be honoring this event a little differently than in the past. In addition to cleaning the open space in our area, RISE will be hosting "Quarantree" plant giveaway of the Dwarf "Jellybean" Blueberry Shrubs. A plant native to the Rockaways' shoreline environment, and suitable for planting outdoors on patios, yards and gardens.
Shrubs will be given out to those who participate in the clean up on a first come first served basis. Families and people of all ages are welcome to participate. Students can receive community service hours. This event is rain or shine, so please dress accordingly.
Masks are required and safe social distancing must be maintained. This event is free but advance registration is required.
Special thanks to L&M Development and Bluestone Group for supporting this event.
Foraging Tour with Steve Brill
Sunday, November 7, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Meet at Beach 59th St & Rockaway Freeway
RISE will be hosting a tour with America's go-to foraging team, "Wildman" Steve Brill and his daughter Violet. The vastly under appreciated natural habitat of the Rockaways offers all the best wild foods of the seashore.
The sandy soil of the Rockaways is poor, limiting tree and grass growth, but benefiting other species that can take advantage of the unblocked sun and nutrient-poor soil. Wild greens will be doing great here, and there are dozens of species that thrive.
This event is free but registration is required, as this event fills up fast. This event is rain or shine. Masks are required and safe social distancing must be maintained.
Exhibit Opening: Rockaway Field Guide
Sunday, November 7, 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
RISE Center - 5803 Rockaway Beach Blvd
Join us for the reception for the Rockaway Field Guide Exhibition, showcasing the artwork of Kelly Funabashi Osborne, Haydn Long and photography of Giles Ashford developed for the field guide. The guide features plants and wildlife native to the Rockaway Peninsula as well as an introduction by Steven Handel and essay by Judah Asimov. Copies of the 1st Edition of the Rockaway Field Guide publishing will be available.
This exhibit compliments the Steve Brill foraging tour hosted earlier in the day.
Rockaway Thanksgiving Feast
Saturday, November 20, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Beach 59th St and Rockaway Freeway
Due to health and safety concerns RISE will be distributing pre-packaged to go containers with your Thanksgiving meal. There will NOT be a sit down meal this year.
RISE invites you to join us for a special Thanksgiving giveaway to give thanks and celebrate our amazing community of friends, family, and neighbors. The meal is FREE to all, but attendees must register in advance for every person. No more than 4 servings per family The meal includes all the Thanksgiving favorites prepared by local Rockaway partners:
- Cuisine By Claudette
- Goody's Chicken & Rib
- La Cevicheria
- Rockaway Beach Bakery
Special thanks to L+M Development Partners and Levitt Foundation for making this event possible.
Exhibit Opening: the Painting Pavilion by Renée Berthelette
Saturday, December 4, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
RISE Center, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Blvd
Inspired by the local music and beaches of Queens, The Painting Pavilion is Renée Berthelette’s debut solo exhibition. Each painting is inspired by a specific beach of the Rockaway Peninsula, and was created using rhythm-based paint application to the beat of local jazz musicians. Visitors are encouraged to bring headphones: corresponding QR codes will link to videos of the creative process with the soundtrack of local jazz musicians.