Bayside Outdoor Movie Nights Canceled Due To Crowd Restrictions

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — The parks department canceled a set of outdoor movie nights scheduled to take place in Bayside next month, citing the city's pandemic-related restrictions on crowds.

An Aug. 7 screening of "Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker" in Crocheron Park and an Aug. 21 showing of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" at Bayside Fields won't happen due to restrictions implemented to curb COVID-19's spread, according to parks department spokesperson Charisse Hill.

A mayoral executive order, issued July 9, prohibits events that involve a video screen and require sound amplification as well as events in parks that "may unreasonably diminish public use," in an effort to keep outdoor space open to the public during the pandemic.

Parks department officials are reviewing requests for event permits on a case-by-case basis, the spokesperson said.

"Grossly disappointing that our event at Bayside Fields is canceled," Northwest Bayside Civic Association President Jena Lanzetta wrote in a tweet. "Social distancing can easily be achieved in a huge open field. This is an absurd decision."

A drive-in movie night scheduled for Oct. 16 in the John Golden parking lot is still on the calendar.

City Council Member Paul Vallone, the Queens Chamber of Commerce and Cord Meyer have hosted three drive-in movie nights in the neighborhood so far this summer, including a screening of "Frozen 2" Wednesday night at the Bay Terrace Shopping Center.