Cradle Of Aviation Holding Day-Long Apollo Celebration Saturday

GARDEN CITY, NY — On July 20, 1969, more than 600 million people watched Neil Armstrong take the first steps on the moon. Now, 50 years later, on Saturday, July 20, 2019, thousands of people will be joining together at the Cradle of Aviation Museum to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 mission.

The Cradle of Aviation, home of the Lunar Module, is celebrating all day and night with two festive events to give the community an opportunity to learn, reflect, remember and jointly celebrate, all the wonder, achievement and pride that is Apollo.

The museum will be hosting Apollo at 50 Moon Fest all day Saturday. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and kids ages 2 through 12, and the event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The day includes:

• COMMUNITY COUNTDOWN TO LUNAR LANDING — Join in a Community Countdown at 4:17 p.m. to collectively watch, re-experience and honor the historic moon landing.
• ASTRONAUT ENCOUNTERS with space shuttle astronauts Bill Shepherd and Charlie Carmada, both from Long Island, and Bob Cenker.
• MOON BUGGY RACES — Traverse a lunar obstacle course driving an electric lunar rover.
• VIRTUAL REALITY — Explore the inside and outside of the Apollo 11 up close and personal with Microsoft's Mixed Reality and Microsoft HoloLens technology.
• APOLLO 11 FIRST STEPS in IMAX — Experience a free showing of the new highly acclaimed documentary, "Apollo 11 First Steps Edition" in the museum's Dome Theater. Playing hourly.
• SOLAR TELESCOPES — Explore the sun with a special-purpose solar telescope.
• LAUNCH ROCKETS — Build, decorate, then launch a water bottle rocket.
• ROBOTICS DEMONSTRATIONS — View and interact with student-built robotics from the First Lego League.
• VISITS FROM THE UNIVERSE — The not-for profit, NY Avengers Cosplayers are assembling at the Cradle to celebrate the American heroes who contributed to the successful lunar landing.

The museum opens at 9:30 a.m. Family activities are from noon to 4 p.m. and the countdown begins at 4 p.m.

Following the family events, the museum will be hosting the Apollo at Countdown Celebration, a special dinner with a 1960s-theme to celebrate the moon landing. There will be a live re-broadcast of the first steps on the moon at 10:56 p.m. The dinner is from 7 to 11 p.m., and tickets are $125. Purchasing dinner tickets gets you admission to all of the family events earlier in the day as well.

• Dance the night away with live music with a 1960's-style band.
• Dress to impress in your favorite vintage 1960's clothing.
• Watch original Apollo 11 footage in a re-created 1969 living room.
• Countdown and toast to the first steps jointly as a community.

Space shuttle astronauts Bill Shepherd, Charlie Carmada and Bob Cenker will be in attendance.

Tickets to either event can be purchased at www.cradleofaviation.org/apollo or by calling 516-572-4066.