Are you ready for the biggest party to hit Long Island this season?
Long Island University, Americana Manhasset and Poll Restaurants will host Celebrate Long Island: An Evening at Merriweather on May 7.
“The goal for us was to be able to bring together a group of different community organizations and cultural entities and give them and their constituents, but really the people on the Gold Coast and the North Shore, an opportunity to experience culture in a different way,” said Michael Glickman, Vice President of Partnerships at Long Island University.
Glickman said the party’s theme was inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s popular book “The Great Gatsby.”
The night will include live music, dancing, food, drinks and a fireworks show by Bellport-based Fireworks by Grucci.
“We want to change the conversation,” he said. “We want people to see this is a great place to live, this is a great place to work, this is a great place to have a good time and this is a great place where you can experience a tried-and-true Long Island experience.”
The event, which begins at 7 p.m., will take place under a 30,000-square-foot tent on the LIU-Post campus in Brookville, which is the former estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post and E.F. Hutton.
“Who doesn’t want to throw the biggest party of the season in the community? This is the party that everybody wants to have in their backyard but it just so happens that we’ve got a good backyard to throw this in,” Glickman said.
Proceeds from the event will go towards five Long Island organizations: Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, Nassau County Museum of Art, Gold Coast International Film Festival, Old Westbury Gardens and Sands Point Preserve Conservancy,
“One of the things Long Island is missing is this notion of organizations coming together,” Glickman said. “We’ve given people a very accessible way to come have a good time, experience one another, learn something new about their own communities and being able to partner that concept with business is a good thing.”
Inside the tent, party-goers will have access to a number of set-ups for local organizations including the “Gatsby Gardens,” which is inspired by Old Westbury Gardens, and a silent movie section put on by the Gold Coast International Film Festival.
Glickman said there will also be casino games for ticket holders to win fake money which can be cashed in for various prizes and offerings.
Ryan Reilly, a partner with Celebrate Long Island, said the tent will be “very interactive.”
“I think that people will be pleasantly surprised as they walk throughout with the things they are seeing,” Reilly said.
There will be musical performances by trumpeter Chris Norton and grammy-nominated jazz musician Jane Monheit.
Tickets for the party are available online at www.celebratelongisland.com, or those interested can also call 516-299-2264 to buy tickets.
There will be no tickets sold the day of the event.
Tickets cost $195 for an individual ticket, $350 for a couple’s ticket, $375 for a VIP ticket, which includes exclusive access to the VIP Lounge, early entry to the tent, complimentary valet parking, and a swag bag featuring special offers and gifts, $600 VIP couple’s ticket and a $5,000 corporate package.
Glickman said the party will go on “rain or shine” because the tent will offer party-goers protection from any rain.
“There is a movement afoot on Long Island,” Glickman said. “This notion of Celebrate Long Island kind of pulls all of these different aspects together and it’s bringing community and corporate individuals to really gather around an opportunity to celebrate something that is special and unique.”
