Roots & Rhythm: A Walking Tour of Black East Elmhurst & Corona
Saturday, July 11 | 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
Join the Louis Armstrong House Museum and our community partners for Roots & Rhythm, a day celebrating the history, music, and community of Black East Elmhurst and Corona through a guided walking tour and an afternoon garden celebration.
Neighborhood Walking Tour
11:00 AM | Capacity: 35 participants
The day begins at the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center with a guided walk through the streets that shaped one of New York City’s most significant Black cultural communities.
As participants make their way through the neighborhood to the Louis Armstrong House Museum, they will discover the stories of the people who called Corona home—including Louis Armstrong’s neighbors, local families, artists, and community leaders whose contributions helped define the neighborhood. Along the route, special guest Brianna Grinage, granddaughter of Armstrong’s neighbor Debra Grinage, will share personal memories and reflections that connect the neighborhood’s past to its present.
Garden Party & Performances
1:00 PM | Open to a larger audience
The walking tour concludes at the Louis Armstrong House Museum, where guests are invited to gather for an afternoon of live music, performances, food, and conversation in the museum’s garden.
The program explores the enduring connections between jazz, hip-hop, and Queens through live performances by acclaimed trumpeter Michael Cruse and hip-hop artist T.L. Cross. Community voices and cultural figures will share stories about the neighborhood’s rich artistic legacy, while DJ Gully provides music throughout the afternoon. Local food vendors will also be on site.
Whether you join us for the full experience or meet us for the garden celebration, Roots & Rhythm offers an opportunity to experience the people, places, and sounds that continue to shape the cultural legacy of Corona.
Registration is required. Space on the walking tour is limited to 35 participants, while the Garden Party and performances welcome a larger audience.