Dusana Risovic
MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
The 2025 edition of Governors Ball has officially come to a close, capping off a vibrant weekend of music, food, and festival experiences at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
The three-day event kicked off Friday, June 6, with high-energy performances from Tyler, the Creator, Mannequin Pussy, JPEGMAFIA, Mk.gee, Tyla, and BigXThaPlug, among others. Despite a weather delay on Saturday that pushed back start times, the festival rebounded with a standout headline performance from Olivia Rodrigo, who surprised fans by bringing out Talking Heads frontman David Byrne.
Sunday saw Hozier take the stage for a soulful closing set, wrapping up the festival on a high note. Also performing on the final day were Key Glock, Clairo, The Japanese House, and Glass Animals.
Beyond the music, this year’s Governors Ball leaned into the full festival experience. Attendees sampled a wide array of food options, including offerings from the beloved Queens Night Market like Eemas Cuisine, Mao’s Baos, and Twisted Potato. Festivalgoers also enjoyed local favorites such as Roberta’s Pizza, Fan Fan Doughnuts, Walter’s Hot Dogs, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, Gotham Burger Social Club, and La Newyorkina.
Taylor Regulski
For those looking to fill time between sets, the grounds offered plenty to explore. Fans picked up skincare samples at the Kiehl’s SPF Remix Booth, sipped cocktails at the Grey Goose Lounge, shopped exclusive merchandise at the Pacsun Festival Hub, and grabbed a caffeine boost at the Dunkin’ Donuts Scoop Shop.
Just before the Glass Animals took the stage on Sunday night at the 2025 Governors Ball, the festival crowd was met with an unexpected guest — not a musician, but Queens Borough President Donovan Richards.
Greeted with cheers from the packed audience at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Richards used the moment to welcome concertgoers to Queens and deliver a passionate speech celebrating the borough’s diversity and resilience.
“We are the most diverse county in the United States of America,” Richards declared. “We love our diversity in Queens County, and we will never cower in the face of an administration who doesn’t believe in that.”
Dusana Risovic
The borough president’s remarks quickly turned political, as he rallied the crowd with a call to stand up for civil rights and social justice.
“We celebrate Pride because we believe in our LGBTQ community,” he continued. “We will never cower in the face of those who challenge our civil rights, our human rights, women’s rights, and immigrant rights.”
The unexpected appearance added a powerful tone of civic pride and defiance to the final day of the festival, reinforcing Queens’ reputation as a bastion of multiculturalism and activism.
Taylor Regulski
Taylor Regulski
Ismael Quintanilla III
