Popular Event Returns to Memorial Day Weekend Saturday, May 28
Limited Number of Neighbor and Sponsor Level Tickets Available Online
The Piano Man is coming to Greenwich! Legendary singer, songwriter and composer Billy Joel, widely considered one of the greatest musicians of this era, will take center stage at this year’s Greenwich Town Party (GTP). Greenwich’s popular town-wide, family event filled with music icons and local bands, food favorites, charitable organizations and kids’ activities, will return to its traditional date of the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend, May 28, at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park. Joel ranks as one of the most popular recording artists and respected entertainers in history.
The six-time Grammy Award winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is the sixth best-selling recording artist of all time and the third best-selling solo artist. Joel’s songs have acted as personal and cultural touchstones for millions of people and across generations.
“Billy Joel is one of those few remaining iconic musicians who has thrilled music lovers for most of their lives,” said Ray Dalio, founder of the GTP. “His songs give us both great music and great stories that make us want to dance to our histories. He is a musical legend that I want my Greenwich neighbors to experience all together.”
One of the biggest concert draws in the world, Joel sells out arenas and stadiums across the globe, with songs like “Uptown Girl,” “Just The Way You Are,” “The Longest Time” and “Vienna.” Selling 150 million records over the past quarter century, his hits have continued for almost five decades, scoring 33 consecutive Top 40 hits, with three of Joel’s Top 40 songs “It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me,” “Tell Her About It” and “We Didn’t Start The Fire” peaking at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
The Library of Congress selected “Piano Man” for preservation in the National Recording Registry. He received The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song and also the once-in-a-century ASCAP Centennial Award. Joel also won a Tony Award for “Movin’ Out,” a Broadway musical based on his music. In December 2013, the New York native was named Madison Square Garden’s first-ever music franchise, with Joel playing one show every month.
Local Bands
A popular tradition of the GTP is the Town Stage, which will feature local bands to round out the day’s performances. Bands with local roots and familiar names annually have the opportunity to perform on the same ticket as world-renowned musicians. Created to celebrate the diverse and abundant talent within the Greenwich community, the Town Stage band application is open to Greenwich residents of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels. Applications must be submitted on the GTP website by March 14, and the lineup will be announced in April.
Tickets
Over a three-week period starting in November 2021, Greenwich residents, employees and students could enter an application for the online ticket lottery. GTP organizers launched the lottery to give everyone an equal opportunity to apply for Community Tickets (general admission) and Senior Tickets (65+). All applications were entered into the ticket lottery equally through the website; no preference was given to date and time of application submission within the open period. After the lottery closed, randomly selected applicants were notified by email that they had won the opportunity to purchase the tickets they specified on their application. All Community and Senior tickets for the 2022 event were sold via this process, and during this time period. The cost of 2022 Community tickets remained the same at $85 per ticket, and senior tickets were $25. Tickets were free of charge for children ages 12 and under, but they must have a ticket to attend the event.
Neighbor and Sponsor tickets are available now for purchase online. The cost of the Neighbor passes remains at $500 per person and the Sponsor passes at $1500 per person. Neighbor passes provide unlimited access to the Houlihan Lawrence Neighborhood Area with wine, beer and catered food throughout the day and evening, as well as designated parking. The Sponsor level offers unlimited access to the Sponsor Tent with catered food and full bar throughout the day and evening, and premier parking in the Island Beach Lot, located directly across from Roger Sherman Baldwin Park.
Consistent with its policy since the party’s inception, GTP tickets may only be purchased by Greenwich residents and employees. All submitted applications are verified for Greenwich residency or employment.
An IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, The GTP is privately funded through generous contributions from residents and businesses and, in part, through ticket sales. In the spirit of mutual generosity, the GTP encourages everyone to contribute as much as they can so the ticket price can stay the same. One generous Greenwich resident matches all contributions, and seventy-five percent of the cost of each Community ticket is generously funded by individual and corporate sponsors of the GTP. The GTP has no cost to the Town of Greenwich and is not funded by taxpayers.
To stay up-to-date on the latest ticket news, band announcements, and special offerings, please sign up for the email list at the GTP website. https://www.greenwichtownparty.org
