Summer festivals in Brooklyn

As you plan out your summer, pencil in these not-to-miss annual summer festivals!

Through August 16:

BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn at Prospect Park Bandshell

New York City’s longest-running, free, outdoor performing arts festival, every year at the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park.

Friday, June 20: Habibi Festival at Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park
Thursday, June 26: Buscabulla | Chuwi | Paso Negro
Saturday, July 12: Benefit Concert: Still Woozy – Loveseat Tour
Thursday, July 17: Benefit Concert: Dinosaur Jr. + Snail Mail w/ special guest Easy Action
Friday, July 18: Benefit Concert: Men I Trust | strongboi
Saturday, July 26: A Tribute to Quincy Jones: The Wiz
Friday, August 1: Mireya Ramos and the Poor Choices | Morley | Talibah Safiya
Saturday, August 2: Gogol Bordello | Puzzled Panther | Pons
Thursday, August 7: Emily Johnson / Catalyst at Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park
Friday, August 8: Adrian Quesada’s Boleros Psicodélicos | Trish Toledo
Saturday, August 9: LYRICIST LOUNGE Anniversary Show
Friday, August 15: William Parker Presents Ellington in Mourning | NIKARA presents Black Wall Stree
Saturday, August 16: Closing Night: Nick Hakim | Karriem Riggins (DJ set)

Saturday, June 21, 10am-10pm:

Make Music New York with venues all across NYC

Completely different from a typical music festival, Make Music New York is open to anyone who wants to take part. From 10 in the morning to 10 at night, every kind of musician — young and old, amateur and professional, of every musical persuasion — pours onto streets, sidewalks, parks, and plazas to share their music with friends, neighbors, and strangers. And everyone is invited to sing along and enjoy the first day of summer. Visit the Program Guide Map to browse Brooklyn locations.

Saturday, June 21, 1pm:

The Mermaid Parade

Founded in 1983, the Mermaid Parade pays tribute to a century of Coney Island ingenuity, revelry, and pageantry by celebrating the artistic vision of the masses. With everything from a crowned King Neptune and Queen Mermaid, fantastical sea creatures and mer-folk, marching bands and dancing groups, to baby strollers and mechanized floats, it showcases the creativity of individuals from the five boroughs and beyond. It opens the summer with a celebration of incredible art, NYC’s entrepreneurial spirit, and our community pride.

Friday, July 4, 11am-1pm competition, 9:30pm fireworks

Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Competition + July 4th Fireworks Spectacular

The Annual Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular starts at approximately 9:30pm. Visitors can view the fireworks anywhere on the Boardwalk from West 10th Street to West 23rd Street to see the show! And don't forget the other famous July 4th Coney Island tradition: The Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest! The Women's competition kicks off at 11am and the men's competition starts at 12:30pm. Stop by Luna Park or Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park to hit the rides while you're there.

And this year the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Show are back in the East River with views all along the Brooklyn Waterfront!

Wednesday, July 9–Sunday, July 20:

OLMC Feast and Giglio Carnival in Williamsburg

Since 1887, the Italian American community has been celebrating their faith, culture, and family traditions on the streets of Williamsburg. Each July, the streets are filled with revelers from near and far to take part in a centuries old tradition known as the Dancing of the Giglio. The streets surrounding the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel are transformed into a vibrant festival with rides, games, food vendors, and daily entertainment.

Saturday, July 12, 3-7pm:

Fort Greene Jazz Festival in Fort Greene Park

Get ready to listen to soulful sounds at the park! The Fort Greene Park Jazz Festival began in July 2010, when musician Eric Frazier realized his long-standing dream to have a jazz festival in his own neighborhood park. It provides live jazz entertainment for families, neighborhoods, communities, and New Yorkers each year.

Sunday, July 13, 12-6pm:

Flatbush Avenue Street Fair

The Flatbush Avenue Street Fair will take place on Flatbush Avenue from Parkside Ave to Cortelyou Road. Join them for plentiful fun, rides, shopping, food, and giveaways!

Saturday, July 26, 11:30am-4:30pm:

HealthJox Festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Come out for a day full of fitness, wellness, and fun at our 8th annual HealthJox Festival! Get ready to break a sweat with exciting workout sessions, and health workshops. Connect wit like-minded individuals and discover new ways to prioritize your well-being. Whether you're a fitness enthusiast or just starting your wellness journey, this event has something for everyone. Don't miss out on this opportunity to rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul. See you there!

Saturday, July 26, 1-7pm:

STooPS Bed-Stuy Summer Festival in Bed-Stuy

Prepare for a day filled with captivating performances and dynamic artistic expressions, spanning generations and disciplines, right on the iconic stoops of our neighborhood. Join us for an immersive experience that honors our roots and ignites our future. STooPS partners with the 200 Decatur St. Stuyvesant Ave. Block Association, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church & Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church to bring you this classic yet unique Summer Festival, including a Block Party and Art Crawls.

Saturday, July 26, 2-7pm:

Kingsland Wildflowers Festival in Greenpoint

Join the partners at Kingsland Wildflowers for a fun, free, family-friendly summer event with hands-on activities, art, plants, entertainment, and more: Explore our rooftop wildflower meadows, experience art installations, performances and live music, learn about native wildlife and ecology, including Newtown Creek, engage with participating community and environmental organizations, buy native plant species, enjoy food and drinks with friends and family.

Saturday, August 16, 11am-4pm:

Coney Island Sandsculpting Competition

Bring your friends and family for a fun-filled day at the beach with live entertainment, giveaways, and more! Don't miss out on the chance to see talented artists showcase their skills in this unique competition.

Saturday, August 16, 4-7:30pm:

Hindu Lamp Ceremony in Brooklyn Bridge Park

The 13th annual Hindu Lamp Ceremony returns to Brooklyn Bridge Park! Dance artist and educator Aeilushi Mistry brings peace and harmony to the community as she performs the traditional Hindu Aarti ceremony at Pebble Beach. The Aarti ceremony is traditionally performed each morning and evening along India’s rivers, in order to convey gratitude to mother river, reflect on community, and remember loved ones. Please join us as we decorate palm leaf lamps and release them along the East River to make prayers and pay our respects to loved ones. Guest artists will also present their work at this event.

Sunday, August 17, 12-5pm:

One Crown Heights Community Festival

Come out for performances, gastronomic delights, artisan marketplace, and family activities including roller skating. Brought to you by a dedicated team of volunteers, coalition members, and sponsors, the festival celebrates community, culture, and collaboration! One Crown Heights is a coalition of Crown Heights organizations, not-for-profits, elected officials, community leaders, and residents that strive to bring our diverse community of Black, Caribbean, and Jewish community members together in dialogue and in joint empowerment projects.

Saturday, August 23, 7am-3pm:

NYC Summer Streets on Eastern Parkway In Brooklyn

Summer Streets is an annual celebration of New York City's most valuable public space – our streets. Summer Streets takes place on select Saturdays between 7 am and 3 pm. Miles of NYC’s streets are open in both directions for people to play, walk, and bike. Take a break along the route at one of our rest stops to enjoy free activities. Summer Streets provides space for healthy recreation and encourages New Yorkers to use more sustainable forms of transportation.

Saturday, August 23, 12-3pm:

Koko NYC South Slope Derby

For over 18 years and counting, KoKo NYC has offered week-long Soap Box Workshops all summer long where kids ages 7-14 create soap box cars from found objects and recycled materials. These workshops culminate in the annual South Slope Derby, which takes place on 17th Street in South Slope, Brooklyn.

Sunday, August 24, 10am-1pm:

The Battle of Brooklyn Commemoration and Family Day at Green-Wood Cemetery

Step back in time to August 1776 and experience the excitement of the Battle of Brooklyn, the largest battle of the Revolutionary War and the first to take place after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Green-Wood invites families and kids to discover the diverse perspectives of this historic event, which unfolded right here on land that’s now part of our Cemetery. In partnership with institutions from across New York City (full list to be announced soon), we’re offering a fun-filled afternoon of activities that honor the bravery of those who fought in the battle and bring revolutionary New York to life. Join us for an unforgettable exploration of America’s past—perfect for all ages!

Friday, August 29, 2-6pm:

Unicycle Festival from Brooklyn Bridge to Coney Island

Produced by Bindlestiff Family Variety Arts, Inc., the New York City Unicycle Festival brings together recreational riders, world-class performers, mountain and off-road unicycle enthusiasts, mono—wheel vehicle inventors, and thousands of people who have not ridden in umpteen years, along with circus enthusiasts, extreme sports viewers, and anyone seeking an unusual sight–even for NYC!