Events & What’s Happening
Free annual celebration of Japanese culture in Prospect Park featuring taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations, food vendors, and kids' activities
💡The kids' zone near the Bandshell has origami and calligraphy workshops that are free and very popular with school-age children
Minor league baseball at MCU Park on Coney Island with views of the Atlantic Ocean, affordable tickets, and frequent themed promotional nights
💡Friday night fireworks games after the final out are a huge hit with kids; buy tickets in advance as those games sell out quickly
America's largest art parade celebrating the start of summer along Surf Avenue with elaborate costumes, floats, and seaside pageantry
💡Arrive early to claim a spot near Stillwell Avenue for the best views; the boardwalk gets very crowded by noon
Long-running outdoor performing arts festival at the Prospect Park Bandshell featuring free and ticketed concerts spanning jazz, world music, indie rock, and dance performances
💡Free shows are ideal for families — bring a blanket and picnic dinner; children can sit on the lawn close to the stage
One of America's premier literary events held in Brooklyn Bridge Park and DUMBO, featuring author readings, panels, and a children's book fair
💡The KidsBK section has dedicated programming for children with interactive storytelling and author meet-and-greets
One of New York City's largest street fairs stretching over a mile along Atlantic Avenue with local vendors, live music, and diverse food from Brooklyn's many cultures
💡The kids' activity section near 4th Avenue has face painting and carnival games; visit before 2pm to avoid the densest crowds
Beloved neighborhood Halloween parade down Prospect Park West drawing thousands of costumed families and children every October 31st
💡Line up along 9th Street for prime viewing; bring the stroller — the route is flat and stroller-friendly
Brooklyn Academy of Music's acclaimed fall season showcasing cutting-edge theater, dance, opera, and music from international and local artists
💡BAM offers select family-friendly performances during the festival; check the BAMkids programming page for age-appropriate shows
One of NYC's largest year-round farmers markets at the entrance to Prospect Park, offering fresh produce, baked goods, cheese, cider, and artisan food from regional farms
💡Grab hot cider donuts from one of the bakery vendors and walk straight into Prospect Park afterward for a perfect Saturday morning outing
Free Sunday family nature programs at the Prospect Park Audubon Center including guided bird walks, wildlife discovery activities, and seasonal nature crafts for children
💡Bring binoculars if you have them and wear layers — the lakeside can be windy even in summer; programs are best for ages 4 and up
Weekly bilingual storytime sessions for toddlers and preschoolers held at branches across Brooklyn, featuring picture books, songs, and simple crafts
💡Sessions fill up fast at popular branches like Central and Park Slope — check the BPL website to register and find your nearest branch's schedule
America's largest weekly open-air food market in Prospect Park featuring over 100 local food vendors with cuisine from around the world
💡Come hungry and split dishes — the portions are generous; arrive before noon to avoid long lines at the most popular stalls
Free community kayaking on the East River offered by the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse at Pier 2, open to all ages with life jackets and basic instruction provided
💡No reservations needed but lines form early on sunny summer Saturdays; children must be able to swim and are required to wear a life jacket
Planning Your Visit
Neighborhoods & Areas
Local Tips for Families
- 💡The Brooklyn Children's Museum on Brooklyn Avenue offers free admission every Thursday from 3–6pm — a significant saving for a family of 4 versus the standard $16/person weekday rate.
- 💡Kids under 44 inches ride the NYC subway free without a MetroCard, and up to three children can accompany one paying adult — this can meaningfully reduce daily transit costs for families with young kids.
- 💡Smorgasburg at Marsha P. Johnson State Park in Williamsburg runs Saturdays from April through October, 11am–6pm. Arrive before 12:30pm to beat the longest lines at the most popular vendors like Dough Doughnuts and Adda's Indian street food.
- 💡The Jane's Carousel in DUMBO costs $3 per ride — line up right when it opens at 11am on weekends, as the queue can grow to 45 minutes by early afternoon in summer. The glass pavilion is also climate-controlled, making it a good quick refuge on very hot or rainy days.
- 💡Prospect Park's LeFrak Center at Lakeside rents pedal boats and rowboats on the lake during summer months for $20–$30/hour — a genuinely different way to see the park and far less crowded than weekend picnic areas on the Long Meadow.
- 💡The Brooklyn Museum on Eastern Parkway is free for NYC residents and $25 for out-of-towners, but all visitors under 19 get in free. The first Saturday of every month features free evening programming called 'Target First Saturdays' from 5–11pm, with live music, art activities for kids, and no admission charge for adults either.
- 💡For the best pizza with kids in Brooklyn, the original Di Fara Pizza on Avenue J in Midwood is a legendary but extremely slow experience (expect 45–90 minute waits). A better family-pace alternative is Lucali in Carroll Gardens — reserve months ahead online or join the in-person waitlist by 4pm for the 6pm dinner seating.
- 💡The NYC Ferry's South Brooklyn route stops at Atlantic Basin in Red Hook and DUMBO's Fulton Ferry Landing — a $4 per person ride (kids 44 inches and under free) that provides a water-level view of the Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan skyline without the tourist surcharge of private boat tours.
- 💡Avoid driving to Coney Island on summer weekend afternoons — the Belt Parkway backs up badly between exits 6 and 7. The D or F train from Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue is direct, air-conditioned, and deposits you steps from the boardwalk entrance.