This summer’s been a big one. New York is celebrating sports wins, the World Cup is about to reach its crescendo, and, in addition to that, you live in (or are visiting) Brooklyn. That means it’s time to be outside celebrating life for as long as the weather allows. The opportunities for fun with family and friends are vast. In a city as big as ours, there’s always a lot going on, but keeping tabs on events doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.
There are plenty of family-friendly things to do with your loved ones in the County of Kings for the rest of the summer, and we’ve simplified the process via a curated selection of events that will carry you through Labor Day. Check our picks below, and check back for updates throughout the summer.
Kayaking @ Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse
See link for days and times
Want to hit the water? Check out these beginner-friendly, 20-minute kayaking sessions on the East River at Pier 2, with all equipment and basic instruction provided by the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse. No experience necessary. Sessions are free (and happening all summer), but booking in advance is recommended.
Sunday, July 19
Smorgasburg @ Marsha P. Johnson State Park
11 a.m. (Sundays through October)
Brooklyn’s beloved open-air food market, now in its 16th season, features 60-plus local vendors every Sunday on Breeze Hill, near the Lincoln Road entrance. It’s a natural fit for a full family afternoon in Prospect Park. And if you can’t make it here, you can hit the Williamsburg edition on Saturdays.
Thursday, July 30
Animal Encounters @ Brooklyn Children’s Museum
2 p.m. (every second Thursday through August 27)
Turtles, lizards, snakes—the Children’s Museum will introduce your kids to wildlife in a less-than-wild setting.
Thursday, July 23
Community Access Thursdays @ Brooklyn Children’s Museum
2 p.m. (all year)
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum has something for every kid, including the mini-shops of World Brooklyn, Totally Tots, and the Nest Kids’ Climber. There are also guided art workshops and STEM projects.
Soul Line Dancing @ Brooklyn Children’s Museum
3 p.m.
Want to learn about Soul Line Dance or just brush up on your steps? Kendra J. Ross from STooPS Art & Community will walk you through some moves and get you ready for the dance floor.
Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Bridge Park
Movies With a View: Bend It Like Beckham @ Brooklyn Bridge Park
6 p.m.
No summer of soccer would be complete without an outdoor screening of Bend It Like Beckham, the movie about 18-year-old Jesminder, who dreams of a professional soccer career despite her parents’ objections.
Saturday, July 25
New York City Council Member Chi Ossé Presents: BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! at Brower Park
1 p.m.
Pop-up at Brower Park in Crown Heights with Black House Radio. Come ready to dance and be in community with house music heads or adjacent enthusiasts. The sounds will be provided by DJs affiliated with Black House Radio in partnership with Council Member Chi Ossé and Rooftop Films. It’s free for all and appropriate for every generation.
Children’s Food Festival @ Brooklyn Children’s Museum
11 a.m.
Food festivals aren’t just for adult palates. At this one, local farmers will be on hand to teach kids about the ingredients that go into meals, growing food, and composting. Also on the itinerary at what the Children’s Museum bills as a “celebration of global culinary traditions”: art-making.
Tuesday, July 21
Brooklyn Basketball NYC Park Clinic Series @ Jesse Owens Playground
4 p.m.
Is your kid ready to ball out (or just learn the game)? Hit Jesse Owens Playground so they can get schooled (in the good way) by expert instructors, whatever their level of play, and come home with a free T-shirt.
Tuesday, July 28
Brooklyn Basketball NYC Park Clinic Series (All-Girls) @ Potomac Playground
4 p.m.
For the girls in your life who know ball or would like to learn it, head to Potomac Playground for clinics in partnership with New York Liberty. There’s one main full-size court that’s sometimes split for half-court play, and teams vary by age.
Thursday, July 30
Animal Encounters @ Brooklyn Children’s Museum
2 p.m. (every second Thursday through August 27)
Turtles, lizards, snakes—the Children’s Museum will introduce your kids to wildlife in a less-than-wild setting.
Movies With a View: Clueless @ Brooklyn Bridge Park
6 p.m.
Amy Heckerling’s 1995 classic connects with young audiences today—even if the tech looks like the stuff of Super 8 home movies and the name “Cher” doesn’t ring a bell. Your kids will appreciate the fashion, though.
Thursday, August 6
Movies With a View: Jurassic Park @ Brooklyn Bridge Park
6 p.m.
In 1993, Steven Spielberg released a movie that, for the first time, made dinosaurs look real on screen. CGI has come a long way in the 33 years since, but the T-rex and velociraptors from our inaugural trip to Isla Nublar hold their own.
Saturday, August 8
Celebrate the Caribbean @ Brooklyn Children’s Museum
11 a.m.
The parade’s a month off, but this afternoon of dance workshops, steelpan sessions, and headdress-making will prime you for the big weekend. And the food market will whet your appetite for what’s to come.
Saturday, September 5
West Indian American Day Junior Carnival @ Brooklyn Museum
Time TBA
There are several events leading up to the main event on Labor Day, such as J’ouvert, the night before Labor Day. However, the festivities may be intense for some, especially children. For more lowkey, but still fun, participation in the celebration of Caribbean culture, check out Children’s Day fun in front of the Brooklyn Museum, where the smallest New Yorkers get to participate, and some will be decked out in their finest beads and feathers. Keep up with events and exact timing here.
Monday, September 7
West Indian American Labor Day Carnival @ Eastern Parkway
10 a.m.
North America’s largest Caribbean cultural celebration draws over a million people to Crown Heights and Eastern Parkway—a deeply community-rooted event with steel pan, soca, calypso, jerk chicken vendors, and spectacular mas band costumes.
The post How to Entertain Your Kids for the Rest of the Summer in Brooklyn appeared first on BKMAG.
