Spring is finally here, and there are so many free events for Brooklyn families to enjoy this April! Our overview includes the return of outdoor marketplaces, Earth Day celebrations, outdoor education programs in Fort Greene Park and Prospect Park, and much more!
Smorgasburg | Prospect Park & Williamsburg
Weekends | 11am-6pm
Smorgabsurg makes its return on April 6, and will be located at Martha P. Johnson State Park in Williamsburg on Saturdays and Breeze Hill in Prospect Park on Sundays. There are 80 vendors, including 20 new vendors this year. New cuisine will include Trinidadian street food, artisanal focaccia, Thai-inspired ice cream and more. Smorgasburg will be open every weekend from 11am – 6pm until October!
Weekends | 10am-5pm
Brooklyn Flea will reopen under the DUMBO archway on Saturday, April 6. The flea includes a huge variety of vendors of vintage clothing, furniture, art and antiques, and more.
Spring Opening at the Audubon Center | Prospect Park
Weekends | 12 pm – 4pm
Kick off the spring season with fun nature activities at the Prospect Park Audubon Center. Families and children can learn about bird migration through interactive games, join our teen staff that will lead a story hour and stay and see a screening of The Lorax. Limited seating is available for the movie on a first-come, first-served basis.
Brooklyn Pop-Up Market | Brooklyn Museum
Sundays, April 14, 21 & 28 | 10:30am-5:30pm
Stop by our market to shop one-of-a-kind, handmade items from local artisans. This weekly event features more than 20 vendors offering artwork, jewelry, fashion, home and apothecary goods, and more. This event is free and takes place outdoors (rain location: Brooklyn Museum’s Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion, 1st Floor).
Family Discovery Weekends at Brooklyn Botanic Garden | Prospect Heights
Starting April 13, Weekends | 10:30am-12:30pm | Free with Garden admission ($12-18, free for ages 0-11)
Learn and play together in the BBG’s Discovery Garden. Hands-on stations throughout the garden’s courtyard, meadow, woodland, and marsh encourage families to explore nature alongside our volunteer Discovery Docents and teen garden apprentices. This is a drop-in program for families with children of all ages. Also, be sure to the website for Cherry Blossom updates!
DUMBO Open Streets | Washington Street between Water & Front Streets
Opening Monday, April 15 | 11am-9pm
DUMBO’s Open Streets program on Washington Street between Water & Front Streets makes its return on Monday, April 15. Eat outside, enjoy the iconic view, and people watch. Hours will be Monday-Sunday from 11am-9pm. See the events calendar for free programming in DUMBO here. Stay tuned for more information on additional Open Streets programs coming to our neighborhoods!
Nature Storytime at the Environmental Education Center | DUMBO
Thursday, April 18 | 3-3:30pm
Join for Nature Storytime at the Environmental Education Center! Held at 3:00 PM on the third Thursday of every month (during Open Hours). Librarians from Brooklyn Public Library Adams Street location lead for an exciting and engaging storytime session, along with singing and rhymes. Each month they select a book to pair with the Education Center’s monthly nature theme. Stick around after to check out all the animals and activities in the room during Open Hours! Storytime is typically about a half hour long. Walk-ups only; we do our utmost to accommodate as many walk-ups as space allows.
Winter Social Third Thursdays | Cobble Hill
Thursday, April 18, 6-8pm
Join neighbors for fun and food in Cobble Hill Park for another Winter Social. BYO-whatever!
Youth Climate Strike with Climate Families NYC | Financial District
Friday, April 19 | Strike @ Foley Square at 2pm | Picnic @ Battery Park at 5pm
The most powerful thing we can do for the earth, for our kids and for each other is collective action to end fossil fuels and speed up a just transition to a renewable economy. That’s why, this Earth Month, Climate Families NYC is organizing a month chock full of in person and digital opportunities to take action, connect and have fun doing it. On Friday, April 19, young people can join for a Youth Climate Strike in Lower Manhattan, followed by a picnic in Battery. There are so many more ways to take action this month, and to keep things simple, there is one RSVP for the whole month. Sign up for all of the events you’re interested in and we’ll follow up with all the details you need to participate!
Earth Day Wind Energy Party for families at City Point | Downtown Brooklyn
Saturday, April 20 | 11am-1pm
We are celebrating Earth Day with our first ever wind energy party on Earth Day, Saturday, April 20 from 11 am to 1 pm. Kids will be able to build wind turbines and other sculptures from recycled materials with Koko NYC, decorate (and eat) your own wind turbine cookies, have fun doing some Earth Day crafts and learn about offshore wind energy coming to Brooklyn. Best for ages 2 – 10. The free event will take place on the ground floor next to Rumi’s at City Point in Downtown Brooklyn. The free event is presented by Community Offshore Wind, a joint venture between RWE and National Grid Ventures to bring local, clean energy to the Northeastern U.S. Their Brooklyn project will power more than 500,000 US households, while generating more than $3 billion in economic benefits for New York communities and creating more than 800 new, good-paying jobs for workers across the state.
Downtown Brooklyn Car-Free Earth Day in Albee Square | Downtown Brooklyn
Saturday, April 20 | 11am-3:30pm | Some activities require registration, see below
Enjoy Earth-friendly and car-free activities including music, fashion, cycling lessons, and more. Albee Square West will be closed to traffic all day, so bring your bike or roller skates, and enjoy activities and music at Albee Square Plaza. All day long, there will be sets by DJ Boogie, art-making with reused materials with Materials for the Arts, a book giveaway with Brooklyn Book Bodega, sewing and knitting with Black Girls Sew, composting with BK Rot. Trashaganza! by Bash the Trash will also perform fun interactive songs with timely environmental messaging about plastic pollution and climate change. There will also be a selfie station and an Earth Day Wheel of Fortune for the chance to win environmental swag! Don’t miss more special events in Albee Square:
- 11:00am-12:00pm: Dance your way to fitness with Brooklyn’s beloved Natarsha McQueen and her ever popular Zumba class. Register here!
- 1:00-3:00pm: Learn to ride a bike with Bike New York! Bike New York teaches kids 5 – 14 how to ride safely along Albee Square West (which is closed to traffic for the day), while parents and guardians cheer them on! Register here!
Car-Free Earth Day on Hoyt Street | Boerum Hill
Saturday, April 20 | 12-3pm
Join us on Hoyt Street between State St. and Atlantic Ave. as we join the rest of the city to celebrate Car-Free Earth Day. Come get a free plant courtesy of The Hort, and learn to decorate a scarf using natural dyes with Out of Seam. Plus, live music from Augustin Grasso Quartet, and an e-waste drop-off bin. This kicks off our 2024 Open Streets season, which will be full of fun programming that everyone can enjoy, free of charge!
More Car-Free Earth Day locations, plus free rides on CitiBikes!
Saturday, April 20 | 10am-4pm
Check out more Car-Free Earth Day events hosted by NYC DOT. Programming is presented at various locations citywide to promote activism and education surrounding climate change, sustainability, and other relevant topics. The event is also the kick off to the 2024 Open Streets and Public Space Programming season! Click here to for a list of all Car-Free Earth Day locations in our neighborhoods.
Plus, Free Citi Bike Rides for Earth Day! Citi Bike will offer free unlimited 30-minute rides on a classic Citi Bike on Open Streets: Car-Free Earth Day. All riders may take advantage of the offer by using the promo code CARFREE24 in the Citi Bike app.
Earth Day Celebration | Governors Island
Saturday, April 20 | 10am-3pm
Governors Island’s third annual Earth Day celebration will celebrate the power of native plants through free educational activities and workshops for all ages, guided tours through the Island’s open space, a participatory mural inspired by the relationship between milkweed and Monarch butterflies, Governors Island Nature activities, volunteer stewardship projects, free bike lessons with Bike New York, and more.
Earth Day at The Seaport | Lower Manhattan
Saturday April 20 | 11am-2pm | Free, RSVP here
Join The Seaport for Earth Day activities including sustainable castle construction, lego building, plants and science, and the beauty of recycled materials. Free magic show with an Earth Day twist at 12 pm. It’s all part of the upcoming Seaport Kids x Earth Day lineup of activities hosted by Mommy Poppins and Brooklyn Bridge Parents. RSVP here.
Earth Day Innovations with KoKo NYC at Atlantic Terminal Mall | Downtown Brooklyn
Saturday, April 20 | 11am-3pm
Come together to honor the planet and unleash your creativity in the name of sustainability. At the Inventor’s Lab, they’ll delve into the fascinating world of simple machines while embracing the ethos of recycling and repurposing. Come learn about the wonders of mechanics and discover how they can harness the power of everyday materials to create innovative solutions for a greener future. From bottle caps to cardboard boxes, every item holds the potential to be transformed into something extraordinary. Bring your imagination and get ready to roll up your sleeves and celebrate Earth Day by nurturing the planet and making a positive impact.
Waste No More Clothing Swap | Brooklyn Museum
Saturday, April 20 | 11am-2pm | Free, registration encouraged
Clean out your closet and refresh your wardrobe for summer with us and Bed-Stuy Clothes Swap in collaboration with To Many More! Through this inclusive and eco-conscious clothing swap celebrating Earth Day, we can make a positive impact on the planet while embracing community, style, and sustainability. Bring your new or gently used clothes, accessories, and shoes for all seasons and participate in our vibrant exchange. You can contribute and take home up to 10 items, but if you have more to share, rest assured they will be lovingly donated to those in need. While our collection predominantly features feminine-presenting apparel, we’re actively working to diversify our offerings. Your participation can help us achieve this goal! Free; registration is encouraged.
Movies Under the Stars: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Commodore Barry Park
Saturday, April 20 | 8-11pm | Free, register here
Grab a blanket and come enjoy a movie in Commodore Barry Park! This is part of the “Movies Under the Stars” series presented by NYC Parks and The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, which will show family-friendly movies across the five boroughs. The movie is rated PG and will begin at dusk.
Arbor Day at the Audubon Center | Prospect Park
Friday, April 26 | 12-4pm
Join Prospect Park Alliance for Arbor Day fun in Prospect Park with nature activities and exploration focused on Brooklyn’s last remaining forest! Participate in a variety of nature programs, including identifying trees and spreading mulch and wood chips.
Buggy Buddy Postpartum Parents Walk | Prospect Park
Friday, April 26 | 10am | Register in advance
The Nesting Nook is hosting their first free Buggy Buddy walk for new parents. Experience gentle postpartum exercise for parents with babies 0-8 months, connect with fellow new parents, and cultivate community vibes.
Earth Day Festival | Fort Greene Park
Saturday April 27 | 11am-2pm
Get excited for Earth Day Festival 2024! With family-friendly activity stations and sustainable swaps, there’s something to do for everyone in the neighborhood. Activities will include a plant swamp, storytime in the park, community planting, a clothes mending workshop, bandana prints, music-making, and more! Interested in volunteering at Earth Day Fest? We’ll need the help of a few enthusiastic volunteers to keep the environment-friendly activities and workshops running smoothly. Register here.
La Chivita at Central Library | Grand Army Plaza
Saturday, April 27 | 1-2pm
“La Chivita” is a magical bus that journeys through the heartland of Colombia. Audiences will join lovable characters who share traditional stories of their beloved homeland. More information to come!
Cheer on Brooklyn Half Marathon runners | Greenpoint to Prospect Park
Sunday, April 28 | 7am-1pm
Cheer on friends, family, and neighbors during the upcoming Brooklyn Half Marathon! Recommended cheer spots include the Williamsburg Bridge Area, Cadman Plaza, Albee Square at City Point, Barclays Center Plaza, and Eastern Parkway Malls.
City Nature Challenge Family Day | Green-Wood Cemetery
Sunday, April 28 | 10am-1pm | Free, registration recommended
Green-Wood is the perfect place for families to explore nature! In partnership with our friends at Genspace (a community biology lab in Brooklyn), we have planned an adventurous morning of activities and learning for kids of all ages. Expert naturalists will be leading walks to collect data on birds, insects, fungi, and plants at the Cemetery for the City Nature Challenge every half hour between 10:30am and 12:30pm. Microscopy activity stations will offer an opportunity to view nature up close. This event is free, but registration is recommended; sign up here.
Updated: April 22, 2024. Main Image: Spring Opening at the Audubon Center in Prospect Park.
