Spring is here at last, bringing warmer weather and a ton of exciting events for families to enjoy! Our guide, running through Memorial Day weekend, highlights the return of favorite outdoor events like Open Streets, Brooklyn Flea, and Smorgasburg, as well as celebrations of Earth Day and Easter. Plus, there’s endless springtime fun waiting for you at Prospect Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and Governors Island. Get ready for an unforgettable season of family-friendly fun!
Brooklyn Flea & BQ Flea | DUMBO & Williamsburg
DUMBO | NOW OPEN | Saturdays & Sundays, 10am-5pm
Williamsburg | NOW OPEN | Sundays, 10-5pm
Brooklyn Flea is reopening for the season, located in the DUMBO Archway and Pearl Street Plaza. The flea includes a huge variety of vendors of vintage clothing, furniture, art and antiques, and more. This year, check out the new BQ Flea, under the BQE overpass in Williamsburg where Meeker Avenue meets Union Avenue and Lorimer Street. It will be open every Sunday starting April 6. Learn more here!
Luna Park | Coney Island
NOW OPEN | Free admission, rides start at $4
Get ready to kick off the season at Luna Park! Take a ride on the historic Cyclone, and enjoy more rides for all ages, plus shopping, and family-friendly food options. The Coney Island amusement park is debuting new arcade games this year, and they have also expanded outdoor seating at the restaurant Salt & Sizzle. The park will be open daily during Spring Break (April 11-20) and every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until Memorial Day weekend. After that, Luna Park will be open daily for the entire summer season.
Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park | Coney Island
NOW OPEN | Open daily April 14–18 | Then weekends only through May 18, then daily May 23–September 3 | 11am-6pm | Ride pricing here
Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, celebrating its 105th season in Coney Island, will kick off the season on Sunday, April 13 with its 40th Annual “Blessing of the Rides” at 10am. Following the blessing, the first 105 guests riding the iconic Wonder Wheel for free! The amusement park also has many kiddie rides, which will open at 11am, with adult rides opening at 12pm. Deno’s will be open daily during Spring Break (April 14–18), then on weekends only through May 18, then daily from May 23 through September 3, and on weekends and holidays from September 6 through October 26.
Pier 2 Roller Skating Rink | Brooklyn Bridge Park
NOW OPEN | $12 admission, $8 skate rental | FREE admission Mondays & Fridays, 3:30-6:00pm and Sundays, 10am-12pm
The roller skating rink at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 2 is reopening for the 2025 season! Check out their calendar to see all public skate times and fun themed events, including a chance to skate with the Easter bunny coming up in April. There are also special Free Skating hours on Mondays (3:30-6pm), Fridays (3:30-6pm), and Sundays (10am-12pm). Skate rentals are $8.
Prospect Park Carousel | Prospect Park
NOW OPEN | 12-5pm | $3 per ride, $13 for a book of 5 tickets
After being closed all winter, the Prospect Park Carousel is reopening for the season! Take your first ride of spring on the historic carousel on Opening Day, Friday, March 28. Visit the beloved carousel from 12–5 pm on Thursday–Sunday and holidays.
Smorgasburg | Prospect Park & Williamsburg
NOW OPEN | Saturdays, 11am-6pm | Marsha P. Johnson State Park | Williamsburg
NOW OPEN | Sundays, 11am-6pm | Breeze Hill | Prospect Park
Now in its 15th year, Smorgabsurg is back, running from April through October on Saturdays at Marsha P. Johnson Park in Williamsburg and Sundays at Breeze Hill in Prospect Park. This year, the food festival has over 70 stalls, including 20 new rookies. Newcomers this year include Jamaican Coco Bred, ancient Chinese dragon beard candy from Dragon Lulu, and pastrami sandwiches from Pastrami Underground out of Mill Basin, Brooklyn. See the full lineup of vendors here!
Spring fun on Governors Island
It’s time to plan a spring day trip to Governors Island! The Spring 2025 schedule for South Brooklyn ferries is now in effect, making it even easier to get there from Brooklyn. The Yard Adventure Playground is now open for the season, from 12-4pm every weekend from mid-spring to mid-fall, with a suggested donation of $5/child. You can also visit The Governors Island Urban Farm, which includes GrowNYC’s Teaching Garden, a compost learning center, and a bee sanctuary. Don’t miss Slide Hill, NYC’s longest slide at 57 feet, and Hammock Grove, for a relaxing break. Save the date for a special Earth Day Celebration on April 19!
Open Streets in our neighborhoods
Open Streets programs across our neighborhoods will be back in starting in early April, offering free, family-friendly fun on car-free streets. See our full guide here, with all dates, times, and locations.
Spring nature programs in Prospect Park
Kick off the spring season with family-friendly nature activities in Prospect Park! Discover Prospect Park’s bird population during the program Nature Exploration on weekends in April, and celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day. There’s so much more as the season continues, explore their full calendar here!
Spring at Brooklyn Botanic Garden | Prospect Heights
The cherry blossoms will start blooming soon at Brooklyn Botanic Garden! Use the BBG’s CherryWatch to see when trees are in full bloom and mark your calendar for Hanami Nights in late April and Weekends in Bloom in April and May. Spring First Discoveries, a program for the garden’s youngest patrons, happens on Wednesday & Friday mornings. Brooklyn Botanic Garden admission is $18/adult, $12/students 12+ with ID, and free for children under 12. Starting April 1, BBG opens early Friday–Sunday: 8am-6pm and opens early and late Tuesday–Thursday: 8am-8pm. Admission is $22/adult, $16/students 12+ with ID, and free for children under 12. A portion of each day’s tickets are available free of charge to those who need them.
Show Brooklyn Some Love Fest at CityPoint and Albee Square | Downtown Brooklyn
Saturday, May 10 | 11am-2pm | Ages 1-10 | FREE | RSVP here
Brooklyn Org, Brooklyn Bridge Parents, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and City Point will unite the community, leading cultural organizations, and nonprofits with the second free “Show Brooklyn Some Love Fest” at City Point in and Albee Square. Best for families with kids ages 1 to 10. The event will also include hip hop workshops, music making, face painting, live music, and more!
Atlantic Avenue ArtWalk | Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill & Downtown Brooklyn
Saturday, May 10–Sunday, May 18 | 12-6pm
The Atlantic Avenue ArtWalk is a free, 1.5-mile, self-guided event from Fourth Avenue to the Waterfront, showcasing a diverse collection of art from over 125 emerging and established local artists at 60+ participating businesses such as galleries, salons, restaurants, and home decor shops. Visitors of all ages can stroll through the historic neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill and Downtown Brooklyn to see the art of various mediums including paintings, drawings, three-dimensional art, mixed media, photography, live art and walking tours.
DUMBO Family Games | DUMBO
Opening Day: Sunday, May 11 | Sundays in May, June, September & October | 11am-1pm | FREE
On Sundays in May, June, September and October, join for free kids activities and a community hang on Washington Street between Water & Front Streets. Curated by the DUMBO BID x Brooklyn Bridge Parents and supported by Leaf Medical & Leaf Dental in DUMBO. This year’s DUMBO Family Games will kick off on May 11, Mother’s Day!
Montague Open Streets | Brooklyn Heights
Opening Day: May 11 | Sundays, May 4–June 29 | 12-5pm | FREE
Montague Open Streets returns for another exciting season on Sunday, May 11. Montague Street will be car-free from Clinton Street to Hicks Street for eight Sundays (except Sunday, May 26), running through Sunday, June 29. Mark your calendars for Brooklyn Bridge Parents’ Spring Fling on Sunday, May 18. The streets will be alive with 25 free kids activities and puppet show (1 pm). We will have games, arts & crafts, soccer, face painting, building activities and obstacle course, much more. RSVP here!
FAD Markets | DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill & Williamsburg
Select Saturdays & Sundays, 11am-6pm | Next up: NYCxDesign in Cobble Hill on May 17 & 18 | See full schedule here
FAD Market is back this spring, with pop-up markets at Empire Stores in DUMBO, the Center for Brooklyn History in Brooklyn Heights, St. Paul in Cobble Hill, and Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg. Check out their full lineup here!
Willowtown Annual Spring Fair | Brooklyn Heights
Saturday, May 17 | 12-5pm | FREE
The annual Willowtown spring fair will take place on Saturday, May 17 at Willow Place in Brooklyn Heights featuring face painters, bouncy house, bake sale, magic show, games and more.
Fabulous Fifth Avenue Fair | Park Slope
Sunday, May 18 | 10am-6pm | FREE
This annual street fair on 5th Avenue in Park Slope stretches between Sterling and 12th Street and features tons of local food, shopping, art, music and family-friendly fun!
BAM DanceAfrica Festival | Fort Greene & Brooklyn Bridge Park
Friday, May 23–Monday, May 26 | Performances at BAM start at $25
The nation’s largest festival dedicated to African diasporic dance and music returns to the stages and streets of Brooklyn for its 48th year on Memorial Day weekend. In 2025, the festival will feature traditional dance and music from Mozambique. Learn more here! The Festival will feature performances on BAM’s stage, plus an outdoor bazaar in Fort Greene, a free DanceAfrica Community Class in Brooklyn Bridge Park on May 24, and more.
Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade | Bay Ridge
Monday, May 26 | 11am
A Brooklyn tradition since 1867, the Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade is considered to be the oldest continuously run Memorial Day parade in a large city in the nation. Veterans, civic groups, schools, and marching bands parade along 3rd Avenue toward the Verrazzano Bridge ending with a service honoring Veterans.
DUMBO Drop | DUMBO
Friday, May 30 | Drops at 5pm & 7pm | DUMBO Archway Party 4-7pm | $25/person
The annual DUMBO Drop including the free Brooklyn Bridge Parents Kids Zone will take place on Friday, May 30, from 4 to 7pm. Watch elephants parachute into Dumbo—for a good cause! The event supports DUMBO’s PS 307 and The Dock Street School. Presale for locals is open, get your tickets for the elephant spectacle here!
Spring produce from Brooklyn Greenmarkets and CSAs
Spring produce, plants, and flowers are returning to Brooklyn Greenmarkets, and local CSAs are opening sign-ups for the 2025 season! Check out our full guide to CSA sign-ups in our Brooklyn neighborhoods.
Outdoor and rooftop dining
As the weather warms up, we can look forward to eating outdoors again! Check out our guides to family-friendly restaurants, top brunch spots, and date night restaurants in Brooklyn, many of which will be reopening patios, rooftop spaces, and more outdoor areas for dining.
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Updated: May 7, 2025. Main Image: Cherry Esplanade at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
