There’s still a ton of family-friendly fun to soak up before summer winds down! Think outdoor movies under the stars, the annual Coney Island Sand Sculpting Competition, and a Back to School Bash at Atlantic Terminal complete with free water play and a live DJ. Our top picks this month also include the festive Summer Stroll in Bay Ridge, a vibrant Caribbean celebration at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Sneaker Con at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Koko NYC’s wild and wonderful South Slope Derby—and plenty more events to keep the whole crew entertained.
1. Family-friendly outdoor movies in Brooklyn
Grab a blanket and enjoy a free movie under the stars in one of our local parks! Here are our family-friendly picks for August:
- The Smurfs | Prospect Park | Wednesday, August 6 | Pre-film activities at 6pm; movie at sunset| PG | RSVP here
- The Wizard of Oz | Brooklyn Bridge Park | Wednesday, August 7 | Lawn opens at 6pm; movie at sunset | PG
- The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie | Coney Island Beach | Thursday, August 7 | Pre-film activities at 6pm; movie at sunset | PG | RSVP here
- The Great Dictator | Valentino Pier in Red Hook | Saturday, August 9 | Movie at sunset | G
- The Secret Life of Pets (Double Feature) | Domino Square in Williamsburg | Tuesday, August 12 | 4pm | PG
- Rent (Double Feature) | Domino Square in Williamsburg | Tuesday, August 12 | 7pm | PG-13
- Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | Prospect Park | Wednesday, August 13 | Pre-film activities at 6pm; movie at sunset| PG | RSVP here
- Loving Vincent | Coffey Park in Red Hook | Wednesday, August 13 | Movie at sunset | PG-13
- Clueless | Fort Greene Park | Thursday, August 14 | Pre-film activities at 6pm; movie at sunset | PG-13 | RSVP here
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade | Prospect Park | Wednesday, August 20 | Pre-film activities at 6pm; movie at sunset| PG-13 | RSVP here
- Hidden Figures | Brooklyn Bridge Park | Wednesday, August 21 | Lawn opens at 6pm; movie at sunset | PG
- TMNT: Mutant Mayem (Double Feature) | Domino Square in Williamsburg | Tuesday, August 26 | 4pm | PG
- Ocean’s 8 (Double Feature) | Domino Square in Williamsburg | Tuesday, August 26 | 7pm | PG-13
- Miss Congeniality | Prospect Park | Wednesday, August 27 | Pre-film activities at 6pm; movie at sunset| PG-13 | RSVP here
- Public Choice Night | Brooklyn Bridge Park | Wednesday, August 28 | Lawn opens at 6pm; movie at sunset | PG-13 | Vote for your favorite: Pretty in Pink (1986), Julie & Julia (2009), or Marie Antoinette (2006). Voting opens in early August on Brooklyn Bridge Park’s website. The winning film will be announced at the August 21 screening.
2. Summer Stroll Street Festival in Bay Ridge
Friday August 8 | 6-10pm | FREE | 68th Street to 82nd Street | Bay Ridge
This summer street festival in Bay Ridge transforms Third Avenue into a festive, car-free plaza on Friday evenings. Come to enjoy outdoor dining, live music, local shopping, and family-friendly activities.
3. Celebrate the Carribbean at Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Saturday, August 9 | 11am-5pm | $15 | Crown Heights
Celebrate Caribbean culture at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum with music, dance, and fun for all ages! Enjoy live steel drum performances, stilt walkers, interactive workshops, and more. Plus, shop local vendors and grab Caribbean bites at a pop-up fair. This festive event leads up to Crown Heights’ West Indian Day Parade on Labor Day.
4. Sneaker Con at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
Saturday, August 9 & Sunday, August 10 | 12-7pm | $32/day | Brooklyn Navy Yard
Sneaker Con comes to the Brooklyn Storehouse for the first time on August 9 & 10! Buy, sell, and trade with hundreds of vendors and thousands of sneaker fans. Find rare kicks, shop exclusive streetwear, vintage clothing, accessories, and more—all under one roof.
5. Back to School Community Bash at Atlantic Terminal Mall
Saturday, August 16 | 11am-1pm | Ages 0-12 | FREE | RSVP here | Downtown Brooklyn
Brooklyn Bridge Parents, Atlantic Terminal Mall, and Brooklyn Org are co-hosting a fun-filled day of crafts, games, water fun, basketball drills with NIKE, a live DJ and more for kids ages 1 to 10! Join us at Atlantic Terminal Mall Plaza and on car-free Fort Greene Place for free play, community, water fun, and back to school giveaways. The rain date will be Saturday, August 23.
6. Coney Island Sandsculpting Competition
Saturday, August 16 | 12-4pm | FREE | Coney Island
Join for the 33rd Annual Coney Island Sandsculpting Competition, where artists of all skill levels will create magnificent sculptures out of sand. There will be live entertainment, giveaways, and more! The competition will begin at 12pm, and winners will be announced at 4pm.
7. Hindu Lamp Ceremony in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Saturday, August 16 | 4:00-7:30pm | FREE | Brooklyn Bridge Park
Dance artist and educator Aeilushi Mistry will perform 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. Join to decorate palm leaf lamps and release them along the East River.
8. Koko NYC South Slope Derby
Saturday, August 23 | 12-3pm | FREE | South Slope
KoKo NYC presents the 18th annual South Slope Derby! The Derby is the culmination of KoKo NYC’s summer programming and features gravity-powered soap box racers made from recycled materials. Kids put their creations to the test in a race down 17th Street in South Slope, cheered on by spectators and a panel of esteemed judges. There will also be raffles, food vendors, and more family fun!
9. NYC Summer Streets on Eastern Parkway
Saturday, August 23 | 7am-3pm | FREE | Eastern Parkway from Grand Army Plaza to Buffalo Ave. | Prospect Heights & Crown Heights
Summer Streets takes place on select Saturdays between 7am and 3pm. 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.
10. Battle of Brooklyn Commemoration and Family Day at Green-Wood Cemetery
Sunday, August 24 | 10am-1pm | FREE | RSVP here | Greenwood Heights
Step back in time to August 1776 and experience the excitement of the Battle of Brooklyn, the largest battle of the Revolutionary War. It’ll be a fun-filled afternoon of activities for all ages that honor the bravery of those who fought in the battle and bring revolutionary New York to life.
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Updated: August 11, 2025. Main Image: Back to School Community Bash at Atlantic Terminal Mall in Downtown Brooklyn.
