Free kid-friendly events this week in Brooklyn (7/15-7/21)

This week is packed with family-friendly summer events in our neighborhoods. This week’s overview covers all the free activities happening this week, including the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast and Giglio Carnival in Williamsburg, a performance by the Sri Lankan Dance Academy of New York in Downtown Brooklyn, free youth skateboard lessons, story times, outdoor movies and much more.

OLMC Feast and Giglio Carnival | Williamsburg

Wednesday, July 10–Sunday, July 21 | Monday-Friday 6-11pm, Saturday 4pm-12am, Sunday 12pm-11pm

Since 1887, the Italian American community has been celebrating their faith, culture, and family traditions on the streets of Williamsburg. Each July, the streets are filled with revelers from near and far to take part in a centuries old tradition known as the Dancing of the Giglio. The streets surrounding the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel are transformed into a vibrant festival with rides, games, food vendors, and daily entertainment. Special events:

• Tuesday, July 16 | 10am: Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Mass
• Wednesday, July 15 | 7:30pm: Dancing of the Giglio Under the Stars
• Thursday, July 18 |  6:30-8pm: Children’s Giglio Lift
• Sunday, July 21 | 2pm: Old Timer’s Giglio Sunday

Free Admission Days @ Pier 2 Roller Rink | Brooklyn Bridge Park

Monday, July 15 & Friday, July 19 | 3:30-6:00pm

Sunday, July 21 | 10am-12pm

Pier 2 Roller Rink offers free admission hours on Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays. Roller skate with amazing views of the Brooklyn Bridge and lower Manhattan! Skate rental is $8 per person.

Movement Mondays: Samba Roots with Quenia Ribeiro at The Plaza @ 300 Ashland | Downtown Brooklyn

Monday, July 15 | 6-7pm | Register here

Work it out on The Plaza every Monday with this energetic and motivating dance series! First ten attendees to check-in with us at the tent can take home a free Downtown Brooklyn-branded bandana! The Queen of Samba, Quenia Ribeiro, introduces the various forms of Samba from Rio De Janeiro and Bahia. This series goes beyond dance and movement; it is an electrifying journey through rhythm and time!

Atlantic Terminal Move & Groove Mondays | Downtown Brooklyn

Monday, July 15 | 6:30-7:30pm

Get ready to dance your way into summer fitness with Move & Groove Mondays at Atlantic Terminal’s outdoor plaza! Join Atlantic Terminal every Monday for an exhilarating hour of free Zumba led by instructor Mike Gomez.

Serve at St. Ann’s Food Pantry at St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church | Brooklyn Heights

Tuesday, July 15 | 9:30-11:30am | Ages 10+ with a guardian, ages 13+ without a guardian | RSVP here

Each Tuesday, St. Ann & The Holy Trinity Church serves 100+ neighbors in need of fresh produce and other essentials. Over the summer months, they have fewer volunteers and could use some help! Tasks include setting up tables, organizing and greeting patrons, cleaning, breaking down boxes, and other assigned work. Volunteers must be responsible, reliable, eager to learn, and have a great attitude.

Tiny Storytime @ Books Are Magic | Cobble Hill & Brooklyn Heights

Tuesday, July 16 | 11am | 225 Smith Street in Cobble Hill

Thursday, July 18 | 11am | 122 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights

Join Book Are Magic for Tiny Storytime for ages 6-36 months, every Tuesday in Cobble Hill and Thursday in Brooklyn Heights!

Summer Lunchtime Jazz Concert: Ricardo Strobert Ensemble @ Columbus Park Plaza | Downtown Brooklyn

Tuesday, July 16 | 12-1:30pm

Enjoy your lunch outdoors with some of jazz’s celebrated musicians. Curated by the Jazz Foundation of America and in partnership with the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office. On July 16, Ricardo Strobert Ensemble takes the stage. Ricardo Strobert hails from Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights in Brooklyn, NY. He was originally inspired by both his mother, Esther, and his older brother, drummer Andrei Strobert, with whom he formed an early duo, with “Ricky” on alto saxophone and flute. Since then, he has taught music extensively, worked internationally with such notable artists as Roy Haynes, Mike Glick, Roy Campbell Jr, Marvin “Hannibal” Peterson and Eric Frazier, and performed with Kellis and Maceo Parker, Ed Stout, Gene Ghee, Chief Bey, Montego Joe, Radha Botofasina, Reggie Workman, Bob Cunningham, Anthony Jackson, Ken “Makanda” McIntyre and others, while the Strobert Brothers composed and produced three CDs of their own.

Shred Like a Champ at Golconda Skate Park | Downtown Brooklyn

Tuesday, July 16 | 1-4pm | Ages 6-16 | Register here

Team SES is hosting FREE youth skateboard lessons at Golconda Skate Park this summer thanks to funding provided by @NYCYouth! Week by week, we will go over all the styles and safety basics to get participants comfortable and confident on a skateboard and in a skate park. If your child needs a skateboard, we can provide a loaner each week. Please email the team for recommendations for gear for your skater: [email protected]. Registration is required. Additional forms will need to be completed on-site by a parent or caregiver. Skateboards will be provided for participants. Personal helmets are strongly encouraged (bike helmets are appropriate).

Comics with Mr. Nick at Red Hook Interim Library | Red Hook

Tuesday, July 16 | 3-4:30pm | Ages 10+

Come to the brand new Red Hook Interim Library on Van Brunt St. to learn something new or indulge your love of drawing this summer. You will be drawing and learning about art from Mr. Nick. Topics such as how to make comic books, cartoons, and graphic novels will be covered. Mr. Nick is a professional artist who has created and published his own series of comic books. Don’t miss out. Beginners are always welcome! All supplies will be provided.

Jack and Friends Summer Concert Series: Sunny Songsters at Park Slope Library Garden | Park Slope

Tuesday, July 16 | 4-4:45pm | Registration will open 24 hours in advance

We are continuing our Jack and Friends Summer concert series with Sunny Songsters. Soar to new heights with the Sunny Songsters! The original music of the Sunny Songsters will get everyone singing and connecting from the comfort of home. We bring children on an exciting musical voyage filled with instruments, scarves, bubbles, activity-based music and puppet play. Join us as we warm our vocals, train our ears, practice rhythms and explore various musical concepts that will get your child moving and grooving with us. This program will have registration that will open 24 hours before the program begins. In the case of inclement weather, the program will be moved to our auditorium and only those registered will be admitted entry.

Youth Basketball Clinic with King Hoops | Pier 2 @ Brooklyn Bridge Park

Tuesday, July 16 | 5-7pm | Ages 4-17 | Register here

Brooklyn Bridge Park is hosting free basketball clinics with King Hoops this summer for kids 4-17! Players may join for individual weeks or the full season. The first hour (5-6 PM) will be for beginner players who are brand new to the sport. Here they will teach the very basic fundamentals of the game, the rules of the game, and getting acclimated to having a ball in each player’s hands. The second hour (6 – 7 PM) is geared for advanced beginners to intermediate players who have played a little bit more basketball. Advanced registration and waivers are required. Registration opens a week ahead of each date. Learn more here!

Nature Storytime @ Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Environmental Education Center | DUMBO

Thursday, July 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! Walk-ups only; we do our utmost to accommodate as many walk-ups as space allows.

Storytime in the Park | Fort Greene Park

Thursday, July 18 | 4-4:45pm

Sing, read, and play with librarians from Brooklyn Public Library! Have fun hearing great picture books read aloud and playing with other children during this program featuring guest musical artists from Urban Stages. For children of all ages and their caregivers. Storytime in the Park will be located at the bottom of the monument stairs in Fort Greene Park’s northwest corner. In case of extreme heat or inclement weather, the program will be held at Walt Whitman Library. 

Bare Feet Downtown Brooklyn: Sri Lankan Dance Academy of NY with DJ Anjalo | Downtown Brooklyn

Thursday, July 18 | 6pm

Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi returns to Downtown Brooklyn for another cultural journey through music and dance. Seasoned pros and first-time dancers are all welcome to join on The Plaza’s dance floor for fun and exciting moves. The Sri Lankan Dance Academy of NY, based in Staten Island, shares the beautifully unique, traditional dances and music from the island nation – including a full Baila dance party led by the dancers with DJ Anjalo.

Summer Music Series: Bombayo at Bushwick Inlet Park | Williamsburg

Thursday, July 18 | 6:30-8pm

For the 4th summer FBIP brings music to the beautiful waterfront in Bushwick Inlet Park with our Summer Music in BIP 2024 series. Come take in a skyline river sunset on the 86 Kent shoreline esplanade while absorbing great musical vibes from multiple genres. BombaYo ignites the ancestral rhythms of Bomba, an African derived music and dance tradition developed in Puerto Rico. The synergy of call and response singing, drumming and dance provide the foundation for a dynamic interplay between the solo drummer and dancer. BombaYo stirs the soul in a way that only music and dance can to uplift and celebrate our deeper humanity. BombaYo creates an intergenerational and participatory experience that honors people of all ages and abilities.

Stargazing on Utica Ave. & Eastern Parkway | Crown Heights

Thursday, July 18 | 8-10pm

See the stars from Brooklyn! Join the Amateur Astronomers Association at Utica Ave & Eastern Parkway (just off the Utica Ave. train stop) for views of our moon, stars, and planets in the night sky.

Community Science Fishing | Brooklyn Bridge Park

Friday, July 19 | 4-6pm | RSVP here

Learn the basics of catch-and-release line fishing from the Brooklyn Bridge Conservancy’s own expert anglers. During this clinic, participants of all ages will learn how to tie knots, bait a hook, drop a line, and (with some luck) reel up a fish! Contribute to the Conservancy’s community science efforts as we collect data from our catch to assess the health of the East River. No experience or supplies needed – equipment is provided but please note only a limited rods are available to loan and will be handed out on a first come, first served basis. All ages are welcome at this free event! Registering in advance is not required but highly recommended to expedite your participation and to receive reminders and last minute cancellation information in the event there’s inclement weather.

Sheep Meet & Greet | Governors Island

Friday, July 19 | 5pm

Join Friends of Tivoli Lake Pre­serve and Farm and the Trust for Gov­er­nors Island’s hor­ti­cul­ture team for a spe­cial sheep meet and greet on Gov­er­nors Island. Head to Ham­mock Grove to learn about all that it takes to man­age a flock of sheep and con­trol inva­sive plant species through regen­er­a­tive land principles. Sketch­books and oth­er draw­ing mate­ri­als encour­aged for group art activ­i­ties with the flock! You’ll also have the oppor­tu­ni­ty to han­dle wool fresh from the farm (dona­tion-based). Please note: the South Island Park clos­es at 6pm dai­ly; this event will end prompt­ly at 6pm.

Myrtle Avenue Summer Nights | Clinton Hill

Friday, July 19 | 5-8pm

Myrtle Avenue Summer Nights are back! One Friday a month join us along the Avenue for free activities for kids and adults!  Many activities are centered in the Myrtle Avenue Plaza but enjoyment runs all along Myrtle Avenue.  The fun includes crafts, games, caricature drawing, tarot card reading, wine tastings, raffles, and a DJ playing a different decade of your favorite hits each night.

Performance by Rena Anakwe | Governors Island

Friday, July 19 & Saturday, July 20 | 7:30-8:30pm | RSVP here

Join artist Rena Anakwe for a free sonic performance presented by Governors Island Arts underneath the historic Liggett Hall archway on Governors Island, where she will share an untitled “work in progress” inspired by the element of Fire. Working with found poetry and scoring sound through poetic form, the artist will feature both electronic and analog instruments as well as voice. Presented as part of INTERVENTIONS, a site-responsive, multidisciplinary free annual performance series from Governors Island Arts that presents local, national, and international artists and invites audiences to experience work made and adapted for the outdoors.

FAB Fitness: Community Yoga | Fort Greene

Saturday, July 20 | 10am

Stretch out on the plazas with us this summer! Join FREE yoga sessions led by Shala Yoga and local Yogi Tiffany Ratliff on select days on Fowler Square Plaza (Fulton and Lafayette) and Gates Avenue Plaza (Fulton at Vanderbilt) in Fort Greene. All ages can join the Shala-led sessions, while the Gates Avenue Plaza events are for kids only. No pre-registration is necessary; simply arrive 10 minutes before start time and bring a mat, towel and water to stay hydrated outdoors! Save the dates for these classes:
7/29 – Kids’ Yoga at Gates Avenue Plaza, 10 am and 3 pm
8/10 – The Shala at Fowler Square Plaza, 10 am

Saturday, July 20 | 10-11am | Email [email protected] to RSVP

Kids’ Workshops: Kinetic Sandbox at Lowe’s | Gowanus

Saturday, July 20 | 10am-1pm | Ages 5-12

Dive into a world of sun, sand, and imagination with Lowe’s! Perfect for budding engineers and outdoor enthusiasts, kids can dig-in, design, and build their own kinetic sand playground. From towering castles to winding roads, the possibilities are endless! Not only will your mini-DIYer interact with fun STEM concepts; they’ll also develop important motor skills and sensory awareness as they manipulate the sand. Join us for a day of sandbox adventures where creativity knows no bounds! Bring your mini-DIYer into Lowe’s at one of the select time slots. Workshops hosted by one of our Red Vest experts are held from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., in-store only. We look forward to building with you and your little ones! Don’t forget – if you are unable to attend during your selected timeslot, your kit may be given away to Walk-Ins starting at 1:00 p.m., the day of the workshop.

Storytime w/ Stephen Savage: Rescue Cat at Books Are Magic | Brooklyn Heights

Saturday, July 20 | 11-11:30am | Ages 3-6 | RSVP here

From New York Times-bestselling creator Stephen Savage comes an adventurous picture book about a little cat with BIG ambitions. Life hasn’t always been easy for street cat, Butterscotch. But when she finds herself in a brand new home, full of warmth and love, she gathers the strength to be brave. One day, she sees a fellow cat facing a crocodile on the nature channel on TV, so she jumps through the screen to help. After all, she is… A rescue cat! This innovative picture book is an inspirational and classic tale about a brave, fearless cat who shares kindness and care.

Babywearing Dance Fitness Class at Adams Street Library | DUMBO

Saturday, July 20 | 11:30am-12:30pm | Ages 0-3 | Register here

Dance and sway to international rhythms & familiar tunes while you TORCH calories and CUDDLE your baby! This is a FUN, easy-to-follow, dance fitness class that parents can do with their little ones (birth-3 years old) while snuggled safely into a baby carrier. After dancing, join local parents to talk about parent life because it takes a village to raise our kids and the library wants to provide that space! Please consult with your doctor and be cleared for exercise before joining. Baby carriers with BUCKLES are a must. Wrap carriers are not permitted. 

NYC Poetry Family Reunion at Lefferts Historic House | Prospect Park

Saturday, July 20 | 3-9pm

Join Prospect Park Alliance, Empress Poetry & Essence Lamonde for performances and an open mic at the Lefferts Historic House. This event will bring together griots, poets, and wordsmiths from across the diaspora to honor important members of the Poetry community in NYC. We will also honor fallen members with a legendary tribute.

Backyard Blowout at Kadampa Meditation Center Brooklyn | Boerum Hill

Sunday, July 21 | 1-3pm

Join us for our third annual mid-summer party! In Buddhism, the Sangha — or community of practitioners — is a precious jewel. Spending time with friends at the center inspires us and encourages our inner development. Plus, it’s super fun! Please bring a vegetarian dish or zero-alcohol drink to share. Friends and family are more than welcome.

Soul Sundays at Atlantic Terminal Mall | Downtown Brooklyn

Sunday, July 21 | 1-4pm

Get ready to groove and vibe with Soul Sundays at Atlantic Terminal’s outdoor plaza! Join Atlantic Terminal for Soul Sundays with DJ Ace throughout the summer and celebrate the rich culture of old-school hip-hop in a lively outdoor setting. DJ Ace will be spinning the best of old-school hip hop, bringing those classic beats and rhythms that will have you moving and grooving all afternoon. Immerse yourself in the soulful sounds and infectious energy of hip-hop as you dance, relax, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of the plaza. This event is open to everyone! Bring your friends, family, and love for music to experience the ultimate summer Sunday sessions.