September is here! We’re kicking off fall with so many free back-to-school and family-friendly events in our Brooklyn neighborhoods. Highlights this week include BRIC’s Back to School Family Day in Fort Greene, the ART360 Block Party in Clinton Hill, Governor Island’s Jazz by the Water concert, plus exciting outdoor events in DUMBO: the New York Transit Museum’s Bus Festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Six Foot Platform’s performance art program on Washington Street, and the Environmental Education Center’s 9th birthday party with kid-friendly activities. Also, catch some of the last outdoor movie screenings of the season!
Free Admission Days @ Pier 2 Roller Rink | Brooklyn Bridge Park
Sundays | 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.
Free School Supplies & Haircuts from Brooklyn Blends | Park Slope
Brooklyn Blends barbershop is hosting their annual give back event on 5th Avenue between Carroll and President. Stop by for backpacks, school supplies, and free haircuts for kids!
Tiny Storytime @ Books Are Magic | Cobble Hill & Brooklyn Heights
Tuesdays | 11am | 225 Smith Street in Cobble Hill
Thursdays | 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!
Comics with Mr. Nick at Red Hook Interim Library | Red Hook
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.
Ping-Pong with The Push in Brooklyn Commons Park | Downtown Brooklyn
Tuesday, September 3 | 4:30-6:30pm | Register here
DJ Mike Doelo and The Push are back for another series of popular ping-pong match ups. Registration necessary, and participants will be required to sign a waiver for each event in the series.
Free Admission at New York Aquarium | Coney Island
Wednesdays | 3-6pm | Reserve tickets here; free tickets are made available at 3pm the Monday before
Take advantage of free admission hours at the New York Aquarium in Coney Island, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. There’s so much to do while you’re in Coney Island; check out our guide to planning a day trip to Coney Island! Note that advance timed tickets are required; the Wednesday Afternoon Ticket Store will open on Monday at 3:00 pm for that Wednesday’s reservations. Do not come to the aquarium without a reserved ticket! There’s a maximum of 4 tickets per order.
Game On: Video Gaming at Brooklyn Heights Library | Brooklyn Heights
Join us for gaming in the Mezzanine just for teens! We will pull out of Switch and play games such as Super Smash Bros!
Salsa by the Water at Domino Park | Williamsburg
In collaboration with Nieves Dance Studio, join us every Wednesday night in September for live music, dancing, and salsa lessons! Opening night will be at the Fountain with Uptown Royalty. This event will be moving to the newly opened Domino Square for the rest of the series, with the same spectacular waterfront views and more space to move! All are welcome! If the Eventbrite is sold out, feel free to show up – there will be plenty of room!
Stroller Walk at Prospect Park Audubon Center | Prospect Park
Thursday, September 5 | 10am-12pm | RSVP here
Calling all parents and caregivers with children! Join a Prospect Park Alliance Naturalist at the Prospect Park Audubon Center for a leisurely stroll along Prospect Park’s waterways. Embrace the sound of streams and songs of birds. Enjoy fragrant flowers and explore the towering trees of Brooklyn’s Backyard. Please note that this walk leaves promptly at 10 am from the Prospect Park Audubon Center.
Saturday, September 7 & Sunday, September 8 | 10am-1pm
Join the Prospect Park Alliance for nature education programs at the Prospect Park Audubon Center, the first urban Audubon Center in the nation. Activities include:
- Leaf Art: Let’s have fun exploring the unique features of trees and their uniquely shaped leaves. Let your creativity flourish as you craft art inspired by nature.
- Animal Encounter: Join Alliance Naturalists in learning more about the animals in the Audubon Center’s collection.
- Tree ID Walk: Join us as we delve into the wonder of nature! Are you curious about why and when trees shed their leaves? Gain hands-on experience in citizen science as we explore the Prospect Park environment and witness how changing temperatures affect the trees. We will provide you with a guide to help you record your observations.
Lunchtime Music: Tascha at Willoughby Plaza | Downtown Brooklyn
Thursday, September 5 | 12-2pm
Thursdays in September, Brooklyn’s best musicians provide the perfect soundtrack for your summer afternoon! On September 5, immerse yourself in Tascha’s captivating universe, where she effortlessly navigates between moments of gentle vulnerability and powerful expressions. With a blend of rawness and harmonies, this talented French artist showcases her emotions with genuine authenticity. Describing her unique sound as Rooted Pop Music, Tascha beautifully merges her Caribbean heritage with R&B influences, creating a soulful and evocative musical journey that resonates with listeners on a deep level.
DJ on the Porch: R&B Classics at Lefferts Historic House | Prospect Park
Thursday, September 5 | 2-7pm
Join Prospect Park Alliance, DJ Vic Black of the Gangstarr Foundation and founder of Beats Rhythm & Lyrics and Brooklyn Badd Boy DJ T Groove for a day of R&B and House Classics in the Lefferts Historic House yard.
Visit Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s STEM Makerspace: Nature’s Engineers| Crown Heights
Thursdays | 2:30-4:30pm
Brooklyn Children’s Museum has a new natural science-inspired makerspace, and you can visit it for FREE during Amazon Free Hours on Thursday afternoons! Nature’s Engineers is designed for children to learn from nature and engage in hands-on STEM activities, fostering creativity and critical thinking. This month’s project is making a fossil! Join in September to analyze fossils from BCM’s collection. Visitors will practice describing, measuring, and comparing attributes of objects to understand what Earth was like thousands of years ago. Then, visitors will create their own fossil cast inspired by BCM’s collection of fossils!
Storytime in the Park | Fort Greene Park
Thursday, September 5 | 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.
First Meeting of LEGO Robotics League at Brooklyn Heights Library | Brooklyn Heights
If you are in between the ages of 9 to 18, join us in the Teen Gaming Room for the Brooklyn Heights Lego Robotics League. This is in preparation for the FIRST LEGO LEAGUE competition at the Central Library. More details here. Top three teams move to compete citywide! Learn how to build and code a lego robot while developing important teamwork skills. Registration required!
End of Summer Reading Karaoke at Brooklyn Heights Library | Brooklyn Heights
Thursday, September 5 | 6-7pm | Ages 13-18
Get ready to rock out and wrap up the summer with an epic teen karaoke party! Join us in the game room on Thursday, September 5th from 6 to 7 PM for an unforgettable evening of singing your favorite tunes! Don’t miss your chance to grab a FREE book and be part of the thrilling finale as we reveal the results of the Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake vote!
Free Basketball Clinic & Screening of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (PG, 2023) | Fort Greene Park
Thursday, September 5 | 5:30-7:30pm basketball clinic (RSVP here) | 8pm movie (RSVP here)
Join for the final Paramount+ Movie Night in Brooklyn this season hosted by Brooklyn Magazine, with a special basketball event before the screening. Join Brooklyn Basketball for a best-in-class clinic for ages 6-14 at Fort Greene Park before a showing of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Athletes will learn basketball fundamentals from our certified clinician staff. All participants will receive an exclusive Brooklyn Basketball t-shirt. At the movie screening, all RSVP holders will receive free popcorn!
Sunset Waterfront Walks | Brooklyn Bridge Park
Tuesday, September 3 | 6:30-8pm | Register here
Join our Docents for a free walking tour and learn more about Brooklyn Bridge Park’s history, design, and ecology. Tours last roughly 60-90 minutes, start from the entrance of Pier 1 and finish near Pier 3.
FAB Flicks: Sherlock Holmes (2009) in Jitu Weusi Plaza | Clinton Hill
Thursday, September 5 | 7:15–9:30pm | PG-13
From director Guy Ritchie comes a fresh take on the classic master detective Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, and Rachel McAdams. Renowned “consulting detective” Sherlock Holmes (Downey Jr.–Iron Man) has a reputation for solving the most complex mysteries. With the aid of his trusted ally Dr. John Watson (Law–The Aviator), Holmes is unequaled in his pursuit of criminals, relying on his singular powers of observation, his remarkable deductive skills — and the blunt force of his fists. But now a threat unlike anything Holmes has ever confronted threatens London … and it’s just the challenge he’s looking for.
Back to School Resource Fair at Sunset Park Library | Sunset Park
Friday, September 6 | 11am-2pm | Register here
Join us for our Back to School Resource Fair where we’ll be joined by community partners providing their services, support and giveaways. There will be a Seated Yoga class with Dancewave. Light refreshments will be provided. The event is open to all! Registration is recommended.
Kids Create: Art Nature Play at Brooklyn Heights Library | Brooklyn Heights
Join our volunteer artist, Lee, in our craft room, for an hour of fun and creativity! In this craft session, we work with material from nature to make beautiful and unique creations you can take home with you.
Vanderbilt Open Streets | Prospect Heights
Fridays, 5-10pm | Saturdays, 12-10pm | Sundays, 12-5pm | Through September
Vanderbilt Avenue’s Open Streets program features activities and performances for the community. Stay up to date on their Instagram to see what live music performances and other programming is coming this weekend! Highlights this weekend include:
- Saturday, September 7 | 12pm | Skate Everything @ Pacific Street
- Saturday, September 7 | 2pm | Bierwax Block Party @ Bierwax
- Saturday, September 7 | 3pm | L Train Brass between St. Marks and Prospect
- Sunday, September 8 | 2pm | Axiom Addicts between Pacific and Dean
First Friday Storytime at Books Are Magic | Cobble Hill
Friday, September 6 | 11am | RSVP here
Sounds at Sunset: PAAK Appreciation | Pier 3 Greenway Terrace | Brooklyn Bridge Park
Friday, September 6 | 7-9:30pm | RSVP here
Enjoy performances from local and international talent at our Sounds at Sunset concert series. Free music concerts take place on Fridays across the season organized by Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. Ease into the weekend with live music, and a beautiful sunset. Anderson devotees can hear songs, samples, and collaborations across Paak’s growing body of work (pre-Oxnard) with this DJ set and drum clinic, with producer and drummer Steve Mckie and DJ Res.
Films on the Green: Racetime (La Course des Tuques) (2018) at McGolrick Park | Greenpoint
Friday, September 6 | 7:30pm | PG | For ages 6+ | Registration recommended
Frankie-Four-Eyes and Zac, the new kid on the block, go head-to-head in a traditional sled race through the village. When Frankie loses miserably due to a fault with his supercar, he is convinced that his opponent has cheated and is determined to prove it. When Zac challenges him to a rematch with high stakes, Frankie must confront his pride and overcome betrayal to emerge victorious. In a race that goes beyond sleds and snow, Frankie learns the true meaning of going beyond oneself. Film dubbed in English. Recommended for ages 6+. Free and open to the public. Registration is recommended but not required.
Introduction to Birdwatching Outings | Prospect Park
Saturday, September 7 | 10am-12pm | Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult
Whether you’re just starting out or have already joined the birding ranks, this introductory outing is for you! Every Saturday, join Prospect Park Alliance and a member of the Brooklyn Bird Club on an introductory walk to learn the basics of birding and search for the dozens of species that visit Prospect Park through all seasons. All levels are welcome and walks will begin at the Prospect Park Audubon Center. No registration necessary. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Please bring binoculars if you have them.
Storytime with Susie Jaramillo: Thank You, Gracias at Books Are Magic | Brooklyn Heights
From the Emmy-nominated, award-winning bilingual preschool series Canticos, comes Thank You, Gracias, a lift-the-flap book with rhyming English and Spanish text. Sing and learn about what it means to give thanks, in both English and Spanish. Thank You, Gracias is full of bright, cheerful art featuring the Little Chickies and other favorite Canticos characters, and engaging lift-the-flaps. This board book is a great way to make learning and singing with your little ones special and unique in not one, but two languages.
Story Time with Britt Crow-Miller and Chris Baker at Greenlight Bookstore | Fort Greene
HealthJox health & sports program will start with 30-minutes of “self-discovery” with our mental health coach. The next 30-minutes will be dedicated to stretching and workout with our trainer. The next hour, the kids will start with basketball clinics and AirOdart Clinics with our coaches, each separated by age group: 12/13; 14/15; 16/17. During the final hour, we will have our Youth apply the skills that they’ve just learned during the official basketball games simultaneously. We will have fruit, water and healthy snacks for the kids as well as uniforms. This health & sports program will be help every Saturday until Saturday, September 28th.
Storytime at The Center for Fiction Bookstore | Fort Greene
Saturdays | 12pm
Join us every Saturday at noon for Story Time at The Center for Fiction Bookstore, where each week we read from some of our favorite books for young people! Led by our booksellers, this is a free community event open to people of all ages.
Free Kids Corner at Habana Outpost | Fort Greene
BRIC Family Day: Back to School! at BRIC | Fort Greene
Saturday, September 7 | 12-4pm
One more stop before you head back to your routine – BRIC Family Day: Back to School! This fun-filled event is designed to inspire creativity and excitement for the upcoming school year for your little ones, with lots of activities including notebook crafts, goal setting boards, coloring, friendship bracelets, photo booth, glassblowing demos, and scavenger hunt. Join them for a day of creativity, learning, and community as they celebrate the new school year!
ART360 CLINTON HILL: The Art of the Block Party | Jitu Weusi Plaza
Saturday, September 7 | 12-5pm | Full schedule of events here
Ain’t no party like a Brooklyn block party! We’re bringing summer vibes to our annual art-focused event by adding block party fun and games! Enjoy a Saturday packed with activities that may trigger memories of summers past: favorite card and table games, old-school tunes, and good times practicing hula hoop and double dutch moves! The FAB FULTON ART360 Block Party also offers plenty of opportunities to partake in family-friendly hands-on activities designed to bring out the inner artist in everyone. Whether you’re a budding street chalk artist, a creative future jewelry designer, an inspired painter, or a crafty DIY type, you’ll enjoy the interactive art stations and take a little something home to show off!
The Six Foot Platform on Car-Free Washington Street | DUMBO
Saturdays, 12-6pm | September 7 through October 12
The Six Foot Platform, an experimental art & performance program presenting work by Brooklyn-based artists on a 6×6 platform, is returning this fall to the intersection of Washington and Water Streets. This weekend, the season kicks off with Hisayasu Takashio’s Unconsciousness. Join Hisayasu Takashio for a meditative live wood carving musical exploration, bringing the natural world and the digital world together on Washington Street, where Dumbo meets the waterfront.
Brooklyn Bridge Park’s 9th Annual Ed Center Birthday | DUMBO
Saturday, September 7 | 1-5pm
Cue the confetti and cheer, it’s the Environmental Education Center’s 9th birthday and you’re invited to our annual bash! Head to the Ed Center for a day full of celebratory activities, crafts and all the feels needed to ensure the best birthday yet. In addition to exploring our unique educational exhibits and animals inside the Environmental Education Center, join us for the following outdoor activities:
- 2:00 PM: Nature Walk with NYC Parks Urban Park Rangers
- 3:00 PM: Storytime with Brooklyn Public Library at Pebble Beach
- 4:00 PM: Kid’s Bingo (with prizes!)
Urban Farm Tour | Governors Island
Saturday, September 7 | 2-3:30pm | Register hereDiscover a world of bees, compost, and organic gardening right in New York City! Join the Bee Conservancy, Earth Matter NY, and GrowNYC for a tour of the Urban Farm on Governors Island, and learn about each organization’s work. Tours take place on the first Saturday of every month from 2 – 3:30pm (weather permitting).
Free Botanical Printmaking for Tweens and Teens at The Meadow | DUMBO
Saturday, September 7 | 3-5pm | For tweens and teens | Register here
The Meadow DUMBO is a creative sanctuary in the heart of DUMBO offering Expressive Arts workshops and courses for families, teens, and tweens. We are offering a FREE BOTANICAL PRINTMAKING WORKSHOP for Brooklyn Teens and Tweens on Saturday, September 7. The free event is designed to introduce our expressive arts studio to teens and tweens in the community. Young people will learn to use the Gelli plate to make unique prints and collages with vibrant paints, botanicals, mark making tools, and collage materials. This is bound to be an afternoon of creativity and connection. Only twelve spots available, so register soon!
Fort Greene Jazz Festival | Fort Greene Park
Saturday, September 7 | 3-7pm
Get ready to listen to soulful sounds at the park with performances from The New City Swing Band and The Willie Martinez Quartet! TThe Fort Greene Park Jazz Festival began in July 2010, when musician Eric Frazier realized his long-standing dream to have a jazz festival in his own neighborhood park. It provides live jazz entertainment for families, neighborhoods, communities, and New Yorkers twice annually, typically in July and September each year. In the event of rain, the performers will shift to the Visitors Center porch.
Waterfront Walks | Brooklyn Bridge Park
Sunday, September 8 | 10:30am-12pm | Register here
Join our Docents for a free walking tour and learn more about Brooklyn Bridge Park’s history, design, and ecology. Tours last roughly 60-90 minutes, start from the entrance of Pier 1 and finish near Pier 3. Advance registration is required. Registration opens a month in advance of each date.
New York Transit Museum Bus Festival | Brooklyn Bridge Park
Sunday, September 8 | 10am-3:30pm | RSVP here
The New York Transit Museum’s beloved festival of vintage buses and surface vehicles returns September 8, 2024! Explore buses from our vintage fleet, representing more than 90 years of New York City surface transit history. Enjoy photo ops, meet some of the bus drivers who help keep our city moving, check out our pop-up shop, and take in the view of the Manhattan skyline from the Emily Roebling Plaza underneath the Brooklyn Bridge.
Brooklyn Pop-Up Market | Brooklyn Museum
Sunday, September 8 | 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 35 vendors offering artwork, jewelry, fashion, home and apothecary goods, and more. This event is free and takes place outdoors (rain location: Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion, 1st Floor).
DUMBO Family Games on Car-Free Washington Street | DUMBO
Sunday, September 8 | 11am-1pm | Washington Street from Front Street to Water Street
Join every Sunday on car-free Washington Street for free kids activities and a community hang! Curated by the DUMBO BID x Brooklyn Bridge Parents and supported by Leaf Medical & Leaf Dental in DUMBO.
Private Picassos Grand Opening Party | Clinton Hill
Sunday, September 8 | 11am-1pm
Help us celebrate the opening of our second location in Clinton Hill! We’ll have FREE Palette Painting for all ages. All of our regular Art Making Projects will also be available for purchase. You can also spin our prize wheel to win Day Passes, Birthday Parties, Classes and Camp Days! All info here.
MTV VMAs Block Party at Domino Park | Williamsburg
Sunday, September 8 | 12-5pm
MTV will host its second-annual “VMAs” Block Party will on Sunday, September 8th from 12PM – 5PM ET at Domino Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn to celebrate the upcoming 2024 “VMAs,” airing LIVE from New York’s UBS Arena on Wednesday, September 11th. The free, all-ages daytime festival is open to the public and curated especially for fans ahead of music’s most iconic night. Co-hosted by MTV’s Dometi Pongo and CBS New York’s Alecia Reid, the free, one-day festival will kick off the official countdown to music’s most iconic night. Fans of all ages can enjoy live performances from Jordan Adetunji, Knox and Lola Brooke along with an all-day DJ set from DJ CherishTheLuv at an outdoor stage on Williamsburg’s waterfront – plus a variety of interactive activities, games, free MTV swag station, food & beverages, Burger King Frozen Pink Lemonade Pop-Up, Doritos Extended Play Tent with signature chip flavors and VMAs ticket giveaway, Nickelodeon/Paramount+ Tales of TMNT Lair activation with photo ops and tattoos, a live MTV Topiary Moon Person installation commissioned by Mr. Flower Fantastic and more!
Open Studios: Fogo Azul | Brooklyn Bridge Park
Sunday, September 8 | 2-5pm
Fogo Azul returns to Brooklyn Bridge Park for an Open Studios performance, in partnership with Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. The New York City-based all-women, trans, and non-binary Brazilian Samba Reggae drum line among New York City’s best and most powerful performance group.
Sunday, September 8 | 3-9pm | RSVP here
Join Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy for diaspora sounds and delicious food selections curated by African Chop House. Ma Cherie and Jam Central (of Lovers Rock) and Mohogany will be spinning Studio One, Dancehall, afrobeats, and amapiano all afternoon. Enjoy food selections for sale, curated by African Chop House including Makina Cafe (Ethiopian) and Gold Coast. Beer, wine, soft drinks, and more for sale at our Bar by Fornino. Bring a blanket to relax on the lawn, and soak in the summer vibes. This event is free and all-ages; RSVP on our website to let us know you’re coming and get event updates!
Habana Outpost Movie Nights: The Jungle Book | Fort Greene
Sunday, September 8 | 8PM | PG
Every Sunday, Habana Outpost will be rolling out all-time favorites! Come and join us every Sunday at 8pm.
Updated: September 7, 2024. Main Image: New York Transit Museum Bus Festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
