Spring marks the return of Brooklyn’s outdoor festival season — and 2026 is shaping up to be a big one. From the Brooklyn Kite Festival to the Atlantic Antic, here’s your guide to the street fairs, cultural celebrations, and open-air events worth putting on the calendar this year.
We’ll keep updating this guide as new dates are confirmed — bookmark it and check back!
Spring
Brooklyn Flea
Saturdays + Sundays | DUMBO Archway | April–December | FREE
The beloved vintage and makers market is back under the Manhattan Bridge arch at 80 Pearl Street in DUMBO, running weekends through December. brooklynflea.com
Clinton Hill / Bed-Stuy: SaintJamesJoy Block Party
Saturday, April 25 | 1:30–7:30pm | Saint James Place between Gates Ave and Greene Ave | FREE
The beloved SaintJamesJoy block party celebrates its 6th anniversary with an afternoon of music, dance, and community on one of the most spirited blocks in the neighborhood. A Clinton Hill/Bed-Stuy institution.
Kimisis Theotokou Greek Festival
April 30 – May 3 | 224 18th Street, Park Slope | FREE admission
A weekend of authentic Greek food, live music, pastries, and family fun at the Kimisis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church in Park Slope. Soft opening Thursday, April 30; full festival runs Friday, May 1 (1–11pm), Saturday, May 2 (11am–11pm), and Sunday, May 3 (11am–6pm). Live Greek music Friday and Saturday nights, plus raffles, games, vendor booths, and plenty of baklava. For more info: 718-788-0152.
Park Slope Picnic
Saturday, May 2 | 12:30–2:30pm | 4th Street Plaza off 5th Avenue, Park Slope | FREE
Four Park Slope community organizations — The Old Stone House, Park Slope Parents, Park Slope Civic Council, and the 5th Avenue BID — are throwing a free neighborhood picnic on the Open Streets plaza off 5th Avenue. Bring your own food, drinks, plates, and utensils; tables and chairs are provided. Enjoy live music, meet your neighbors, and enter the dessert contest if you’re a baker. Rain date: canceled if it rains. Free tickets required — register on Eventbrite.
Church Avenue Street Fair
Sunday, May 3 | 12–6pm | Church Avenue from Argyle Road to Coney Island Avenue, Flatbush | FREE
Flatbush’s Church Avenue goes car-free for an afternoon of rides, live performances, free kids’ activities, and neighborhood vendors. A cheerful, family-friendly street fair in one of Brooklyn’s most underrated stretches. Register on Eventbrite.
DUMBO Dance Party
Monthly Fridays, May–October | 6–8pm | DUMBO Archway Plaza | FREE
Free outdoor dancing under the Manhattan Bridge arch — one of Brooklyn’s best free summer rituals. Register here.
Show Brooklyn Some Love Fest
Saturday, May 9 | 11am–2pm | City Point & Albee Square Plaza, Downtown Brooklyn | FREE
A Brooklyn Bridge Parents event! Brooklyn Org, City Point, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, Stardust Fund, and Brooklyn Bridge Parents return for the third annual Show Brooklyn Some Love Fest — a free family afternoon just in time for Mother’s Day. Make a custom bouquet at the Mother’s Day Flower Bar, visit the Brooklyn Museum on Wheels, try the bead bar, join an African dance workshop, dance to the DJ, and more. Indoors and outdoors, ages 1–10. Register on Eventbrite. See also our full guide to Mother’s Day in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn Museum on Wheels
May–October | Various Brooklyn Neighborhoods | FREE
The Brooklyn Museum’s Airstream-housed mobile arts initiative returns for its 2026 season — traveling to seven Brooklyn neighborhoods from May through October with hands-on art-making, cultural storytelling, games, and pieces from the museum’s teaching collection. Free and open to the public; activities are first come, first served. Brooklyn Bridge Parents is a partner on the season’s opening stop. Full info here.
- May 9 — Downtown Brooklyn: at Show Brooklyn Some Love Fest. Mother’s Day weekend programming with flower mandalas inspired by Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party, custom poetry, and a Brooklyn-themed photo booth.
- May 16 — Brooklyn Bridge Park: at the Kite Festival. Hands-on activities exploring flight, aerodynamics, and transformation, inspired by the museum’s upcoming Iris van Herpen exhibition.
- June 4 — Flatbush: at the Brooklyn-Queens Day Block Party, a celebration centering Caribbean identity, memory, and storytelling.
- June 14 — Fort Greene Park: at the Juneteenth Celebration with The Lay Out — a day of music, art, and cooperative economic programming honoring Black joy and community.
- July 25 — Coney Island: at City of Water Day. Coastal-themed activation with tactile encounters with marine materials from the Staten Island Museum.
- August 8 — Williamsburg: at ENVSN Fest, programming uplifting young women of color in entrepreneurship, innovation, and cultural leadership.
- September 27 — Atlantic Avenue: at Atlantic Antic / Playtopia, with manga-inspired programming threaded through one of Brooklyn’s biggest street fairs.
- October 24 — Kensington: at the Day of the Dead Parade, joining Casa Cultural’s community-led celebration of remembrance and ritual.
Atlantic Avenue ArtWalk
May 9–17 | 12–6pm | Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn Heights to waterfront | FREE
This 1.5-mile self-guided art tour along Atlantic Avenue features around 150 Brooklyn artists showing work in 70+ participating shops, restaurants, and galleries. A lovely spring afternoon out for families. atlanticave.org
Brooklyn Bridge Park Kite Festival
Saturday, May 16 | 11am–3pm | Pier 5 Soccer Fields, Brooklyn Bridge Park | FREE
The one day a year kite-flying is open to the public in Brooklyn Bridge Park! Watch your kite soar above the Manhattan skyline at this beloved spring kickoff. Decorate your own free kite (while supplies last), borrow one to fly, or bring your own. Enjoy live music, crafts, games, and activities from local partners — plus a celebration of the global origins of kite-flying from international community partners. brooklynbridgepark.org
Fort Greene Park Health Fest
Saturday, May 16 | 12 – 3 pm | Fort Greene Park
Join the Brooklyn Bridge Parents Kids Zone at the annual Fort Greene Park Health Fest on Saturday, May 16 from 12 to 3 pm with Lego building, crafts and games. Plus: Free music, healthy food tastings, blood pressure check-ups, yoga, health screenings, giveaways, raffles, children’s stories and more. RSVP here.
Willowtown Spring Fair
Saturday, May 16 | 12–5pm | Willow Place, Brooklyn Heights | FREE
One of Brooklyn Heights’ most charming neighborhood traditions — vendors, activities, and community on a beautiful tree-lined block.
The Longest Table Brooklyn Heights
Saturday, May 16 | 12:30–2:30pm | Remsen Street to the Promenade, Brooklyn Heights | FREE
A block-long communal potluck stretching down a car-free Remsen Street all the way to the Promenade — one of Brooklyn Heights’ most charming spring traditions. The Brooklyn Heights Association provides tables, chairs, and tablecloths; you bring food, plates, and silverware. Last year over 400 neighbors gathered for an afternoon of food, community, and connection. Registration opens May 1 at longesttablebkheights.org. See our impressions from last year.
Photoville Festival
May 16–30 | Brooklyn Bridge Park + all 5 boroughs | FREE
New York City’s favorite photo festival returns for its 15th year, with 85+ free outdoor exhibitions across the city. The free Opening Weekend Community Celebration takes place Saturday, May 16 (12–10pm) and Sunday, May 17 (12–8pm) at Emily Warren Roebling Plaza in Brooklyn Bridge Park — with two full days of family-friendly activities, including a photobooth, tintype portraits, arts and crafts with Creatively Wild, doggy “PAW-traits,” plus a Smorgasburg pop-up. Opening Night’s special program, Boroughs in Focus, runs Saturday May 16 from 7:30–9pm. photoville.nyc
Brooklyn Bridge Parents Spring Fling in Brooklyn Heights
Sunday, May 17 | 12–4pm | Montague Street, Brooklyn Heights | FREE
Brooklyn Bridge Parents’ own spring street fair is back on Montague Street. Free, family-friendly, and right in the neighborhood. Register here.
Fabulous Fifth Avenue Fair
Sunday, May 17 | 11am–6pm | Fifth Avenue, Park Slope | FREE
A Park Slope institution: vendors, food, music, and community stretching along Fifth Avenue. Free and open to all.
DanceAfrica at BAM
May 22–25 | Fort Greene | Tickets from $21 | Free outdoor bazaar Sat–Mon
North America’s largest festival of African dance and music, this year spotlighting the culture of Uganda, returns to BAM for Memorial Day weekend. Performances run May 22–25; the free outdoor African Bazaar — with food, crafts, and live performance — runs Saturday, May 23 through Monday, May 25. bam.org
Bay Ridge Memorial Day Parade
Monday, May 25 | 11am | Third Avenue, Bay Ridge | FREE
One of Brooklyn’s oldest and most beloved parades, marching down Third Avenue in Bay Ridge to honor the borough’s veterans.
DUMBO Drop
Friday, May 29 | Drops at 5pm & 7pm | Car-Free Washington Street, DUMBO | Ticketed ($18.75+)
The beloved DUMBO neighborhood party returns for its annual flying elephant spectacle! Thousands of parachuting toy elephants rain down from the rooftops surrounding Washington Street, Brooklyn’s most iconic block, in two drops at 5pm and 7pm. Tickets include a souvenir toy elephant, a guaranteed spot on the block between Front and Water Streets, and an entry into each Drop’s prize sweepstakes. Doors open at 3:30pm for the 5pm Drop and 6:00pm for the 7pm Drop. Extras include a live set by The Jelly on the Main Stage, a flash mob dance party, and a photobooth. All proceeds benefit DUMBO’s Title 1 public schools — PS307 and The Dock Street School. Get tickets on Eventbrite. More details at dumbo.nyc/dumbodrop.
Summer
Brooklyn Greek Festival
Monday, June 1 – Sunday, June 7 | Schermerhorn Street between Court Street and Boerum Place, Downtown Brooklyn/Brooklyn Heights | FREE admission
The Brooklyn Greek Festival returns for a full week of traditional Greek food, live music, folk dancing, and family activities. Hosted annually by the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral, this beloved outdoor street fair brings a taste of Greece to Downtown Brooklyn — think souvlaki, spanakopita, loukoumades, and plenty of baklava. See our photos from last year’s festival.
Family Dance Jam with Craft + Carry Pop-Up Pour
Friday, June 5 | 5–8pm | Abolitionist Place, 110 Willoughby Street, Downtown Brooklyn | FREE
A Brooklyn Bridge Parents event! Bring the whole family for an outdoor dance party with music and a lively neighborhood vibe, plus libations from Craft + Carry for those 21 and over. More details.
Kids Soccer Village and Watch Party
Wednesday, June 17 | 3:30–6pm | Brooklyn Commons Park, Downtown Brooklyn | FREE
A Brooklyn Bridge Parents event! Brooklyn Commons Park transforms into Downtown Brooklyn’s Soccer Village for the day. Enjoy soccer-themed crafts, goal-shooting activities, Duplo LEGO play, foosball tables, live screen printing, and more — plus catch the England vs. Croatia match. In partnership with Brooklyn Bridge Parents, Brooklyn FC, Fresh Grocer, and Dave & Buster’s. More details.
Coney Island Mermaid Parade
Saturday, June 20 | 1pm | Surf Avenue, Coney Island | FREE to watch
The 44th annual Mermaid Parade — Coney Island’s wildest and most colorful annual tradition — nearly didn’t happen this year, after organizers faced a funding shortfall following a costly fight against a casino development proposal. They made it, though — thanks in part to new funding announced by BP Reynoso! The procession steps off at 1pm at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue, rolls east, and ends at Steeplechase Plaza on the boardwalk around 4pm. Watching is free; there’s a fee to march. Arrive early for a good spot. coneyisland.com
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Giglio Feast
Mid-July (exact 2026 dates TBA) | Williamsburg — around Havemeyer Street & North 8th | FREE
One of Brooklyn’s most iconic and historic street festivals, the Giglio Feast has been held in Williamsburg every July since 1887. Centered around the stunning Dancing of the Giglio — a 70-foot, four-ton tower carried through the streets by over 100 men, with a live brass band playing from its base — the 12-day festival features carnival rides, games, Italian food, and nightly entertainment. Check olmcfeast.com for 2026 dates and schedule.
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!
July 18–August | Lena Horne Bandshell, Prospect Park | Mostly FREE; benefit concerts ticketed
New York’s longest-running free outdoor performing arts festival opens July 18 with a benefit concert headlined by Australian indie pop duo Royel Otis. Most performances throughout the summer are free; benefit shows require tickets. Bring a blanket and plan to picnic. bricartsmedia.org
West Indian American Day Carnival & Parade
Monday, September 7 | Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights | FREE
New York City’s largest cultural celebration and one of the biggest carnivals in the world. J’Ouvert — the pre-dawn parade of mud, oil, powder, and steel bands — begins at 4am. The main Labor Day parade steps off mid-morning along Eastern Parkway from Utica Avenue to Grand Army Plaza, with floats, dancers in elaborate costumes, soca, calypso, and reggae. Over a million people line the route. A full week of events leads up to the parade. wiadcacarnival.org
Fall
Brooklyn Bridge Parents Back-to-School Party
Sunday, September 13 | 12–4pm | Montague Street, Brooklyn Heights | FREE
A Brooklyn Bridge Parents event! Our annual Back-to-School Party returns to car-free Montague Street. Expect free kids’ activities, games, crafts, face painting, community vendors, and a kick-off for the new school year. Free and family-friendly — right in the neighborhood.
Brooklyn Book Festival Children’s Day
Saturday, September 26 | Downtown Brooklyn | FREE
Author readings, workshops, book signings and activities for kids and families, plus a children’s book market — part of the largest free literary festival in New York. brooklynbookfestival.org
Atlantic Antic
Sunday, September 27 | Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn Heights to Boerum Hill | FREE
One of Brooklyn’s biggest and oldest street fairs, stretching over 10 blocks of Atlantic Avenue through Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, and beyond. Local vendors, food, live music, and family activities. atlanticave.org
Know of a festival we missed? Let us know and we’ll add it to the guide!
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