Go-to Brooklyn parent resources Macaroni KID Brooklyn NW and Brooklyn Bridge Parents have teamed up to bring you some of the best family events for Brooklyn families to take us through the second half of summer break with a range of August events from beach competitions to outdoor performances and annual community celebrations. Happy August!
1. Brooklyn Beach Sports Festival on Coney Island Beach
Saturday, August 3 | 10am-5pm | FREE | Coney Island
Kick off your flip-flops and come play at the beach – NYC Parks is partnering with the National Calisthenics Awards to host competitive and non-competitive activities. The schedule includes a Calisthenics Skills Exhibition and Competition (Youth and Seniors start at 10 AM, Adults start at 12 PM), Tug O’ War competition, Sand Pickleball, Cornhole, Flag Football Clinics, Obstacle Course, Morning Stretching and Relaxation, Music, Salsa, and Line Dancing. This event is FREE and open to individuals of all ages and abilities. Adults must accompany youth ages 17 and under.
2. Mark Morris Dance Group at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Saturday, August 3 | 2pm workshop, 3pm performance | FREE | Brooklyn Heights, Pier 1
Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG) presents a special, outdoor performance and an all-ages family-friendly workshop. The workshop begins at 2pm, where all ages and abilities are invited to dance with MMDG. It will be followed by their performance at 3pm. The repertoire will include Water, Words, and a new piece (unnamed). Words will be performed with live music by a pianist, who will also be providing musical interludes between pieces.
3. Bindlestiff Family Cirkus’ Flatbed Follies Summer Series
Friday, August 9 and Saturday, August 17 | 2pm and 5pm | FREE | Various locations
Bindlestiff Family Cirkus’ Flatbed Follies is an outdoor mobile venue that brings the performing arts into the streets. Developed in response to COVID, Flatbed Follies instantly became a vehicle offering joy and wonder to a recovering world. Performances take place upon innovative parade float stages modified to present circus acts. There is even a calliope wagon providing authentic circus music. Upcoming Brooklyn shows include:
- West 9th St Open Street in Red Hook – Friday, August 9 at 2pm
- Vanderbilt Open Streets in Prospect Heights – Friday, August 9 at 5pm
- Decatur Open Street, Stuyvesant Heights – Saturday, August 17, TBD time
- Kensington Plaza – Saturday, August 17, TBD time
4. The Brooklyn Dribble at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Saturday, August 10 | 10am-1pm | FREE | Brooklyn Heights, Pier 6 to Pier 2
Join The New York Liberty for The Brooklyn Dribble, where participants will dribble through a one-mile course. Each participant will display their dribbling skills with their very own exclusive NY Liberty basketball and t-shirt. The event kicks off at Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6 and concludes with a Fan Fest at Pier 2. Dribble participants receive complimentary access to the Fan Fest, with music, NY Liberty performances, photo booth, face painting and more. Don’t miss this unique opportunity for young basketball enthusiasts to showcase their skills and enjoy the festivities!
5. Hindu Lamp Ceremony in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Saturday, August 10 | 3-7:30pm | FREE
The Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy’s 12th annual Hindu Lamp Ceremony returns to Brooklyn Bridge Park. Dance artist and educator Aeilushi Mistry brings peace and harmony to the community as she performs the traditional Hindu Aarti ceremony at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s 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. Decorate palm leaf lamps and release them along the East River to make prayers and pay respects to loved ones. Guest artists will also present their work.
6. 32nd Annual Coney Island Sandsculpting Competition
Saturday, August 17 | 12pm-4pm | FREE
Bring your friends and family for a fun-filled day at the beach with live entertainment, giveaways, and more! Don’t miss out on the chance to see talented artists showcase their skills in this unique competition. Competition begins at 12pm and solo, adult group and family group winners will be announced at 4pm.
7. North Face Climb Festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Friday, August 23 and Saturday, August 24
Get ready for a celebration of climbng an culture wiht DJ sets, freestanding boulders and bouldering walls, panel discussions and competitions on a towering 55-foot wall with only deep water to break the climbers’ fall. Free at Pier 5 in Brooklyn Bridge Park – rain or shine.
8. Koko NYC South Slope Derby
Saturday, August 24 | 12-3pm | FREE | South Slope
For 17 years and counting, the Annual South Slope Derby has becoming a beloved celebration of creativity and innovation. The Derby is the culmination of KoKo NYC’s summer programming and features gravity-powered, kid-built soap box racers made from recycled materials. During week-long workshops, kids develop their building and engineering skills and express their natural ingenuity as they imagine and construct their sustainable cars. In the South Slope Derby, kids put their creations to the test in a race down 17th Street in South Slope, Brooklyn. Join the community to cheer them on! In addition to the races there are raffles, food vendors, and fun activities for the whole family to enjoy.
9. NYC Summer Streets on Eastern Parkway
Saturday, August 24 | 7am-3pm | FREE | Prospect Heights, Crown Heights
Summer Streets is an annual celebration of New York City’s most valuable public space – our streets. 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 or giveaways. Summer Streets provides space for healthy recreation and encourages New Yorkers to use more sustainable forms of transportation.
10. Brooklyn Junior Carnival at Brooklyn Museum
Saturday, August 31 | 8am-3pm | FREE | Prospect Heights
This annual event features the Junior Carnival Parade, live performances, Junior King & Queen, and Individual characters of the band. Public entrance is located on Eastern Parkway. The Junior Carnival Parade assembles at Kingston Avenue and St John’s Place, then continues on St. John’s Place, making a left on Franklin Avenue. Make a right on President Street and continue into Brooklyn Museum.
Bonus event across the river:
Seaport Kids x Summer Bash
Saturday, August 17 | 11am-1pm | FREE | Best for kids 0-10 | The Seaport
Summer crafts. Balloon twisting. Basketball entertainment. The sky’s the limit for imagination-fueled crafts at the upcoming Seaport Kids x Summer Bash. The Seaport is partnering with local family-event curators Mommy Poppins and Brooklyn Bridge Parents to bring neighborhood kids 2 hours of unleashed creativity and interactive fun. Bring bathing suits for water play, and your imagination for summer beach crafts and a LEGO table.
Basketball performance by 3 Time Guinness Record Holder Jack Ryan by will be held at 11:15am, 12:00pm, and 12:30pm. Optional free RSVP for the Fest here.
