There’s so much free family fun to be had in Brooklyn this summer, and this week is no exception. Mark your calendar for Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s Field Day in Brower Park, the final installment of DUMBO’s summer music and art series Live in the Archway, and the reopening of the LeFrak Center in Prospect Park, complete with roller skating, boating and—for the first time—pickleball. And don’t miss First Saturday at the Brooklyn Museum, the Summer Stroll street festival in Bay Ridge, Soul Summit in Fort Greene Park, and BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! in Prospect Park.
Mondays | 3:30-6:00pm
The Pier 2 Roller Rink in Brooklyn Bridge Park 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.
Mondays | 4-5pm | Ages 9-17 | Registration required
Learn to use advanced LEGO robotics sets while exploring STEM concepts and making new friends. Registration required!
Monday, July 28 | Movie at sunset | PG-13
Pacific Park is located on the central lawn between 595 Dean St and Chelsea Piers Fitness Prospect Heights (645 Dean St). Join every Monday in July for free outdoor movies!
Tuesdays | 10am
Hopalong Andrew’s weekly shows at Whole Foods are FREE! Make sure to double check in his Instagram the morning of to make sure class has not been cancelled for any reason.
Tuesday, July 29 | 11:00-11:30am | Ages 0-5
Come along with the JCC Brooklyn North Williamsburg for summer full of FREE fun activities for the kids! Join us for free music with Yonatan at Martha’s Bakery.
Tuesday, July 29 (Rescheduled from Tuesday, July 8) | 12:00-1:30pm
Enjoy your lunch outdoors with some of jazz’s most celebrated local musicians! This week, join for Boncellia Lewis and friends.
Tuesdays | 12:30-2:00pm | RSVP here
Our weekly postpartum support group offers a free, safe, and welcoming space for new parents, with emotional support, practical tips, and valuable resources to help navigate the physical and emotional journey after childbirth.
Wednesday, July 30 | 3:30-5:30pm
Drop by our outdoor plaza this summer to join our teen Museum Apprentices in an art-making activity. Each project will be inspired by works in the collection. Free and open to the public. Supplies are limited; first come, first served. Rain location: Education Center, 1st Floor.
Tuesday, July 29 | 4pm | PG
Join for a family-friendly screening in Domino Square: Elf, PG, 1 hour and 37 minutes. During the movie, A Rosie Day will present a craft: create “Buddy’s Breakfast Mural.” We’ll have tons of art supplies to bring Buddy’s favorite meal to life on a huge canvas.
Tuesday, July 29 | 4-5pm | Ages 9-13
Join us for Tween Tuesdays. Today we will be watching A Night At The Museum (2006, PG) while we hang out with our friends and stay out of the heat! Snacks will be provided!
Tuesday, July 29 | 4:30-5:15pm | Ages 5+
Let’s see what we can grow in Brooklyn! Plant seeds and watch them grow. Read stories, sing, craft, and tend our garden!
Tuesdays | 4:30-6:00pm
Bring your baby to Fontainhas for some cozy chai and hangs with other new moms. Hosted every week by the new mom pop-up POST.
Tuesday, July 29 | 5-7pm | Ages 14+ | Register here
Volunteers will help with invasive plant removal, litter pickup and mulching. Please note that start and end times for Sunset Series vary depending on the sunset.
Tuesdays in June & July | 5-7pm | Ages 4-17 | Register here
Kids ages 4-17 can join Brooklyn Bridge Park for free basketball clinics led by KING Hoops! Learn basketball basics as head coaches lead participants through drills and games. The first hour (5-6pm) will be for beginner players who are brand new to the sport. The second hour (6-7pm) will be for advanced beginners to intermediate players. Advanced registration and waivers are required, although walk-up registrations can be accommodated as space allows. Registration is by-the-week.
Tuesday, July 29 (Rescheduled from Tuesday, July 1) | 6-7pm | RSVP here
Cobble Hill Park will once again bring free, live music to the neighborhood on Tuesday evenings in July. Join for American blues, country, and jazz on Tuesday, July 29.
Tuesday, July 29 | 7–8pm
Free Summer Concerts return to Shore Park Shore Rd & 79th St in Bay Ridge every Tuesday in July and August, with the main band starting at 7pm and an opening act from School of Rock at 6pm! Join on July 29 for a Grateful Dead tribute. Check NIA’s Instagram and website for rain date announcements.
Wednesday, July 30 | 11am-1pm | For teens | Register here
Help remove invasive plants, maintain woodland trails and other forest restoration work to help Prospect Park thrive. All tools are provided + no experience is necessary. Earn service hours while helping to maintain the park!
Wednesday, July 30 | 1:30-2:30pm
For kids and families, Abolitionist Place becomes a giant playroom every Wednesday afternoon this summer! On July 23, join for Twirls and Swirls: Hula Hooping with RollerBoogie!
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. 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.
Wednesdays | 4-7pm
Join every Wednesday to participate in the Police Commissioner’s Day of Play! We will be at Shore Road Park (Shore Road and 79th Street) from 4-7pm every week. Activities include basketball, football, hula hoops, board games, and more.
Wednesdays | 5-7pm | Register here in advance!
Brooklyn Bridge Park’s free kayaking program runs on Wednesday and Thursday evenings (5-7pm), Saturdays (10am-4pm) with Family Days on Sundays (12-2:30pm) through August. All levels are welcome including first-time kayakers — life vests and all equipment provided, as well as instruction. Children under 18 must have an adult guardian present. Advance registration is required; make a reservation here. Do not walk-up without a reservation, as they will likely not be able to accommodate you!
Wednesday, July 30 | 5:30-7:30pm | Under 16 must be accompanied by an adult | Register here
Green Team volunteers complete tasks such as weeding, planting and mulching. Volunteers of all ages are welcome (under 16’s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian) and no volunteer orientation is required. No gardening experience is necessary; we provide all the instructions and tools needed for a rewarding experience!
Wednesday, July 30 | 6-8pm
Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi returns to Downtown Brooklyn on Wednesday evenings this July. Seasoned pros and first-time dancers are all welcome to join on The Plaza’s dance floor for fun and exciting moves. On July 30, join for Kwikstep, Rokafella, and Princess Lockerooo.
Wednesday, July 30 | Pre-film activities at 6pm; movie at sunset | PG-13 | RSVP here
Join for Paramount+ Movie Nights in Prospect Park. This week’s screening is Mean Girls, rated PG-13.
Wednesday, July 30 | 7-9pm | RSVP here
Open Sound is a free concert series with a concert every Wednesday evening in the summer. Join us Wednesday, July 30th to see Belle Shea.
Thursdays | 10-11am | Ages 5 and under | RSVP here
This nature program for ages 5 and under in Marsha P. Johnson State Park is FREE! Supplies are provided on a first come, first serve basis.
Thursdays | 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. This walk leaves promptly at 10am from the Prospect Park Audubon Center.
Thursday, July 31 | 10am-1pm | For teens and adults | RSVP here
Volunteers will assist in tasks such as invasive plant removal, trail maintenance, litter pick up, and other landscaping needs. The group meets at a different location every week. If you RSVP, you will receive a reminder email with the meeting location.
Thursdays | 11:00-11:45am
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.
Thursday, July 31 | 12-4pm | RSVP here
Join for nature education programs at the Prospect Park Audubon Center. Programs include pond water sampling, a close-up encounter with water-dwelling creatures like turtles and fish, and a nature walk along Brooklyn’s only lake.
Thursday, July 31 | 1:30-2:45pm | RSVP here
Join Prospect Park Alliance every Thursday afternoon for a wild trip to the Prospect Park Zoo! Each week, a zoo educator will introduce you and your little ones to one amazing animal, up close and personal. This program meets at the Prospect Park Boathouse promptly at 1:30 pm.
Thursdays | 2-5pm | Reserve here
Explore some of the museum’s most-loved exhibits, including toddler-favorite Totally Tots, the miniature shops of World Brooklyn, our NEST kids’ climber, and more. Then check out ColorLab, the family art studio located on the 2nd floor of the Museum, where artists of all ages can explore, make, and celebrate art. Plus, say hello to BCM’s live animals at Animal Encounters, which repeats twice, first from 3:00-3:20pm and again from 3:45-4:05 pm. It’s recommended that you reserve your tickets in advance online. Walk-ins always welcome.
Thursday, July 31 | 2-5pm
Join BCM for our second Field Day as part of our Summer Days of Play! Celebrate the summertime with fun and play in Brower Park! Check out our different activity stations to enjoy various field day games, parachute play, special craft activities, and more!
Thursday, July 31 | 3:00-3:30pm | Walk-ups only; first-come, first-served
Held on the third Thursday of every month (during Open Hours), librarians from the Adams Street Library lead for an exciting and engaging storytime session, along with singing and rhymes. Stick around after to check out all the animals and activities in the room during Open Hours!
Thursdays | 3-5pm
Visit the Environmental Education Center for Open Hours. Open Hours offer the opportunity for self-led investigation with guidance by expert educators to reveal the hidden stories found within and around Brooklyn Bridge Park. Explore our critter and fish tanks, a 10′ model of the Park, and enjoy custom arts, crafts, and reading materials which rotate on a monthly basis.
Thursday, July 31 | 3:30pm | Ages 0-5
Come along with the JCC Brooklyn North Williamsburg for summer full of FREE fun activities for the kids! Join for animal and bug crafts at McCarren Park, entrance on Bedford Avenue across from Automotive High School.
Thursday, July 31 | 3:30-5:00pm | Ages 5+
Summer Movie at Brooklyn Heights Library! This week’s movie: Luca (2021), rated PG. Run time: 1 hour and 35 minutes. No registration required; attendance limited by room capacity.
Thursday, July 31 | 4:00-4:30pm | Ages 3-8
At Sunset Park Library, come in your pajamas and enjoy an evening storytime for ages 3 to 8 years. With soothing songs and books to help your child wind down at the end of the day.
Thursdays | 5-7pm | Register here in advance!
All levels are welcome including first-time kayakers — life vests and all equipment provided, as well as instruction. Children under 18 must have an adult guardian present. Advance registration is required; make a reservation here. Do not walk-up without a reservation, as they will likely not be able to accommodate you!
Thursday, July 31 | Doors at 5pm | Music 6:00-7:30pm
Join for the final event in this summer music and art series in the Dumbo Archway. On stage will be Chicha Libre, and Chelsea Bonosky will been the Art Wall.
Thursday, July 31 | 6-8pm | All ages | RSVP here
In collaboration with Second City NYC, learn the basics of improv theatre and participate in improv games! All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Thursdays | 6-9pm
Join Nieves Latin Dance Studio outside Atlantic Terminal on Thursday nights for a live DJ spinning salsa, bachata & Latin beats and free dance lessons led by professional instructors from Nieves.
CANCELLED: Thursday, July 31 | Pre-film activities at 6pm; movie at sunset | PG-13 | RSVP here
Due to inclement weather, this screening has been cancelled.
Thursday, July 31 | 6:30pm
Join for the fifth annual music series on the waterfront of 86 Kent Avenue, Thursdays evenings in July at 6:30pm. All concerts are free! This week features Carol Sudhalter Quintet.
Thursday, July 31 | 7pm | PG | RSVP here
Come join us for a fun-filled evening at Brooklyn Cyclones! Grab your blankets and get ready for a night of movie magic under the stars.
Thursday, July 31 | 7pm | PG-13
Join for an outdoor movie and dessert in the backyard of Charlotte Patisserie!
Fridays | 9:30-10:30am
Every Friday, City League Coffee invites parents, grandparents, siblings, caregivers and their little ones to join us for a fun-filled exciting hour. Each week is designed to feature a different activity that fosters a sense of togetherness between neighbors.
Fridays, 9:30-10:30am | August 1 & 8 | Ages 0-4
This 4-week Mommy & Me summer series is for mom and little ones ages 0-4. Join story time in the park, and end with a picnic! All events are free and they’ll also be giveaways!
Visit the Environmental Education Center for Open Hours. Open Hours offer the opportunity for self-led investigation with guidance by expert educators to reveal the hidden stories found within and around Brooklyn Bridge Park. Explore our critter and fish tanks, a 10′ model of the Park, and enjoy custom arts, crafts, and reading materials which rotate on a monthly basis.
Fridays | 3:30-6:00pm
The Pier 2 Roller Rink in Brooklyn Bridge Park 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.
Fridays | 5-7pm
The Friends of Jackie Robinson Park Playground presents Free Friends’ Fest, a mini-festival with art activities, performances, double dutch, line dancing, fresh produce, and more in the park.
Friday, August 1 | Doors at 6pm | Show at 7pm
Join for BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!, New York City’s longest-running, free, outdoor performing arts festival. This week will feature Mireya Ramos and the Poor Choices, Talibah Safiya & Morley.
Friday, August 1 | 6-10pm | 82nd Street to Marine Avenue
Summer Stroll on Third Avenue is Bay Ridge’s beloved summer street festival, turning stretches of Third Avenue into a lively, car-free pedestrian plaza on select Friday evenings. Enjoy outdoor dining, live music, local shopping, and family-friendly activities.
Friday, August 1 | 8:30-11:00pm
Join the Amateur Astronomers Association at historic Floyd Bennett Field for free monthly observing sessions, open to the public!
Fridays | 9:45pm
Join us every Friday night from June 20th until August 29th for a spectacular show that lights up the Coney Island skyline.
Saturday, August 2 | 10am-12pm | RSVP here
Join us for a special seining session celebrating the Great Hudson River Fish Count! Discover the East River’s amazing biodiversity as our trained staff, volunteers and marine biologists use a seine net to humanely catch-and-release organisms, including fish, jellyfish, crabs, and more! All ages are welcome at this free event!
Saturdays | 10am-12pm
Come downstairs for weekly complimentary entertainment for your little ones to enjoy. There will be balloon twisting, magic shows, face painting, circus performers, and more. Located in front of Osteria and Showroom Bakehouse.
Saturday, August 2 | 10am-1pm
Join Prospect Park Alliance for nature education programs: discovery stations and activities, an encounter with animals in the Audubon Center’s collection, and a family nature walk.
Saturdays | 10am-4pm | Register here in advance!
All levels are welcome including first-time kayakers — life vests and all equipment provided, as well as instruction. Children under 18 must have an adult guardian present. Advance registration is required; make a reservation here. Do not walk-up without a reservation, as they will likely not be able to accommodate you!
Saturday, August 2 | 11am | RSVP here for the full schedule
Following renovations and with new operators in place, Prospect Park’s LeFrak Center is reopening with expanded offerings, including rollerskating, boating, and—for the first time—pickleball, starting the weekend of Saturday, August 2 & Sunday, August 3. RSVP to receive the full schedule of programs, including free rink admission for rollerskating, pickleball, yoga, and more.
Saturday, August 2 | 11:00-11:30am | RSVP here
From award-winning shoe designer Kat Maconie comes a rhyming tale about many critters and the numerous shoes they wear.This gorgeously witty picture book will delight and entertain readers of all ages.
Saturday, August 2 | 11:45am-1:00pm | Register here
Join the Governors Island Nature team for free guided tours, held the first Saturday of each month through October.
Saturdays | 12-10pm
Vanderbilt Open Streets offers free programs for the whole family on car-free streets in Prospect Heights! Stay tuned here to see this weekend’s lineup of family-friendly programming.
Saturday, August 2 | 12-1pm | Ages 5-13
Young Naturalists is a youth-led program for kids ages 5-13 to share and grow their knowledge about the world around them using Fort Greene Park as their open lab. With sessions ranging from bird identification and recycling minigames, to sharing all sorts of knowledge with one another, kids can expect to participate in hands-on activities and experiments and learn from their fellow Young Naturalists.
Saturday, August 2 | 1:00-2:30pm | Ages 5-10 | RSVP here
Award-winning author-illustrator Javaka Steptoe brings his powerful story of young Jean-Michel Basquiat to life in this interactive program. Participants will enjoy a reading of “Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat” and engage in discussion about art and self-expression. Children will create their own wearable paper crowns.
Saturdays | 1-5pm
Visit the Environmental Education Center for Open Hours. Open Hours offer the opportunity for self-led investigation with guidance by expert educators to reveal the hidden stories found within and around Brooklyn Bridge Park. Explore our critter and fish tanks, a 10′ model of the Park, and enjoy custom arts, crafts, and reading materials which rotate on a monthly basis.
Saturday, August 2 | 2-4pm | Ages 2-4 | RSVP here
Join The Character Lab at Carroll Park for a toddler play experience! Designed for ages 2–4, this free outdoor pop-up led by a teaching artist blends music, movement, storytelling, and pretend play to support early emotional development. The session will include music & movement, dress-up and make-believe, and more fun! Please bring water and sun protection.
Saturdays & Sundays | Performances at 2pm & 4pm
After presenting concerts for nearly 50 years in a floating concert hall at Pier 1, Bargemusic has relocated their chamber music concerts to the Boathouse at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 5. All concerts are free!
Saturday, August 2 | 5-7pm
Save the Date for a free Family Event Teak and Falu House in Greenpoint. There will be curated fun for kids, food and drink for the adults, plus raffles, giveaways, and more.
Saturday, August 2 | 5:00-9:30pm
Join for music, film, poetry, and comedy at August’s First Saturday. Celebrate artists from the Caribbean diaspora in the lead-up to Brooklyn’s West Indian Day Parade . This program is free; registration is required and includes Museum general admission.
Saturday, August 2 | Doors at 6pm | Show at 7pm
Join for BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!, New York City’s longest-running, free, outdoor performing arts festival. This week will feature Gogol Bordello, Puzzled Panther & Pons.
Sundays | 10am-12pm
The Pier 2 Roller Rink in Brooklyn Bridge Park 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.
Sunday, August 3 | 10am-1pm | For teens and adults
Help Prospect Park Alliance prepare the Lefferts Historic House yard and garden for upcoming exhibits and events. Volunteers will have the opportunity to remove invasive, unwanted wild growing plants, apply mulch to paths, and complete other landscaping tasks.
Sunday, August 3 | 11am | RSVP here for the full schedule
Following renovations and with new operators in place, Prospect Park’s LeFrak Center is reopening with expanded offerings, including rollerskating, boating, and—for the first time—pickleball, starting the weekend of Saturday, August 2 & Sunday, August 3. RSVP to receive the full schedule of programs, including free rink admission for rollerskating, pickleball, yoga, and more.
Sunday, August 3 | 11:00-11:30am | RSVP here
From Newbery Honor author Rajani LaRocca and critically acclaimed illustrator Abhi Alwar, an authentic celebration of friendship and finding your place in this back-to-school picture book and follow up to Summer Is for Cousins.
Sundays | 11am-2pm
Come downstairs for weekly complimentary entertainment for your little ones to enjoy. There will be balloon twisting, magic shows, face painting, circus performers, and more. Located in front of Osteria and Showroom Bakehouse.
Sundays | 12:00-2:30pm | Register here in advance!
All levels are welcome including first-time kayakers — life vests and all equipment provided, as well as instruction. Children under 18 must have an adult guardian present. Advance registration is required; make a reservation here. Do not walk-up without a reservation, as they will likely not be able to accommodate you!
Sunday, August 3 | 1:45-5:30pm
Join the Climate Imaginarium for a performance by Glass Clouds Ensemble, a chamber music collective centering nature and environment. Then, stick around after the concert for a solarpunk workshop.
Sunday, August 3 | 2:00-3:30pm | RSVP here
During the month of July, Greenlight Bookstore hosts “Find Waldo Local in Fort Greene,” an exciting month-long scavenger hunt to find Waldo in participating local businesses. Kids and families can search for Waldo and come back to Greenlight for prizes throughout the month. And on August 3, join us for a big Waldo-palooza in the store! Prizes will be given for those with the most Waldo sightings, and we’ll have refreshments, activities, and more.
Saturdays & Sundays | Performances at 2pm & 4pm
After presenting concerts for nearly 50 years in a floating concert hall at Pier 1, Bargemusic has relocated their chamber music concerts to the Boathouse at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 5. All concerts are free!
Sunday, August 3 | 3-8pm
Join the dance party this summer! The Soul Summit Music Festival is an event that takes place in Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn on Sunday afternoons in the summer. Always free and open to the public, the festival showcases artists of various backgrounds, including DJs, bands, dance companies, fashion designers, filmmakers and photographers.
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Updated: July 30, 2025. Main Image: Reopening of LeFrak Center in Prospect Park.
