Event Rule: Daily

Grand Army Plaza Menorah Lighting

The Largest Menorah in Brooklyn has been towering over New York since 1985 and is a must on everyone’s calendar, Jews and non-Jews alike. Every night of Chanukah, thousands celebrate with the accompaniment of live music and hot latkes for all. Special gifts are distributed to every child. With the assistance of a 60-foot boom lift, Rabbi Shimon Hecht, accompanied by community leaders, philanthropists and special guests light this humongous Menorah. TLM is a leading symbol of Chanukah, publicly reaffirming the celebration of the Jewish community’s freedom, inspired by the Maccabean victory of right over might and light over darkness. The Menorah lighting celebration and concert are all free of charge.

Kickoff Concert & Lighting Celebration:

Sunday, December 18, 4 pm

Additional Lighting Celebrations:

December 19–22, 6 pm

December 23, 3:30 pm

December 24, 7:15 pm

December 25, 5:00 pm

View the full schedule.

Lunar Zoo Year: Year of the Rabbit

Visit Prospect Park Zoo in February to celebrate the festival of the new moon and animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Learn about rabbits, an animal found around the world, and learn about the Wildlife Conservation Society’s efforts to save wildlife worldwide.

Hop on over and enjoy the self guided online scavenger hunt and discover more about the wild world of rabbits.

Learn more about Lunar Zoo Year: Year of the Rabbit: 

c. Martin Seck

President’s Week Schoool Holiday in Prospect Park

Join Prospect Park Alliance on February 20–24 for family-friendly winter programs at the Prospect Park Audubon Center + Ice Skating at LeFrak Center at Lakeside!

Mid-Winter Recess

Nature Around Us, 12–3 pm: Enjoy different seasonal discovery stations and nature themed activities that will introduce you to the plants, insects and animals that call the park home. The Lake and Lullwater are home to many plants and animals. Help us to test the water quality and investigate pond samples that are filled with living organisms

Animal Encounter, 2–3 pm: Join Alliance Naturalists in learning more about the animals in the Audubon Center’s collection. This program starts promptly at 2 pm.

Winter Wilderness Walk, 3-4 pm: Join the Prospect Park Alliance and learn about the Great Backyard Bird Count and search for your favorite “Backyard Bird”. Find woodpeckers, chickadees, and nuthatches eating from feeders along Prospect Park’s nature trails.

Ice Skating at LeFrak Center at Lakeside

Visit LeFrak Center at Lakeside for winter fun during the school holiday for President’s Day! Stop by Sunday – Friday 9 am – 7 pm or Saturday 9 am – 9 pm for hours of winter fun on the ice.

Learn More + Book Tickets

Mulchfest 2023 in Prospect Park

Join Prospect Park Alliance on Saturday, January 7 and Sunday, January 8, for Mulchfest, an annual citywide event!

Bring your holiday tree to Prospect Park to be transformed into environment-friendly mulch that will help nourish the park. Plus, you can even take some home for your own use! Please make sure to remove all decorations from your trees.

Tree Drop-Off Locations: Lincoln Road + Ocean Avenue Entrance, 3rd Street Entrance, Park Circle Entrance. The trees will be collected by staff members and volunteers.

Chipping Locations: 3rd Street Entrance, Park Circle Entrance

Volunteers are needed to assist those bringing their trees for recycling by removing ornaments and distributing mulch. Register to volunteer today.

Learn more about Mulchfest and see citywide chipping locations on the NYC Parks Website.

The Need You Know It Is A Letting Light

BRIC and Prospect Park Alliance in partnership with NYC Parks’ Art in the Parks program present a new installation by Sarah E. Brook at the Lena Horne Bandshell at Prospect Park. The Need You Know It Is A Letting Light is a set of three abstract wooden sculptures and an accompanying mural that expand the artist’s exploration of communication between external and internal psychic space. This is the first time sculpture will be presented alongside a mural at the bandshell. 

The mural’s colors of red, yellow, and green are sourced from the natural beauty of Prospect Park, and both draws viewers in from the park and radiates out from the Bandshell and stage into the park, reflecting the function of a bandshell to expand voices. The repurposed wood sculptures respond to the mural’s colors, expressing warm-hued shadows that appear to be held within. The sculptures’ material communicate their singularity through wear – a crooked nail, an empty hole, a worn edge – and in their gentle leaning formation, the sculptures can be read as bodies supporting one another.

Learn more about Brook and The Need You Know It Is A Letting Light

c. Peter Colen

Winter Recess in Prospect Park

Make the most of winter break! Join Prospect Park Alliance for family friendly programming every day during winter recess from Tuesday, December 27 – Friday, December 30.

Nature Exploration, 12–4 pm

Nature Around Us, 12–3 pm:  Enjoy different seasonal discovery stations and nature themed activities that will introduce you to the plants, insects and animals that call the park home. The Lake and Lullwater are home to many plants and animals. Help us to test the water quality and investigate pond samples that are filled with living organisms.

Animal Encounter, 2–3 pm: Join Alliance Naturalists in learning more about the animals in the Audubon Center’s collection. This program starts promptly at 2 pm.

Family Bird Walk, 3–4 pm: Prospect Park is a stopping point for hundreds of bird species each year! Join us as we search for these amazing creatures and other nature around the park. Binoculars and bird guides are provided. This program departs from the Audubon Center promptly at 3 pm.

Family Holiday Bird Count

Join the Prospect Park Alliance for nature education programs at the Prospect Park Audubon Center, the first urban Audubon Center in the nation. Plus, join in on our Family Holiday Bird Count, where blooming naturalists of all ages can join a tradition more than 100 years in the making.

The Prospect Park Audubon Center Family Holiday  Bird Count is a homage to the nationwide bird census that helps conservation researchers track the long-term health of bird populations.

Counts leave promptly at 10:30 am, 11:30 am and 12:30 pm.

c. Jordan Rathkopf

Carousel Rides

Children’s Corner, $3 per ride, $13 for a book of 5 tickets, Free with Prospect Park Alliance Family Supporter membership or higher. 

Enjoy a ride on Prospect Park’s beloved 1912 Carousel. Open Thursdays – Sundays and Holidays, this treasured historic attraction features magnificent carved horses, lions, giraffes and deer.

Join the Alliance at the Family Supporter level or above and enjoy unlimited free rides!

c. Jordan Rathkopf

Carousel Rides

Children’s Corner, $3 per ride, $13 for a book of 5 tickets, Free with Prospect Park Alliance Family Supporter membership or higher. 

Enjoy a ride on Prospect Park’s beloved 1912 Carousel. Open Thursdays – Sundays and Holidays, this treasured historic attraction features magnificent carved horses, lions, giraffes and deer.

Join the Alliance at the Family Supporter level or above and enjoy unlimited free rides!

c. Jordan Rathkopf

University Open Air

Join Brooklyn Public Library in collaboration with Prospect Park Alliance for University Open Air, a free series of classes and workshops taught by professors, researchers, and academics who were trained outside of the U.S. Sessions will be offered on September 8, 10, 11, 15, 17 and 18.

University Open Air provides immigrant teachers, professors, and academics, who were trained outside of the U.S., an opportunity to share their knowledge with the public by welcoming students to enjoy free classes under the trees at Prospect Park.

Session topics + times vary. See Brooklyn Public Library’s website for details and registration:

Presented in collaboration with Brooklyn Public Library.

Classes will take place outside along the lawn surrounding the Boathouse in Prospect Park