Tag: Free

c. Obed Obwoge

Lefferts Springs into 2026

May 11, 2026

Prospect Park Alliance kicks off the 2026 Season at Lefferts Historic House with Shirley Chisholm Exhibit, Pinkster Celebration, Juneteenth Ogemdi Ude Dance Performance + Jamel Shabazz Book Talk

Celebrate Lenape, African American and Caribbean cultures with family-friendly events all season long at Lefferts Historic House Museum

BROOKLYN, May 11, 2026 — Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit organization that sustains Prospect Park, kicks off a full season of free, family-friendly programming at Lefferts Historic House museum, with the opening of The Shirley Chisholm Way: Brooklyn’s Blueprint for Change, a Pinkster celebration, a book talk with photographer Jamel Shabazz, an Ogemdi Ude contemporary dance performance with Danspace Project and more.

Operated by the Alliance in partnership with the Historic House Trust, the museum hosts exhibits, cultural programming and activities that explore the legacies of resistance and resilience of the Indigenous people of Lenapehoking, whose unceded ancestral lands the park and house rest upon, and Africans who were enslaved by the Lefferts family.

Learn more about the Lefferts Historic House spring season and RSVP: prospectpark.org/lefferts. 

The Shirley Chisholm Way: Brooklyn’s Blueprint for Change
Exhibit Opening: Thursday, May 14, 6-8 pm
On view through November 15
Free, RSVP: prospectpark.org/chisholmway
Presented by Prospect Park Alliance and Shirley Chisholm Cultural Institute (SCCI), this exhibit is organized around seven life lessons drawn from Chisholm’s tenacious career. It features stunning portraits of Chisholm by artist Al Johnson and rarely seen photographs and memorabilia from the Congresswoman’s campaigns, curated by Barbara Bullard, Creative Producer and President of SCCI. These materials offer inspirational insights into how Brooklyn’s beloved daughter broke down gender and racial barriers to become the first Black woman to serve in Congress. This exhibit provides visitors with a space to reflect on Chisholm’s legacy as Prospect Park Alliance welcomes the installation of a new monument in her honor at the Parkside and Ocean Avenue entrance in 2027.

“Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s unwavering advocacy in the face of immense prejudice is an inspiration to those in her home of Brooklyn and beyond,” said Morgan Monaco, President of Prospect Park Alliance. “We are honored to collaborate with Shirley Chisholm Cultural Institute on such an important part of our Lefferts programming. As we prepare for the installation of a monument to the Congresswoman at the Park’s southeast entrance, this exhibit ensures her legacy is passed on to future generations.”

“This exhibit is an opportunity for Brooklynites to take inspiration from the life and work of one of our most influential historical figures,” said Dylan Yeats, Ph.D., Alliance Director of Museum Programs and Operations. “Chisholm was resilient and strategic, channeling her ancestors’ sense of justice and tenacity to pursue it no matter the obstacle. This makes The Shirley Chisholm Way a perfect fit for display at Lefferts Historic House, where we seek to honor the heroism of generations of Indigenous and Black Booklynites so audiences can draw power from their legacies today.”

“As curator, I see The Shirley Chisholm Way as a call for Brooklyn and communities around the world to reflect on our shared responsibility to build a more just and compassionate society,” said Barbara Bullard, Creative Producer and President of the Shirley Chisholm Cultural Institute. “Shirley Chisholm’s fearless leadership reminds us that every voice and every lived experience strengthens our collective path forward. Icons like Congresswoman Chisholm create the blueprint for transformation. Our communities matter, their stories matter, and future generations everywhere will inherit this vision with renewed purpose; the enduring hope that we stand boldly in our truth and use it to drive meaningful change.”

The Shirley Chisholm Cultural Institute (SCCI) has been at the forefront of art, culture and justice and economic sustainability since 1977, with the official permission and participation of Congresswoman Chisholm herself in its inception and development.

Pinkster Celebration
Sunday, May 17, 2–5 pm
Free, RSVP: prospectpark.org/pinkster 
The Alliance welcomes Chief Baba Neil Clarke, the Pinkster Players and friends for a special celebration of this unique tradition, celebrated by Africans enslaved in Brooklyn for almost 200 years. Chief Baba Neil Clarke along with other cultural leaders revived this almost forgotten legacy as a way to commemorate the culture and history of Africans in New York. This family-friendly event features music, history, performances, storytelling, demonstrations, games and food related to this historic celebration.

Remembering the U.S. Colored Troops of Brooklyn
Monday, May 25, 2–5 pm
Free, RSVP: prospectpark.org/remembering-usct 
Join Prospect Park Alliance on Memorial Day to remember Black Brooklynites who fought to end slavery during the U.S. Civil War. Come listen to Frederick Douglass’ speech, “The Present and Future of the Colored Race in America,” which was first delivered at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in May 1863. Then hear a reading of the names of the men of color who followed Douglass’ call to volunteer to fight with the newly formed U.S. Colored Troops and learn about how their families’ commemorations of their heroism helped create Memorial Day.

Healing Through Art in the Park: A Conversation Between Jamel Shabazz and Richard Green
Sunday, May 31, 2–5 pm
Free, RSVP: prospectpark.org/shabazz-green
Join Prospect Park Alliance for a discussion about the power of art and the park to heal with acclaimed photographer Jamel Shabazz and community-leader Richard Green. Shabazz and Green’s friendship and presence at Drummer’s Grove inspired decades of incredible photography in the park, as captured in the recently published Prospect Park: Photographs of a Brooklyn Oasis, 1980-2025. Spanning 45 years of Jamel Shabazz’s photography in Prospect Park, this gorgeous and meditative volume captures the heart and soul of Brooklyn though one of its most cherished spaces. Shabazz and Green will discuss the book’s creation and reception, reflect on their own journeys and Brooklyn’s over the last 45 years and share their creative, personal and collective strategies for resilience.

Ogemdi Ude: MAJOR
Friday, June 19, 6 pm
Prospect Park Boathouse, Free, RSVP:
prospectpark.org/ogemdi-ude
This celebratory Juneteenth performance of MAJOR, Ogemdi Ude‘s dance project exploring the physicality, history and interiority of majorette dance, is a co-presentation between Danspace Project’s Platform 2026: Secret Gardens and Prospect Park Alliance’s ReImagine Lefferts initiative. Ude’s cast of all Black femme dancers and collaborators embraces majorettes as a form and fundamental relic of Black girlhood. A fierce investigation of physical memory, sexuality, sensuality, and community, MAJOR is a nuanced love letter to the folks who taught the team how to be proudly Black and proudly femme. The Chord Archive is showcased alongside performances, a physical and digital documentation of the creative process and personal historical accounts from former majorette dancers.

Also on View
Prospect Park Alliance also presents the following long-term installations at the museum:

Ancestral Whispers
Ancestral Whispers is a site-specific work by Prospect Park Alliance’s first Reimagine Lefferts Artist in Residence Adama Delphine Fawundu, which honors the heroism and lives of Africans enslaved by the Lefferts family. The installation features 25 screen-printed fabric banners that transform the house’s Flatbush Avenue facade, representing the 25 enslaved Africans discovered to date through original research and scholarship. Fawundu is a lifelong Brooklynite, photographer and visual artist whose work centers around themes of indigenization and ancestral memory, which earned her a 2024 Guggenheim Fellowship.

Eelunaapéewi Ehaptoonáakanal: Voices of Lunáapeew/Lenape
Prospect Park Alliance and the Éenda-Lŭnaapeewáhkiing Collective (EL Collective), which brings together Lunáapeew/Lenape communities who have been displaced across Turtle Island (North America), present an exhibit celebrating 400 years of Indigenous resilience in Brooklyn. The exhibit features video interviews with Lunáapeew/Lenape knowledge-keepers and culture bearers about their relationships to their ancestral homelands.

Operating Hours
Lefferts Historic House is open Saturdays, Sundays and public school holidays, from 12 pm to 5 pm, from May through June; Wednesdays through Sundays, from 12 pm to 6 pm, from July through Labor Day; and Saturdays, Sundays and public school holidays 12pm to 5pm from Labor Day through November 15. For more information, visit prospectpark.org/lefferts.

Prospect Park Alliance
Prospect Park Alliance is the non-profit organization that sustains, restores and advances Prospect Park, Brooklyn’s Backyard, in partnership with the City of New York. The Alliance provides critical staff and resources that keep the Park green and vibrant for the diverse communities that call Brooklyn home. Learn more at prospectpark.org.

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Media Contact:
Vahni Kurra, [email protected]

c. BRIC

BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Announces 2026 Lineup

May 7, 2026

Summer is just around the corner, which means it’s time to get ready for a season of music, dance and more at the Lena Horne Bandshell! The 2026 BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival, kicks off on Thursday, June 4 for a season of free concerts and benefit shows, presented in partnership with Prospect Park Alliance and NYC Parks.

Now in its 47th year, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! presents 15 free concerts and three benefit shows under the theme Radical Joy, a summer built around the idea that the full richness of New York City’s cultural life is here for everyone, free of charge, in the heart of Brooklyn.

“Prospect Park is Brooklyn’s melting pot and most loved gathering space, which makes our nearly 50 years of hosting BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! so incredible. What could be more perfect in these times than this year’s theme of Radical Joy. We look forward to welcoming all our communities to a summer of music, performance and joy.”

-Morgan Monaco, President, Prospect Park Alliance

“We live in a time of uncertainty, with lots of forces pulling people apart. Our response is Radical Joy. It’s the idea of choosing to come together as a community ‒ of neighbors, families, friends, strangers ‒ on a summer night in Brooklyn, around music, for free. That shared experience, of being with people who are all there for the same reason, is worth protecting. It’s a sense of belonging to something greater. That is what this festival is, the radical joy that comes from entering that space.”  

-Wes Jackson, President, BRIC

“Every show this season was built with intention to reflect the full range of who Brooklyn is and what moves us. We have fan favorites like Sheila E., Patti LaBelle, Liz Phair and Sleater-Kinney, themed nights that celebrate musical traditions, and artists on the verge of their next big moment. That range is deliberate. We want you to come for someone you love and leave having discovered someone new. Bring a blanket, bring your people, and join us for a night under the stars.”

-Saidah Blount, Executive Director, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!

“There are few joys in New York City as sweet as this time of year – when BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! returns. It’s a space for everyone: punks and classicists, indie fans, listeners of jazz, and lovers of reggae alike. With free performances all summer long, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! invites people from across the city to gather with friends and neighbors beneath the trees of Prospect Park and share in the art of our city.”

-New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani

Tickets are available for many of this season’s benefit shows, and the majority of the festival’s performances are free to the public. For more information, check out our BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! page, and for the full line-up, scroll down!

2026 Season Schedule

June 4 | Opening Night: Sheila E. | Leon Knight | DJ SpinnaJune 13 | Family Day: Antibalas | KidsRead with Kate Yamasaki | DJ Marc Bars

June 19 | Juneteenth: Infinity Song | Annie and the Caldwells | Victory Boyd | DJ Duane

June 20 | Wayne Wonder | Lila Iké | DJ Gravy

June 26 | Benefit Show: Patti LaBelle

July 10 | Habibi Festival at BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Featuring EMEL, Mai Elgizouli, Nesrine, Yacine Boulares and the Habibi Festival House Band, and Yalla! Party Project

July 11 | The Legal Aid Society Presents: Community Joy Day with Saint James Joy, Pahua, and Puppetmobile

July 18 | Royel Otis | Ax and the Hatchetmen

July 24 | Jazz at the Bandshell: Cindy Blackman Santana | The Patricia Brennan Septet | Lucía

July 25 | BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! at Brower Park with Black House Radio

July 31 | CARRTOONS & Hailé Supreme | Sofía Valdés | Julia Zivic

August 7 | globalFEST at BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! With DakhaBrakha, Yeison Landero, Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, and Sunju Park

August 8 | BRIC Celebrates Aaliyah: One in a Million

August 14 | Lyricist Lounge 35th Anniversary

August 15 | Americana Night: Yola | Dom Flemons and the Traveling Wildfires | Cleo Reed

August 21 | Sasha Velour’s NightGowns

August 28 | BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! and The Action Lab present: Common and Special Guests To Honor the Social Justice Legacy of Harry Belafonte

August 29 | Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso Presents: Dominican Night at the Bandshell

September 19 | Liz Phair & Sleater-Kinney | The Flannel and The Fury 2026

All shows take place at the Lena Horne Bandshell at Prospect Park, 141 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, NY 11215, with the exception of the pop-up show which takes place at Brower Park in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Benefit shows require tickets. Visit HERE to RSVP for shows (not mandatory), purchase tickets for benefit shows, and keep up with the latest BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! updates.

BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn Logo

Smorgasburg Announces New 2026 Vendors

March 24, 2026

As Prospect Park’s landscape wakes up for the season, so does its palate. A signature highlight of the spring, Smorgasburg kicks off its 16th season on Sunday, April 5, returning to its home on Breeze Hill every Sunday through October 25. Presented in partnership with Prospect Park Alliance, this year’s Smorgasburg lineup features over 70 new and returning local vendors. It is a place where emerging culinary talent meets iconic local favorites, and where global street food traditions thrive in the heart of Brooklyn. From Korean shaved ice to Mexico City–style tacos and Colombian asado, this year’s incoming class reflects the incredible culinary diversity of the city.

Nearly half of this year’s new arrivals are immigrant-founded or deeply rooted in multigenerational family recipes, each bringing personal stories and regional traditions to the park. Highlights include Garoso Colombian Bakery, which transforms South American classics like buñuelos rellenos into playful, street-ready bites, and Rogers Burgers, a Flatbush-based favorite that fuses American smash burgers with Caribbean flavors like pikliz and jerk. Visitors can also look forward to Madrina Vegana, an award-winning concept reimagining traditional Mexican comfort food through a modern plant-based lens, as well as the intensity of live-fire, global fusion barbecue from Humos BBQ NY. These are just a few of the many new flavors to explore this season. The full, mouth-watering lineup of new vendors coming to Prospect Park is below:

Ambo reimagines everyday Indian food through a fast-casual lens rooted in authenticity and precision. Known for its house-made spice blends and signature Biryani sauce, the concept delivers deeply layered flavors across customizable bowls and classic street foods. Built on quality and accessibility, Ambo brings traditional Indian cooking into a modern New York format.

Bingsoo is a New York–born Korean shaved ice concept serving ultra-fine, snow-like bingsu topped with fresh fruit and traditional flavors. Inspired by nostalgic Korean summers, the brand reintroduces Korea’s signature melt-in-your-mouth dessert with a fresh, modern energy.

Bom Bae channels the vibrant street food culture of Mumbai with nostalgic Indian flavors reimagined for New York City. From samosa chaat to an interactive pani puri experience assembled fresh and tailored to each guest, the concept blends authenticity, energy and bold flavor in every bite.

Brasa (Palenque Parrila) serves Colombian-style grilled meats prepared simply and traditionally. The menu includes a mix of beef, sausage and other grilled cuts, typically plated with potatoes and fresh sauces. The focus is on straightforward preparation and classic asado flavors.

Chenzi brings the comforting flavors of Fuzhounese street food to life with their signature potato balls: chewy, mochi-like dumplings filled with savory meat and crafted from a multigenerational family recipe. A beloved yet hard to find specialty from China’s Fujian province, these tender, hand formed bites deliver rich flavor and nostalgic warmth in a format made for exploring, sharing and savoring on the go.

Garoso reimagines Colombian comfort food as playful, elevated street bites. From buñuelos rellenos to Ajiaco and Bandeja Paisa sliders, the concept honors authentic flavors while presenting them in a fresh, inviting format that welcomes both nostalgic fans and first-time explorers.

Humos is a fusion BBQ concept founded by two brothers who channel the energy of festival culture into bold, fire-kissed grill bites. Cooked over live flame and designed to be easy to enjoy on the go, each bite delivers big flavor in a compact, modern format. With its focus on creativity, visual appeal, and freshly grilled intensity, Humos brings a dynamic take on contemporary barbecue.

Kolachi Rolls is an East Village–based Pakistani concept serving authentic paratha rolls inspired by the street food of Karachi. Filled with boldly spiced meats or plant-based options and wrapped in flaky fried paratha, each roll is paired with Karachi-style fries and house-made sauces that balance heat, richness and tang.

Madrina Vegana is an award-winning, chef-led and plant-based Mexican brand founded by Erica Munoz. Best known for its signature crispy tacos and boldly seasoned fillings, the concept honors traditional flavors while reimagining them through a modern vegan lens. Vibrant, culturally rooted and widely celebrated, Madrina Vegana proves plant-based comfort food can be both authentic and indulgent.

Pizzeria Fantastica is a Brooklyn-based, wood-fired Neapolitan pizzeria led by classically trained pizzaiolo Joseph Marazzo. Known for its long-fermented dough and perfectly charred crust, the brand has earned recognition as one of New York City’s top Neapolitan pizza destinations. With deep roots in traditional technique, Pizzeria Fantastica delivers authentic Italian craftsmanship in every pie.

Rogers Burgers is a Flatbush-based concept fusing American smash burgers with Caribbean flavors like pikliz, Creole spice, and jerk. Its signature Creole Burger has earned praise from The New York Times and Grub Street, helping establish the brand as a bold new voice in New York’s burger scene. Community-driven and flavor-forward, Rogers Burgers bridges Brooklyn comfort with island heat.

Secondz brings bold Southeast Asian and global flavors to life through oversized flaky puffs, bao buns and traditional cakes filled with richly spiced, thoughtfully crafted ingredients. Known for inventive flavors like Beef Rendang and Chili Crab, the brand pairs portability and visual appeal with a mission to honor and elevate diverse culinary traditions.

Tacos Taurinos delivers Mexico City–style tacos that are unapologetically authentic and thoughtfully crafted. Rooted in tradition and made by Mexicans passionate about sharing the depth of their cuisine, the concept reintroduces classic flavors with clarity, confidence and a refined, modern edge.

The Aborrajao brings Colombia’s beloved cheese-stuffed fried plantain to New York with a modern twist. Made with Colombian sweet plantains and finished with savory or sweet toppings, the concept celebrates Afro-Colombian roots while inviting a wide range of tastes to experience this iconic street food staple.

The Pupusas Spot brings the heart of El Salvador to every plate. From handmade, griddled-to-perfection Pupusas and savory Yuca con Chicharrón to hearty Pan con Pollo, every bite is bold, comforting and packed with authentic flavor!

The Purple Cup is a street food company focused on high-quality food made with ingredients from the Amazon. The gluten-free based menu offers flavorful, natural and unique options inspired by Brazilian culture, fusingAmazonian ingredients with modern street food to create a delicious and healthier food experience.

Learn more about Smorgasburg and plan your visit.

New Year’s Eve Fireworks in Prospect Park

November 6, 2025

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Prospect Park Alliance, in partnership with Brooklyn Org and the Brooklyn Public Library, will present Brooklyn’s most spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks celebration at Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Park. The event will include live entertainment by Quintessential Playlist who will perform live music at 10 pm before the fireworks begin. Enjoy this free beloved community event at Grand Army Plaza at midnight on Wednesday, December 31.

RSVP for New Year’s Eve Fireworks in Prospect Park: prospectpark.org/nye

This 45-year tradition of celebrating the new year in Prospect Park will include live entertainment by Quintessential Playlist starting at 10 pm. Fireworks will begin at midnight to light up the skies above Brooklyn’s Backyard.

“There’s no place better to ring in the new year than at Prospect Park,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Every year, neighbors from all over the city head to Grand Army Plaza to enjoy this time-honored Brooklyn tradition, and I couldn’t be more grateful to Prospect Park Alliance, Brooklyn Org, and Brooklyn Public Library for making the celebration possible. Bring your friends and family to welcome in 2026 and enjoy a spectacularly bright and colorful show!”

“Celebrating the New Year in Prospect Park is a beloved tradition, and we’re excited to welcome New Yorkers to Brooklyn’s Backyard to ring in 2026!” said NYC Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa. “We’re grateful to the team at the Prospect Park Alliance for hosting this cherished celebration and continuing the tradition of fireworks at midnight, and to Borough President Antonio Reynoso for his sponsorship and consistent support. We look forward to seeing you at the park to welcome the new year and celebrate another great year for Brooklyn!”

“New Year’s Eve in Prospect Park is a beloved, decades-long tradition and celebration near to the hearts of so many Brooklynites,” said Prospect Park Alliance President, Morgan Monaco. “We thank the Borough President, Brooklyn Org and the Brooklyn Public Library for their generous support of this spectacular event. It is a special moment for our Brooklyn community to gather together in Brooklyn’s Backyard and ring in the new year with vibrant local entertainment and a gorgeous fireworks display.”

“Nothing is more Brooklyn than ringing in the New Year with neighbors in Prospect Park,” said Dr. Jocelynne Rainey, President and CEO of Brooklyn Org. “We’re proud to join the Borough President, the Prospect Park Alliance and the Brooklyn Public Library to bring light and joy to the first moments of 2026 and celebrate another year living in the greatest borough on the planet.”

“Just like turning the pages of a new book, the ritual of turning the calendar to a new year is a moment filled with hope and possibility. We are excited to welcome in 2026 with our next-door neighbors in Prospect Park and wish all New Yorkers peace, prosperity and the joy of a great read,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library.

About Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso
Antonio Reynoso is Brooklyn’s 20th Borough President. A lifelong Brooklynite, he is the first Latino to hold the office in the borough and the first Dominican to be elected Borough President citywide. Previously, Borough President Reynoso served as City Council Representative for Council District 34, representing portions of Bushwick, and Williamsburg in Brooklyn, and Ridgewood, Queens. More about Borough President Reynoso and his vision for a Brooklyn for all at brooklynbp.nyc.gov.

About Prospect Park Alliance
Prospect Park Alliance is the non-profit organization that sustains, restores and advances Prospect Park, “Brooklyn’s Backyard,” in partnership with the City. The Alliance provides critical staff and resources that keep the Park green and vibrant for the diverse communities that call Brooklyn home. The Alliance cares for the woodlands and natural areas, restores the park’s buildings and landscapes, creates innovative park destinations, and provides free or low-cost volunteer, education and recreation programs.  Learn more at prospectpark.org.  

About Brooklyn Org

Brooklyn Org is a champion for Brooklyn — your partner and platform for local giving where everyone has a part to play in creating change from the ground up. Since 2009, we have moved over $130 million to nonprofits in partnership with generous Brooklynites, through our community-powered grantmaking and Donor Advised Funds. Our network of changemakers — Brooklynites, Brooklyn backers, businesses, and broader believers in equity and justice — is powered by a shared vision of making our borough a beacon for the world. See what’s possible when Brooklyn Backs Brooklyn at brooklyn.org. 

About Brooklyn Public Library

Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. Providing innovative library service for over 125 years, we support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.6 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. We are a global leader in the fight for the freedom to read through our Books Unbanned initiative, offering teens across the US access to the library’s online catalog. We provide nearly 65,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators—from around the corner and around the world. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book.

Celebrate Halloween + Kick Off Ice Skating Season at Lakeside

October 14, 2025

Prospect Park Alliance kicks off the new season at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside with a Fall Harvest Festival and Halloween Celebration on the weekends of Friday, October 24, through Sunday, October 26, and Friday, October 31, through Sunday, November 2, 2025. On November 1 through November 2, also enjoy the first skate of the season with free skate admission, free skating mini lessons, as well as hockey, stick n’puck, and figure skating sessions! 

Join us for our Harvest Fest + Halloween Ice Skating Celebration! Learn More + RSVP: prospectpark.org/harvest. 

After serving the community for more than a decade, this year Prospect Park Alliance relaunched the Center after extensive renovations and with new operators in place for the rinks and the cafe, Ekstein Development Group and Purslane. Ekstein is the operator of beloved city rinks including City Ice Pavilion and World Ice Arena in Queens. Purslane, part of the Oberon Group, is known for their thoughtful, seasonal food, and also partners with the Alliance at the historic Prospect Park Boathouse, where it operates the Purslane Cafe. 

The LeFrak Center at Lakeside is Brooklyn’s premier skating destination, with 30,000 square feet of pristine skating surface on connected covered and open-air rinks, with scenic views of the 60-acre Prospect Park Lake. Enjoy time on the ice with new skate programs and a fleet of hundreds of new skates. Duck Island Cafe & Bar keeps you warm with seasonal beverages including hot chocolate, hot cider and a local favorite, hot Hibiscus Brew from popular Flatbush-based cafe, Hibiscus Brew. Plus, don’t miss new rinkside classics including chili hotdogs and sheet pan pizza.

Harvest Festival + First Skate Weekend

Enjoy two weekends of Fall and Halloween fun, plus the start of the ice skating season, with a pumpkin patch and pumpkin painting, as well as Halloween costume contests, arts and crafts, face painting, and on November 1 + 2, free admission to our skating rinks with special clinics and classes for figure skating, hockey, stick n’puck, and much more! Visit prospectpark.org/harvest to learn more and RSVP.

Pre-registration is required for all skating activities aside from Public Skate. 

Ice Skating Season at Lakeside

Plus, enjoy a full season of ice skating with daily skate sessions, and lessons and leagues for all ages and skill levels. Visit prospectpark.org/lakeside for more information and to register today!

  • Public Skating – Come skate with us! Enjoy skating on our covered and open air rinks daily.
  • Learn to Skate – With three semesters to choose from and classes for all ages, everyone is a skater at Lakeside!
  • Youth Hockey Programs – Have you ever wanted to learn to play from the NY Rangers and the NY Islanders? Well now you can with the NY Rangers Rookie League and the NY Islanders Learn to Play at Lakeside!
  • Adult Hockey Leagues & Pick-Up – From Open Hockey, Stick N’ Puck, Learn to Play, Women’s leagues and more we have everything a player could need.
  • Figure Skating Freestyle Sessions – Ice time for experienced skaters of all ages at pre-free skate level or higher. Work on your jumps, spins, and routines with your couch or on your own! Check out our schedule.
  • Birthday Parties & Private Rentals – Celebrate your party the Lakeside way, from parties, galas and corporate events and more we have everything you need to bring your vision to life. Check out our party packages or contact us at [email protected].
  • Duck Island Café – Hot chocolate, snacks, and cozy comfort food all season long.

Prospect Park Fall Checklist

October 13, 2025

Fall has arrived in Prospect Park, and just around the corner is a vibrant display of red, orange, and yellow foliage. As the air turns crisp, Prospect Park Alliance has plenty of ideas for how you can celebrate the season in Brooklyn’s Backyard. 

Did you know the park is home to 30,000 trees and miles of woodland trails? Take a Fall foliage walk to truly enjoy the season. Also try your hand in birdwatching as hundreds of thousands of birds will pass through the area on their way south for the winter during fall migration.

Here’s your guide to experiencing the best of fall in our beloved park:

  1. Fall Foliage Walks

Check out Prospect Park Alliance’s favorite walking route for fall foliage destinations this autumn. From vibrant vistas at the Peninsula, colorful hues on Lookout Hill, tall maples and London Planes along the Nethermead and Lullwater, and much more. Don’t miss the peak of fall foliage right around the corner, near the end of October!

  1. Soar Into Fall Migration Season

Fall bird migration is in full swing, and Prospect Park is the place to be. Located along the Atlantic Flyway, Prospect Park is a haven for birds in all seasons, with 200+ species of resident and migratory birds. Autumn is an especially notable time for bird sightings as countless feathered friends embark on their lengthy journey to warmer climates. The park is a crucial rest stop for these species providing a critical haven for migratory birds to fuel up on seeds, berries and insects and find valuable protection as they venture south. Join the Brooklyn Bird Club and Prospect Park Alliance for Prospect Park Fall Migration Walks on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in October.

  1. Volunteer in the Park: Park Pitch-Ins, Fall Fix Ups + Junior Volunteer Corps

Free, RSVP Required

Fall also presents an amazing time to deepen your commitment to Brooklyn’s Backyard by becoming a volunteer. From Park Pitch-in, Fall Fix Up and Junior Volunteer Corps events, the Alliance offers opportunities for all ages to get involved, stay active and enjoy lending a hand in the park during peak fall foliage season.

  1. Explore Nature at the Prospect Park Audubon Center

Learn more about nature with your little ones during free fall nature activities at the Audubon Center at the Boathouse Saturdays and Sundays through November. Make art out of fallen leaves, introduce your child to animals in the Audubon Center’s collection and explore on a fall nature walk to learn more about how the park’s insect and plant life prepare for seasonal changes. Plus, enjoy Friday Wellness Walks starting from the Boathouse and strolling through fall park beauty including scenic trails along the Lullwater, Peninsula, Midwood or Waterfall. Want to bring your little, little ones along? Join for Stroller Walks past park waterways and through fall foliage on Thursdays through November.

  1. Enjoy Fall Carousel Rides

Take an autumn ride on Prospect Park’s beloved 1912 Carousel. Open Thursdays–Sundays, and holidays, 12–5 pm through November, this treasured historic attraction features magnificent carved horses, lions, giraffes and deer. You won’t want to miss the final weeks of Carousel fun. Plus, don’t be scared when you see the Carousel haunted on October 25, 26 and 30 + 31! Take a spin on the spooky ride to your favorite Halloween jams at the beloved, magical landmark in the Children’s Corner. 

  1. Explore Scenic Nature Trails

Did you know that Prospect Park is home to Brooklyn’s last remaining upland forest? These 250 acres of scenic, natural areas include Brooklyn’s last remaining upland forest and countless species of native plants and wildlife. The Alliance’s formal trail system features five routes through the heart of our forest, each with scenic viewpoints. Staying on these paved, wood-chipped, gravel and log-lined routes while exploring the park’s woodlands helps ensure that Brooklyn’s Backyard, including fragile wildlife habitats and native plants can continue to thrive. Make the most of your time in Brooklyn’s Backyard by visiting Fallkill Trail, Lullwater Trail, Peninsula Trail, Midwood Loop and Ravine Loop.

Halloween Fun in Prospect Park

Prospect Park Alliance is gearing up for Halloween fun in Brooklyn’s Backyard with Creepy Crawly Halloween at the Audubon Center and the Haunted Carousel at the beloved historic Carousel! Make the most of the season and don’t miss these fun filled festive events.

Harvest Fest + First Skate Weekend at Lakeside
Friday–Sunday, Oct 24–26 + Oct 31–Nov 2, Free, RSVP!
Registration is Required for all activities except public skate

Fall is here at Lakeside and to celebrate we’re hosting two weekends of fun with our first annual Harvest Festival kicking off October 24 and our first weekend of skating starting November 1! Grab your sweaters, your friends and your family. Enjoy pumpkin picking in our Lakeside pumpkin patch, decorate your very own jack-o-lantern, join free skating, face painting and dress to impress for our costume contests for kids and your puppy companions! Enjoy the crisp autumn air, sip on a seasonal warm drink from Duck Island Café, including hot chocolate, hot cider and local favorite, hot Hibiscus Brew, or grab a bite from a menu of rinkside classics including chili hotdogs and sheet pan pizza. Soak in the festive atmosphere surrounded by pumpkins, costumes, and the magic of the first skate of the season.

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Creepy Crawly Halloween
Saturday, October 25, 10 am-1 pm
Prospect Park Audubon Center

Take a second look at the creatures that give you the creeps, you may find you like them! Participate in fun activities and experiments that will make your spine tingle at Prospect Park Alliance’s Creepy Crawly Halloween.
Owl Pellet Dissection, 10 am-1 pm
Participants will have the opportunity to pick apart owl pellets, masses of undigested parts of food that owl species occasionally regurgitate!
Nature Chef’s Surprise, 11 am – 12 pm
Our nature chef has some tasty treats for you to try that are delicious, nutritious, and crunchy!  Take a nibble and earn a special certificate and boasting button.  Learn how this mystery treat is a sustainable alternative protein source filled with nutritional benefits.
Creepy Crawly Walk, 12-1 pm
Join the Creepy Crawly walk to search for Prospect Park’s creepy residents and explore the park.

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Haunted Carousel
Saturday, October 25 – Sunday, October 26 + Thursday, October 30 + Friday October 31, 12–5 pm
Prospect Park Carousel, $3 per ride; $13 for a book of 5 tickets; Free with Prospect Park Alliance Family Supporter membership or higher.

Don’t be scared when you see the haunted carousel! Take a spin on the spooky ride to your favorite Halloween jams at the beloved Prospect Park Carousel.

Join the Alliance at the Family Supporter  level and your family (up to 4 people) will receive unlimited rides on the Carousel for a full year!

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Spookysburg
Smorgasburg at Prospect Park, Free
Sunday, October 26, 11 am – 6 pm

Enjoy the last Smorgasburg of the season at Breeze Hill in Prospect Park! Enjoy your favorite local food purveyors alongisde a festive prize boo-nanza, arts and crafts, dance performers, roaming characters, face painting and more.

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Spooktober! At Prospect Park Zoo
Prospect Park Zoo, Free with Admission, Prices Vary

Go batty every weekend in October at the Prospect Park Zoo! Visit the tombstones of extinct animals in Sea Lion Court and learn why extinction isn’t inevitable with your help. Our Spooky Trail will show you some of our “spooky” neighbors who come out at night. Discover some Spooky Science and enjoy special live performances. Come in costume and take a photo at one of our beautiful harvest decoration areas.

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Prospect Park Murder Mystery Audio Tour
Gesso App, Free

Enjoy a thrilling murder mystery audio-tour, set in Prospect Park. When a key player goes missing at the marriage ceremony of the summer, reluctant wedding columnist Bobbi Rossetti transforms into an ad hoc investigative reporter on the case. Follow Bobbi through a fictional version of 1920s Prospect Park as she decodes the clues and uncovers a stunning secret in this immersive audio mystery. All you need are headphones and the Gesso mobile app to get started!

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Second United Lenape/Lunáapeew Nations Pow Wow

September 9, 2025

Join Prospect Park Alliance, the Éenda-Lŭnaapeewáhkiing Collective (EL Collective), and American Indian Community House for the Second United Lenape/Lunáapeew Nations Pow Wow at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Prospect Park on Saturday and Sunday, September 13 from 12–7 pm + September 14, from 12–5 pm. 

The first Pow Wow held in Prospect Park since 1972, and the second ever Lenape Pow Wow in New York City, this free, two-day public event welcomes the original Indigenous Lenape peoples who were forced to relocate across the continent back to their ancestral homelands to reunite and share their cultures with Brooklynites today. Join the weekend of family friendly fun, culture, art and learning with Indigenous dancers, drummers, and artisan craft and food vendors.

Free, RSVP Today!

Second United Lenape/Lunáapeew Nations Pow Wow
Saturday, September 13, 12–7 pm + Sunday September 14, 12–5 pm
LeFrak Center at Lakeside, Prospect Park

Lenape/Lunáapeew means human beings or, more specifically, “the ones who came from thought,” and is the name of the indigenous peoples whose ancestral homelands encompassed what is today Brooklyn and the surrounding region. Pow Wows are gatherings where Lenape/Lunáapeew and neighboring Indigenous nations socialize and celebrate life. Prospect Park hosted intertribal Pow Wows from 1916 to 1972. EL Collective Founder George Stonefish organized the First United Lenape/Lunáapeew Nations Pow Wow at the Park Avenue Armory in 2018. In 2024, Prospect Park Alliance held a culture fair with the American Indian House and EL Collective as a precursor to this year’s Pow Wow. 

“Reviving the Pow Wow tradition in Prospect Park provides the Lenape/Lunáapeew who were forced to relocate across the continent back to their ancestral homelands to reunite and celebrate, and offers Brooklynites of all backgrounds the chance to immerse themselves in the cultures of the original stewards of this land,” said Morgan Monaco, President of Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit organization that sustains the park in partnership with the City. “This historic event is a crucial step in healing deep-seated wounds from our nation’s past and ensuring that all in our community see themselves in our programming. We are grateful to our partners, EL Collective and the American Indian Community House, and Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo, for making this celebration possible.”

“New York’s Lenape heritage continues to have a profound effect on our city today, and I’m thrilled to see this rich legacy celebrated and honored,” said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “My agency is proud to support this remarkable event welcoming back the Lenape people to their ancestral homelands. It gives us all the opportunity to engage with and celebrate their rich culture through the artists, creators, performers, crafts and foods that will be included in the festivities. This first Pow Wow held in Prospect Park since 1972 also creates an especially meaningful moment for us to come together as we reflect on the 400th anniversary of our city’s founding as New Amsterdam.”

“We are thrilled to join our partners at Prospect Park Alliance, American Indian Community House and the City in our work to bring together our Lenape communities from across Turtle Island,” said George Stonefish, Founder of EL Collective, which brings together Lenape/Lunáapeew communities who have been displaced across Turtle Island (North America). “This Pow Wow serves as an educational message to the broader community, and a social and cultural message for us, the Lenape people. We want all to leave the Pow Wow with a deeper understanding about why we as contemporary Native Americans still follow our culture, practice our dances and share our songs today.”

“This event holds significant cultural and historical importance, serving as a vibrant celebration of the rich traditions, heritage, and enduring spirit of the Lenape/Lunáapeew people,” said Patricia Tarrant, Executive Director of American Indian Community House. “The Pow Wow not only fosters cultural awareness and appreciation but also brings together diverse communities in the spirit of unity and respect. Events like this provide an invaluable platform for both education and cultural exchange. We commend the organizers, participants, and supporters of the Pow Wow for their dedication and hard work in showcasing and honoring these traditions. It is through such gatherings that we can build stronger, more inclusive communities that recognize and cherish the contributions of Native American cultures to our shared history.”

“We’re proud to welcome the Lenape Pow Wow back to New York City and Prospect Park! Great public parks have the power to bring people together, build connections, and foster community, so it’s so appropriate that ‘Brooklyn’s Backyard’ will host this celebration of Lenape/Lunáapeewand heritage and culture,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa. “We look forward to welcoming everybody to this great event, reviving the tradition of formal Pow Wows in Prospect Park.”

The Pow Wow is part of the Alliance’s ReImagine Lefferts initiative, which is transforming the park’s Lefferts Historic House museum to explore the lives, resistance and resilience of the Indigenous people of Lenapehoking, whose unceded ancestral lands the park and house rests upon, and the Africans who were enslaved by the Lefferts family. On view at Lefferts in conjunction with the Pow Wow is Eelunaapéewi Ehaptoonáakanal: Voices of Lunáapeew/ Lenape, an exhibit celebrating 400 years of Indigenous resilience. Featuring video interviews with Lunáapeew/Lenape knowledge-keepers and culture bearers about their relationships to their ancestral homelands, including those with the EL Collective.

“New Yorkers are deeply interested in the original peoples of this land and their heritage, culture and art,” said Dylan Yeats Ph.D., Prospect Park Alliance’s Lefferts Historic House museum director. “Prospect Park Alliance seeks to welcome the original peoples of this land to the park and support their efforts to preserve and share their traditions. This Pow Wow will be very special since Lenape from across the continent will be reconnecting with their lands and each other. It is a real privilege and honor for Brooklynites to be able to host and participate in this historic event, which will also be incredibly fun.”

This Pow Wow is presented with support from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and ally sponsorship from Middle Church.

Free Fall Wellness Events in Brooklyn’s Backyard

September 8, 2025

Autumn wellness opportunities are in full swing in Brooklyn’s Backyard! Don’t miss out on exploring some of the park’s most scenic destinations each week while prioritizing your health and wellness all season long.

Learn more about Health and Wellness in Brooklyn’s Backyard.

Women’s Health + Wellness Meet-Up + Meditation Series
Friday, September 26, + Friday, October 3 9:30–10:30 am
10th Avenue Lawn, Free, RSVP
Join Tell Every Amazing Lady® and Prospect Park Alliance for a wellness meet-up and discussion on the natural changes of health in a woman’s lifespan. Join a group discussion of the changes that women face from puberty to menopause and beyond, and enjoy a guided meditation led by a licensed physical therapist focused on wellness for all life stages.

Prospect Park Wellness Walks
Fridays, September–December 19, 10–11 am
Audubon Center, Free, RSVP
Join Prospect Park Alliance at the Prospect Park Audubon Center for an uplifting and energizing morning walk including scenic trails along the Lullwater, Peninsula, Midwood or Waterfall. Please note, this walk leaves promptly at 10 am from the Prospect Park Audubon Center.

Prospect Park Stroller Walks
Thursdays, September–December 18, 10 am–11 am
Prospect Park Audubon Center, Free, RSVP
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.

Sexual Health Mobile Medical Unit
Mondays, Parkside + Ocean Avenue Entrance, Thursdays, Grand Army Plaza, 10 am–3 pm
Free
Prospect Park Alliance is collaborating with NewYork-Presbyterian to offer comprehensive sexual health services in Brooklyn’s backyard at Grand Army Plaza every Thursday from 10 am to 3 pm and every Monday at the Willink Entrance from 10 am to 3 pm. The NewYork-Presbyterian Sexual Health Mobile Medical Unit is a safe, inclusive space for people to receive high-quality sexual health services.

Dance Fitness with Shape Up NYC at the Boathouse
Saturdays in September, 10–11 am
Boathouse, Free
Join Prospect Park Alliance and Shape-up NYC for a fun-filled dance fitness zumba class at the Boathouse! Zumba is a fusion of Latin, International and popular music dance themes creating a dynamic, exciting, effective fitness system.

Open House New York in Prospect Park

Mark your calendar! Registration for Open House New York begins Friday, October 3 for events city-wide including exciting happenings in Brooklyn’s Backyard. Join Prospect Park Alliance for a tour of the Prospect Park Vale with an inside look at the upcoming restoration to make it more welcoming and accessible to all Brooklyn residents. Plus, join the Alliance and the NYC Parks Urban Park Rangers for an inside look at the Soldiers’ + Sailors’ Memorial Arch, which was recently restored by Prospect Park Alliance.

Save the date! Registration begins on Monday October 3:

OHNY: Re-Envisioning the Prospect Park Vale
Saturday, October 18, 11 am-12 pm + 12 – 1 pm
Registration coming soon!

Join Jillian Pagano, Landscape Architect II, and Deborah Kirschner, Vice President of External Relations, at Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit that sustains Prospect Park in partnership with the City, to learn about the upcoming restoration of the Prospect Park Vale in the northeast corner of the park. Learn about the Alliance’s plans to transform the Vale, an important woodland landscape that serves as a critical habitat to birds and other wildlife, and the extensive community outreach and engagement efforts that led to a new vision for this lesser-known park landscape to make it more welcoming and accessible to all Brooklyn residents. The former Rose Garden has served many functions since the park opened in 1867. It was originally a Children’s Playground, complete with the Park’s first, horse-driven carousel, and then became a formal Rose Garden, with three pools with goldfish and lilies, at the turn of the 19th century as part of the City Beautiful movement. In its heyday, children would line the pond banks and race miniature toy boats. In the 1890s, the renowned firm of McKim, Mead and White replaced the pond’s soft edge with a formal marble and granite balustrade.

This tour will be led on pedestrian pathways but closed toed shoes would be recommended, particularly if there are rainy conditions. The area is not ADA-accessible. It will be fully outdoors.

Please note there will be two hour-long tours: 10:00 am – 11:00 am and 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

OHNY: Re-Envisioning the Prospect Park Vale
Saturday, October 18, 10 am-2 pm
Registration coming soon!

Enjoy an inside look at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch at Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Park! Join the NYC Parks Urban Park Rangers to tour the American Civil War monument, which has been recently restored by the Prospect Park Alliance. Visitors will learn about the exterior and interior restoration, and ascend three flights of stairs inside the arch to view the “Trophy Room” above the archway. Tours will delve into the history of the arch, the Brooklynites commemorated who served during the Civil War, and the work to preserve the memorial for future generations.

Ticketed tours will be held every 30 minutes from 10 am-2 pm.