Free Brooklyn Summer Activities for Families, Dates and Solo Adventures
July 2, 2025
Looking for free summer fun in Brooklyn? Whether you’re planning a full day with the kids, meeting up with friends or exploring solo, we’ve compiled a list of the best no-cost events and activities happening across our borough.
Remember to check the websites for details as some require reservations, others are weather permitting and, at times, events may get canceled.
Outdoor Movies and Performances

Bring your blanket and snacks (as permitted) and head to one of Brooklyn’s free outdoor movies, concerts or performances. Better yet, attend more than one!
- Movies With a View, Brooklyn Bridge Park — Weekly Thursday night screenings with skyline views
- Paramount+ Movie Nights by BKMAG, throughout Brooklyn parks — Broad selection of films on view at McCarren Park, Prospect Park, Coney Island Beach or Fort Greene Park
- BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival, Prospect Park — Free concerts, dance and film screenings at Lena Horne Bandshell
- SummerStage, throughout Brooklyn parks — A rotating lineup of free performances such as Big Freedia at Herbert Von King Park and Tony Vega at Coney Island Amphitheater
- Fort Greene Park Jazz Festival — Since 2010, this fest has provided jazz entertainment for fans of all ages, in a shaded park setting. The fest is typically held in July and September
- Sounds at Sunset, Brooklyn Bridge Park — Live music ranging from big band to Americana and more, on select summer Fridays
- Open Streets Performances, throughout Brooklyn — Live music during car-free hours
- Drummer’s Grove at Prospect Park — Catch this historic drum circle on Sunday afternoons
Arts, Culture and Education

From gallery strolls to museum nights, Brooklyn offers countless ways to connect with art, ideas and local creativity without spending a dime.
- Wednesdays at New York Aquarium — Get free admission after 3pm with advance reservation and stroll the Coney Island Boardwalk before or after
- First Thursdays in DUMBO — Explore local galleries and catch art openings, artist talks and live performances
- First Saturdays at Brooklyn Museum — Free museum entry, live music and art programming
- STooPS Bed-Stuy Summer Festival — Celebrating community and neighborhood artists with a block party, classes and opportunities for artistic expression. Explore a variety of dance, music, theatre, visual art, spoken word and film performances
- Sculpture Park at Pratt Institute — One of NYC’s largest sculpture parks, with more than 70 works of art
- Bushwick Collective — Self-guided tour of this artsy neighborhood’s murals
- Arts Gowanus — Supporting, promoting and advocating for local artists — with plenty of exciting events throughout the year
- Brooklyn Public Library — Not only can you check out books, attend business and career workshops, borrow a laptop and so much more, but the library offers a ton of educational and fun events throughout the summer and every season
- Free Museum Admission with Culture Pass — Using your library card, you can reserve free passes for over 100 cultural institutions across NYC
- NYC Youth Programs — NYC offers lots of children and teen programs, many of which are free
Outdoor Fun and Recreation

Need a dose of nature or movement? These outdoor picks range from free yoga to splash zones to hiking trails. And don’t forget to check out our Brooklyn swim guide to find the best beaches and pools near you.
- Prospect Park Events and Nature Programs — The Prospect Park Alliance offers free guided walks, birdwatching and other seasonal activities that connect visitors with the park’s rich natural and cultural landscape
- Salt Marsh Nature Center — Explore the two hiking trails as you take in the surrounding wetlands and grasslands while birdwatching. This marsh is home to over 300 species of birds and 100 species of fish
- Shirley Chisholm State Park — Bike, hike or fish
- Big Summer Get Down, Brooklyn Bridge Park — All-ages dance parties, right on the waterfront
- Kayaking at Brooklyn Bridge Park (Pier 2) — Free kayaking sessions all summer
- Sunrise Yoga at Domino Park — Free on Wednesday mornings
- Outdoor Kids Fountain at Domino Park — Fun spot for kids to cool off
- Water Sprinklers Throughout Brooklyn — No matter where you are in Brooklyn there’s probably a sprinkler for the kids nearby
- Movement Mondays at Brooklyn Commons Park — Get a little sunshine and exercise with your neighbors
Markets and Street Fairs

Wander through open-air markets and pop-ups where browsing is free, sunshine is plentiful and people-watching is half the fun.
- Smorgasburg Williamsburg or Prospect Park — Free to enter and great for people watching and taking a stroll along the waterfront or in the park
- Brooklyn Flea in DUMBO — Browse vintage and handmade goods
- FAD Market Pop-Ups — While items cost money, browsing at these FAD (Fashion, Art, Design) pop-ups throughout the city is free and fun
- Open Streets (5th Avenue, Vanderbilt Avenue, Berry Street, etc.) — Extended pedestrian zones with games, pop-ups and performers
Scenic Walks and Experiences

Take in the views, hop on a ferry or roam freely. These experiences turn your regular walk into something special.
Offbeat and Interesting

For the curious and adventurous, these quirky, only-in-Brooklyn activities are worth adding to your summer list.
- Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, Coney Island — Every 4th of July, catch competitive eaters as they scarf down hot dogs
- Tanker Time at PortSide — Near Red Hook Lobster Pound, you can hop aboard the Mary A Whalen oil tanker. Bring the kids, make art, catch a movie or concert, depending on the day
- Interference Archive — Free exhibits and events at this volunteer-run spot whose mission is to explore the relationship between cultural production and social movements
- Wyckoff Street Mosaic — Stop by this Boerum Hill residence to admire the mosaic courtesy of artist and teacher Susan Gardner
- See the Famous Quaker/Monk Parakeets — Though there’s no guarantee, you’re likely to spot them at Green-wood Cemetery or Brooklyn College
- Explore Park Slope Architecture — From the Montauk Club to the Armory, Park Slope is teeming with historic architecture

Keep Your Eyes and Ears Open
Brooklyn and NYC have countless free and low-cost events through the summer and all year long. To stay in the know, visit the skint, NYC for FREE, NYC Parks, Brooklyn Paper and Eventbrite. And while you’re doing your research, have a listen to our Summer in Brooklyn playlist.
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