8 Popular Festivals In Brooklyn, New York

1. Celebrate Brooklyn (June - August)

Celebrate Brooklyn is the most popular performing arts festival in Brooklyn which has taken place since 1979. If you are in Brooklyn in the summer, head to Prospect Park to take part in some amazing outdoor performances? Be one of the 200,000 visitors who enjoy these shows. And it’s free! You need not spend a dime to enjoy art. World-renowned music icons, popular indie bands, famous jazz talents, rocking dance artists, and many more perform here every year to entertain the crowd. The goal of this festival is to unite art lovers and promote unique cultures.

Celebrate Brooklyn

Website: Celebrate Brooklyn

Takes Place: June to August

2. Northside Festival (June) [Last event in 2018]

Northside Festival is another summer festival for music and creativity. Over 100,000 attendees grace this festival and celebrate modern ideas. Over 300 extraordinary bands and 150 brilliant speakers are showcased in 30 venues such as clubs, boutique hotels, movie theaters, outdoor performance spaces, and so on. You can discover great innovators, talented artists, and interesting, fresh content here. They talk about future technologies, new ideas for a startup, incredible designs, entrepreneurial workshops, and much more. During this festival, don’t miss Williamsburg Walks, where you can walk the street to find street art, live music, and local food.

Northside Festival

Website: Northside Festival

Takes Place: June

3. The Brooklyn Hip-hop Festival (July) [Last event in 2018]

If you are into hip hop music, The Brooklyn Hip-hop Festival will surely excite you. Brooklyn Bridge Park is the venue for the festival. Right from 2005, it has grown into the largest hip hop festival in New York. If you are visiting with your family, make sure to attend the ‘Family Day’ to enjoy mesmerizing music, live performances, informative seminars, and interesting demonstrations. Hip hop talents from all over the world rock here with their electrifying performances. You can also chat with renowned hip hop celebrities during the festival.

The Brooklyn Hip-hop Festival

Website: The Brooklyn Hip-hop Festival

Takes Place: July

4. The Giglio Feast (July)

When you need to relax and enjoy travel, all you need is food and music. The Giglio Feast offers the perfect setting in Williamsburg and serves lots of food to satiate the foodies. You get to taste Italian food and play exciting games. After savoring good food, listen to amazing music and dance it out. This tradition was started by Southern Italian immigrants who wanted to preserve their culture in Brooklyn. The activities such as Giglio Sunday, the Night Lift of the Giglio, & Old Timer’s Day are the important part of the celebration. During this event, over 100 men lift the gigantic Giglio tower as a ritual while listening to Giglio song.

The Giglio Feast

Website: The Giglio Feast

Takes Place: July

5. Coney Island Mermaid Parade (June)

Coney Island Mermaid Parade is a unique event that boasts the largest parade dedicated to art in the US. Around 3,000 individuals participate in this ancient ritual and take an art walk. Started in 1983, the parade brings the creative side of individuals to the light. This parade is anti-religious and has no commercial purpose. So, anybody with an artistic sense can take part in this colorful event. You can see people wearing a variety of marine costumes, nude art, or family-based attire while riding on different vehicles.

Coney Island Mermaid Parade

Website: Coney Island Mermaid Parade

Takes Place: June

6. Brooklyn Academy of Music Next Wave Festival (October)

Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Next Wave Festival is known for its magnificent performances. BAM has been promoting daring artists and innovators for around 150 years in Brooklyn. The young artists excelling in the fields of music, dance, theater, visual art, and film stun their audience with their bold performances. There are concerts, live performances, movies, and workshops to excite the kids. You can also laugh it out at the comedy shows at this festival.

Brooklyn Academy of Music Next Wave Festival

Website: Brooklyn Academy of Music Next Wave Festival

Takes Place: October to December

7. Afropunk Festival (August) [Last event in 2019]

If you love music, do not miss the Afropunk event which celebrates music on all levels. This multi-genre music celebration was derived from a documentary named ‘Afro-Punk” which showcases black punk artists. Started in 2005, the festival has become popular world-wide in a short span. A variety of artists perform in different genres to delight the music freaks. Other than music, you can also enjoy fashion, visual arts, film, and skating. You can also catch up on the festival in Paris during June.

Afropunk Festival

Website: Afropunk Festival

Takes Place: August

8. Lighting of the World’s Largest Hanukkah Menorahs (December)

Lighting of the World’s Largest Hanukkah Menorahs is a traditional event that happens in Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn. People light the largest Hanukkah Menorahs in both Manhattan and Brooklyn and relish tasty potato pancakes every evening. Live music is also organized before the feast. The Hanukkah Menorahs is a gold-colored beauty that is 32 feet (9.7 m) in height and weighs 4,000 pounds (1814.3 kg). The lighting is kick-started at 5.30 pm on weekdays in Manhattan and it starts at 6 pm in Brooklyn. This lighting festival is a delight to the eyes and peace to the soul.

Lighting of the World’s Largest Hanukkah Menorahs

Website: Lighting of the World’s Largest Hanukkah Menorahs

Takes Place: November to December

Celebrate life in Brooklyn

Brooklyn is an enchanting destination for all types of tourists. Being one of the populous boroughs in the US has made Brooklyn famous for a wide range of recreation and a place for celebration. Whether you wish to listen to music, dance, dine, or shop in Brooklyn, our above list of festivals will fascinate you. Be sure to attend the top festivals in Brooklyn and make unforgettable fun memories.