Find Events and Things to Do in Brooklyn

Visit Brooklyn and stay at BEST WESTERN PLUS Arena Hotel to experience all the action-packed Brooklyn events and things to do in our vibrant neighborhood. Whether you're visiting in January or July, you won't have to search hard to find fun for everyone near our Brooklyn hotel. Plan your Brooklyn vacation with these exciting upcoming events in mind.

View major events below, or find a detailed list courtesy of HelloBrooklyn.com.

Annual Events in Brooklyn

January

1. Coney Island Polar Bears New Year's Day Dip
   Boardwalk at Stillwell Avenue, Coney Island | Admission: Free
   The Coney Island Polar Bears Club takes its annual New Year's Day swim.
2. Three Kings Parade
   El Museum de Barrio | Admission: Free
   Lively music, dancing and floats fill the street of El Barrio at this annual parade.
3. Winter Antiques Show
   Park Avenue Armory | Admission: Required
   The most prestigious antiques show in America featuring pieces through the 1960s from 75 different exhibitors.

February

1. Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade and Festival
   Chinatown, Manhattan | Admission: Free
   Exciting Chinese New Year celebration is one of the largest in the nation.
2. New York Fashion Week
   Lincoln Center | Admission: Limited tickets available.
   Check out the latest looks for the upcoming fall season.
3. Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
   Madison Square Garden | Admission: Required
   American's top annual dog show

March

1. Dine In Brooklyn (Restaurant Week)
   Throughout Brooklyn | Admission: Fixed Price
   Nearly 200 Brooklyn restaurants offer discounted fixed-price menus with proceeds to charity.
2. Brooklyn Saint Patrick's Day Parade
   15^th & 7^th to Prospect Park | Admission: Free
   Celebrate Irish American culture at this fun, family-appropriate parade.
3. Arts of Pacific Asia Show
   7 W New York | Admission: Required
   Peruse exquisite Asian art from over 65 leading international galleries.

April

1. Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival
   Brooklyn Botanic Garden | Admission: Required
   A weekend festival at the height of spring. Japanese cultural activities include music and dance, taiko drumming and tea ceremonies.
2. Queens……a Taste of the World
   Citi Field | Admission: Required
   Savor a delicious assortment of multi-ethnic dishes.
3. EarthFair at Grand Central
   Grand Central Station | Admission: Free
   Celebrate Earth Day at Grand Central Station with exhibitions and concerts.
4. Avenue on Park
   583 Park Avenue | Admission: Required
   3-day antiques extravaganza featuring over 25 international exhibitors.
5. Fine Art Fair
   Seventh Regiment Armory | Admission: Required
   Annual art event exhibiting paintings, sculpture and drawings dating to the 1400s.

May

1. BKLYN Designs
   St. Ann's Warehouse in DUMBO | Admission: Required
   Innovative designers from Brooklyn and all over display their boldest creations.
2. Brooklyn Waterfront Artist Coalition Summer Show
   At the Pier in Red Hook | Admission: Free
   Cutting-edge Brooklyn artists gather for an annual summer show at the pier.
3. Brooklyn Half-Marathon
   Starts at Prospect Park | Registration: Required
   Test your endurance at this annual half-marathon from Prospect Park to Coney Island.
4. BayFest / Blessing of the Fleet
   Sheepshead Bay | Admission: Free
   Brooklyn's largest waterfront event and NYC's only vendor-free street fair. Live music and sailing demos.
5. DanceAfrica
   Brooklyn Academy of Music | Admission: Required
   Dynamic spring program of African art, dance, film and culture.
6. Historic House and Garden Tours
   Throughout New York City | Admission: Required
   The historic homes of Brooklyn and NYC are opened to fascinating tours every May and June.
7. Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade
   91^st & 3^rd to John Paul Jones Park | Admission: Free
   The nation's oldest Memorial Day parade celebrates U.S. Veterans organizations.
8. Brooklyn Uncorked
   Brooklyn Academy of Music | Admission: Required
   Savor delectable food and the finest wines from local wineries.
9. Ninth Avenue International Food Festival
   Ninth Ave. | Admission: Required
   Delight in a gastronomic feast at this massive international food fair covering 20 blocks from 37th to 57th Sts on Ninth Avenue.
10. Meatpacking Design District New York
    Meatpacking District | Admission: Free
    A series of exhibitions, product launches, panel discussions and a district-wide open house in New York’s most fashionable neighborhood.

June

1. Brooklyn International Film Festival
   Brooklyn Heights Cinema and Others | Admission: Required
   Small but passionate film festival dedicated to the efforts of independent filmmakers the world over.
2. Boricua Festival / Salsa at the Waterfront
   58^th Street Pier | Admission: Free
   Spanish and Latin culture festival serves up fun music and authentic cuisine.
3. Celebrate Brooklyn Performing Arts Festival
   Prospect Park Bandshell | Admission: Free and Paid options
   A summer performance series combining indie film screenings and big name concert performances.
4. Brooklyn Puerto Rican Parade
   Graham Ave & Broadway | Admission: Free
   Local and popular Puerto Rican performers highlight this raucous parade.
5. LGBT Pride Week
   Prospect Park and City-Wide | Admission: Free
   City-wide festival culminates with Pride Day at Prospect Park in Brooklyn.
6. Mermaid Parade
   Coney Island Boardwalk | Admission: Free
   The nation's largest art parade, participants dress up in colorful mermaid, Neptune and sea creature costumes.
7. Russian Heritage Week
   Asset Levy Seaside Park | Admission: Free
   A wide swath of Russian cultural groups and Russian vendors with this an exceptional Brooklyn festival.
8. Gateway to Nations Native American Heritage Festival
   Gateway National Recreation Area | Admission: Required
   Explore Native American culture through song, dance, crafts, jewelry and food at this three-day Brooklyn festival.
9. Rose Month at Brooklyn Botantic Gardens
   Brooklyn Botanic Gardens | Admission: Required
   Immerse yourself in a sea of vividly-hued roses during this four-week exhibition.

July

1. International African Arts Festival
   Commodore Barry Park | Admission: Free
   Major festival in Brooklyn boasts four days of African music, culture and art as well as family entertainment.
2. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival (Giglio)
   Our Lady of Mount Carmel | Admission: Required
   12-day religious festival in support of the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
3. Bastille Day
   Cobble Hill | Admission: Free
   Parades and other lively festivities celebrate French Independence on this popular holiday.
4. Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Series
   Wingate Field | Admission: Free
   Summer concert series brings big names in soul and R&B to Brooklyn.
5. Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival
   Brooklyn Waterfront (various) | Admission: Required
   A six-day celebration of hip-hop culture and music featuring local and international artists.
6. Seaside Summer Concert Series
   Asser Levy/Seaside Park | Admission: Free
   Classic rock & roll and contemporary acts keep Seaside Park jumping all summer long.
7. Siren Music Festival
   Coney Island | Admission: Free
   Exciting all ages-appropriate summer music festival in Brooklyn.
8. Harlem Book Fair
   Harlem | Admission: Free
   The nation’s largest African American literary event features an author panel discussion and outdoor fair; highlighted by the Wheatley Book Awards ceremony.

August

1. Brighton Jubilee Festival
   Brighton Beach | Admission: Free
   Vibrant multi-cultural street festival is Brighton Beach's largest event. Food, music, arts and crafts and more.
2. Battle Week at the Old Stone House
   The Old Stone House | Admission: Free and Paid options
   Diverse program commemorates the largest battle of the Revolutionary War with unique daily events.

September

1. Brooklyn Book Festival
   Throughout Brooklyn | Admission: Free
   Large Brooklyn event bringing together book-lovers, literary legends and emerging authors for meet-and-greets and networking.
2. Atlantic Antic Street Festival
   Atlantic Ave from Hicks St to 4^th St | Admission: Free
   A massive block party in Brooklyn's beautiful brownstone neighborhood. Eleven live entertainment stages.
3. West Indian American Day Carnival and Parade
   Brooklyn Museum | Admission: Required
   Four wildly different nights of music and fanfare precede the Labor Day parade and carnival.
4. Great Irish Fair
   MCU Park | Admission: Required (for charity)
   Popular festival featuring traditional and contemporary Irish performers and entertainment.
5. DUMBO Arts Festival
   DUMBO Neighborhood | Admission: Free
   A variety of visual, music and performance artists display their boldest work.
6. Flatbush Frolic
   Cortelyou Rd at Coney Island Ave | Admission: Free
   Open air street fair celebrating the Flatbush community. Emphasizes local vendors and cuisine.
7. Ragamuffin Parade
   Third Ave in Bay Ridge | Admission: Free
   Lighthearted parade starring thousands of little ones dressed up in costume.
8. New York Fashion Week
   Lincoln Center | Admission: Limited tickets available.
   Get the scoop on the hottest upcoming fashion trends for next spring.

October

1. Brooklyn Columbus Day Parade
   Join over 35,000 people at this popular annual parade stretching from Fifth Avenue at 44th Street to 79th Street.
2. Brooklyn Botanic Garden Chile Pepper Fiesta
   Brooklyn Botanic Garden | Admission: Required
   This spicy event is all about the amazing chile pepper. Includes live bands, cooking demonstrations and contests.
3. Next Wave Festival
   Brooklyn Academy of Music | Admission: Free and Paid options
   A stirring art festival dedicated to boundary-pushing artists just now emerging.
4. Halloween Haunted Walk & Carnival
   Prospect Park | Admission: Free
   This old-fashioned ghost walk at Prospect Park is a favorite of local families.
5. Park Slope Children's Halloween Parade
   15^th St & 7^th St to the Old Stone House | Admission: Free
   The largest children's parade in the country, hosted on Halloween.

November

1. Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at Barclays Center
   Barclays Center | Admission: Presale Begins March 17, 2012
   The four host schools of the 2012 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic will play at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Best Western Plus Arena is one of the closest hotels near Barclays Center Arena, so reserve your room early to make sure you get a spot. The presale begins on March 17, 2012.
2. Winter Festival at Prospect Park
   Prospect Park (Lefferts House) | Admission: Free
   Another kid-friendly Brooklyn events. Children learn how to make popular kids games by hand.

December

1. Holiday Lights in Brooklyn
   Throughout Brooklyn | Admission: Free
   Watch Brooklyn come alive in the colorful glow of holiday lights. Holiday lights at Prospect Park are especially popular.

Find more events at HelloBrooklyn.com.

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