Friday, July 1
African Arts Festival: New York’s biggest celebration of African arts and culture is returning to Brooklyn. Come by for a weekend of dancing and grooving to the SoCa beats of Olatunji, a tribute to the finer jazz aspects of A Tribe Called Quest, ample drum and dance circles, and tons more.
Festival kicks off at 10 a.m. Friday and runs until Monday. $15 for day passes. Commodore Barry Park in Fort Greene.
Saturday, July 2
Yoga in Brooklyn’s Backyard: Gaia NoMaya yoga teachers host a spiritual Kundalini yoga class, meant to help practitioners connect with their divine essence through breath control and meditation.
Donation-based tickets, pay what you choose. 9:30 a.m. at Prospect Park near 101 East Drive, enter at Lincoln Road and Ocean Avenue in Prospect Lefferts Gardens.
Red Hook Lobster Fest: Join Hot 97.1 and Power 105.1 for a slightly early Fourth of July celebration with live music and food and drinks — including, of course, crab and lobster — and a live performance by Fabolous.
$39-$79. 3 p.m.-10 p.m. Coney Art Walls, 3050 Stillwell Ave. between Surf Avenue and Bowery Street in Coney Island.
Kid-friendly Rock and Roll Playhouse: Rock and Roll Playhouse kicks off the summer with live covers of The Beach Boys and other summer rock classics — the performance is aimed at kids but will be fun for all ages!
$5. 1 p.m. Courtyard 1/2 at Industry City, 274 36th St. between Second and Third avenues in Sunset Park.
Sunday, July 3
Brooklyn’s Independence Day Parade: Celebrate the Fourth of July a day early — when more marchers are typically able to attend — at the borough’s 115th annual Independence Day Parade through Sunset Park. Pre-parade mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help at 10 a.m.
Free to attend. Kickoff at 11 a.m. near the corner of 60th Street and Fifth Avenue in Sunset Park. Parade travels along the thoroughfare toward 43rd Street, where it will end.
Monday, July 4
Beloved frank-fest: Coney Island’s infamous annual hot-dog eating contest is back, with Joey Chestnut looking to defend his title as the top hot dog scarfer in the world. Plus, Nathan’s Famous will donate 100,000 to the Food Bank for New York City.
Free to attend. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 1310 Surf Ave. between Stillwell Avenue and W 15th Street in Coney Island.
