Memorial Day Weekend kicks off on Friday, and Brooklyn is jam-packed with some great parades, festivals and barbecues to mark the occasion.
FRIDAY, MAY 26
Prospect Park Nature Exploration
The Prospect Park Alliance will offer nature and educational opportunities for the whole family starting on May 26.
They will have three events at the Prospect Park Audubon Center:
- Discovery Pack from 12 until 3 p.m
- Animal Encounter from 2 until 3 p.m.
- Family Bird Walk from 3 until 4 p.m.
Similar events are offered on May 27 and May 28.
Visit the Prospect Park Alliance website for more details.
SATURDAY, MAY 27
BBQ at Industry City
Food Karma Projects, a food and media brand, presents the “ultimate” Memorial Day BBQ event to kick off the BBQ season on Saturday, May 27.
This food-filled event will be packed with ribs, sides and more from some of the city’s best restaurants and cooks. Sample food at more than 10 different stations, enjoy some live music, and drinks. Tickets are available online.
Stop by the Band Shell at Industry City, 238 36th St. between 2nd and 3rd avenues in Sunset Park from 12 until 5 p.m for some grub and good times.
DanceAfrica Bazaar 2023
BAM will turn parts of downtown into a global marketplace at their annual DanceAfrica Bazaar this weekend.
Dive into African and Caribbean culture starting on Saturday, May 27, as over 150 vendors will gather on the Plaza at 300 Ashland Pl. and offer tons of unique dishes, handmade crafts, and envied fashion pieces.
According to organizers, the event looks to celebrate the “rich and diverse” heritage of Africa and its diaspora.
The Bazaar will run Saturday, May 27 from 12 until 10 p.m. and Sunday May 28 and Monday 29 from 12 until 8 p.m rain or shine.
Summer Party Industry City
Live music lovers can spend the weekend at Industry City in Sunset Park as InGoodCompany kicks off their Sonic Summer Parties on May 27.
DJ Isaac “MoreSoupPlease” Campbell and special guests will keep the tunes running all night under the stars from the stage at Industry City’s open-air bandshell featuring a full concert sound and light show. Come thirsty as there will be a full bar, food and music to enjoy until 2 a.m.
Tickets cost $20 if purchased online in advance and will be $25 at the door.
SUNDAY, MAY 28
Dolly’s Block Party
Dolly’s, a Williamsburg dive, takes the party to the streets for their Memorial Day block party.
Come by the Brooklyn watering hole at 101 Kent Avenue to enjoy live music, exclusive merch, fresh cocktails and grab a bite from their pop-up food bar featuring lobster rolls, smash burgers and snowcones.
The party begins on May 28 at 2 p.m. and will run until the next morning at 4 a.m.
MONDAY, MAY 29
Bay Ridge Memorial Day Parade
The United Military Veterans of King County is excited to host their 156th Memorial Day Parade on May 29 at 11 a.m.
Marching bands, JR ROTC cadets, NYPD officers and others will lead the procession from 3rd Avenue and 78th Street down 3rd Avenue to Marine Avenue.
The day includes a memorial service at John Paul Jones Park with bagpipes, flag raising, wreath laying by Veteran Service Organizations, a 21-gun salute by the Veteran Corps of Artillery and the playing of Taps.
Raymond Aalbue, an executive director behind the event, calls the special ceremony a Bay Ridge staple that locals are always proud to attend.
“It’s expanding a little bit. A couple of years ago before COVID, we were up to 20 bands and six or seven floats,” Aalbue previously told Brooklyn Paper. “ So it really was getting big and COVID knocked us down a little bit but now we’re starting to come back.”
For more parade details, visit the official event website.
Green-Wood Concert
The Green-Wood’s beloved Memorial Day concert is back for its 23rd year.
Grab a picnic blanket and head down to the lawn at 500 25th Street to hear music from the high-school musicians of the ISO at Third Street Symphonic Band led by music director Paul Corn and hosted by guest conductor Brian P. Worsdal.
The performers will feature pieces that commemorate those who served in the armed forces throughout the nation’s history, while also highlighting music by some of Green-Wood’s permanent residents, including James Weldon Johnson, Fred Ebb, and Leonard Bernstein.
The event is free, with a suggested $10 donation to help support Green-Wood’s low cost programs throughout the year. RSVP is also recommended. FiGreen-Wood’s online.
