It’s raining elephants!
A herd of parachuting pachyderms will plummet to the earth next weekend during the third annual Dumbo Drop charity event. Brooklynites can gather at a block party on the neighborhood’s picturesque Washington Street on Sept. 27 to watch the mini elephant toys float from the sky. All of the Dumbo Drop participants will receive a souvenir animal to take home, and those who sponsor the toy elephants that land closest to a target can win a variety of prizes.
This year’s event will add a spectacular second round called the Disco Drop, with illuminated elephants floating through the night sky. Both drops benefit PS 307 and Dock Street School, and adding a light-up element offers twice as many chances for people to contribute, said the executive director of the Dumbo Business Improvement District, which sponsors the event
“The idea of the Disco Drop would add the spectacle of light to the experience,” said Alexandria Sica. “We hope this will motivate folks to participate because, at the end of the day, our goal is to raise money for schools.”
Entering either the original Dumbo Drop or the Disco Drop costs $20, and participants can also choose to decorate their own elephant souvenir during the block party. Kids and adults who join the Elephant Bedazzle Extravaganza Experience may win an extra prize, said Sica.
“Artists of all ages can customize parachutes and elephants with state of the art materials. Come grab a beer and compete for more prizes, awarded by celebrity judges, who are on the hunt for local creative talent,” she said.
Dumbo Drop prizes include a $1,000 Grand Prize, an all-you-can-eat ice cream party at Oddfellows, and a VIP pass to Juliana’s pizza spot that allows the winner to skip the long line of tourists outside. The Disco Drop will feature two prizes: a private rooftop party for 10 at the Time Out Market; and an evening at Beat the Bomb, an escape room extravaganza.
The block party will also feature booths from local Dumbo restaurants, including Westville, Time Out Market, and Front Street Pizza, along with live music, street games, and a virtual reality experience.
The Great Dumbo Drop Block Party (at Washington and Water streets in Dumbo, www.dumbo.is/dropping-elephants). Sept. 27; 4–9 p.m. Dumbo Drop at 6 p.m. Disco Drop at 7:45 p.m. Free admission; $20.
