There are lots of exciting activities going on at Prospect Park this month. Here’s the rundown of all the special and ongoing events happening throughout June in Brooklyn’s biggest park:
Special Events
Early Bird Walk: Local Nesters, June 1, 8 a.m., Prospect Park Audubon Center: Discover hidden nests! Glimpse the lives of busy bird parents and their hungry nestlings. Led by the Brooklyn Bird Club. Audubon Center. Free.
Brooklyn Public Library Kidsmobile, June 1, 1-4 p.m., Prospect Park Children’s Corner: Check out books and enjoy fun, free programming. Free.
Celebrate Brooklyn!, June 12-August 9, Check www.prospectpark.org for times, Prospect Park Bandshell, Ninth Street and Prospect Park West: A program of BRIC Arts
Media
Bklyn, Celebrate Brooklyn! will kick off its 30th summer of music, dance, theater, and film at the Prospect Park Bandshell on June 12.
Celebrate Brooklyn!’s season will feature 25 free performances over nine weeks. Performances are held on most Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
For more, visit www.briconline.org/cb.
Brooklyn Pride, June 14, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Bartel-Pritchard Circle, Prospect Park West at 15th Street: Join Prospect Park for New York City’s second-largest Gay and Lesbian Pride event of the season.
The festival takes place at Bartel-Pritchard Circle and along Prospect Park West from 15th Street to Ninth Street. Free.
Father’s Day Strawberry Shortcake Eating Contest, June 14, 10 a.m. & 12 p.m., Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket: Dads, join Prospect Park for delicious June berries, and to find out who really deserves that “#1 Dad” t-shirt. Free, but space is limited. Contact Liz Carollo at 212-341-2321 or lcarollo@greenmarket.cc to reserve a spot.
Cultural Mix 2008, June 14, 1-6 p.m., Youth Resource Center at Bowling Green Cottage: The Prospect Park Alliance Youth Council’s sixth annual Cultural Mix showcases the tremendous diversity that exists in New York City, and especially Brooklyn. Features music, food, and the Nrityarupa school of traditional Indian dance. Free.
Spend Father’s Day in Prospect Park, June 15, 12-6 p.m. all park destinations: Prospect Park is a great place to spend a day with Dear Old Dad.
• Happy Father’s Day!, Audubon Center, 12-5 p.m. Make a Father’s Day card out of recycled materials at Prospect Park’s craft station from 1-3 p.m., then cruise with ‘Pops’ out on the Lullwater in the electric boat “Independence” while learning about the animals of the Lullwater and all of their fatherly responsibilities. Free.
• Father’s Day Concert & Sing-Along, Lefferts Historic House, 3 p.m. Celebrate Father’s Day with a concert and sing-along with Lloyd Miller from the Deedle Deedle Dees. Sample 18th century Dutch-style coleslaw that you help prepare. Free.
• Pedal Boats & Prospect Park Carousel, 12-6 p.m. Pedal Boats and the historic 1912 Carousel will both be open from 12-6 p.m. on Father’s Day.
Architecture in Old King’s County, June 15, 12 p.m., Lefferts Historic House: Tour Lefferts Historic House, explore how the house was built and used over the last 220 years and glimpse future plans for the museum. Climb the staircase for a view of the attic’s smokehouse and examine both public and private areas. For adults and teenagers.
Metropolitan Opera, June 20, 7-10 p.m., Long Meadow: The Met in the Parks has been a New York tradition for years. Spend your evening relaxing on the Long Meadow to the sounds of the world-renowned Metropolitan Opera. Rain date: June 21. Free.
Free Family Film, June 26, 8:30 p.m., Long Meadow: School’s out…start your summer off right by enjoying a free feature film in the park. Sponsored by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. Enter the Prospect Park Long Meadow between Grand Army Plaza and Third Street. Free.
Kids Cook!, June 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket: Gather ’round as young Brook-lynites learn to turn fresh ingredients into tasty treats.
Ongoing Events
Prospect Park Historic Carousel is Open, Prospect Park Children’s Corner, now to Memorial Day: The Carousel is open Thursdays-Sundays and school holidays, 12-5 p.m. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Carousel is open Thursdays-Sundays and school holidays, 12-6 p.m. The price is $1.50 per ride; $8 for a book of six tickets.
Electric Boat Tours, every Saturday and Sunday, 12:30-4:30 p.m., Prospect Park Audubon Center at the Boathouse: Take an enchanting guided tour aboard the whisper-quiet electric boat “Independence.” Tour the Lullwater, one of Prospect Park’s most scenic habitats for flora and fauna, and Brooklyn’s only freshwater Lake. Tours last 20 minutes and start every half-hour. Price is $6 for ages 13 and up and $3 for ages three to 12. Children under three ride free.
Sewing Club, every Friday, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Lefferts Historic House: Learn basic sewing techniques by starting a patchwork quilt at this intergenerational drop-in program. All skill levels welcome. Free.
Introduction to Birdwatching, every Saturday, 12-1:30 p.m., Prospect Park Audubon Center: Prospect Park has more than 200 species of birds. Take a guided tour and find out why the National Audubon Society has designated Prospect Park an Important Bird Area. Free.
Early American Crafts, every Saturday and Sunday, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Lefferts Historic House: Make arts and crafts the old fashioned way. Free.
Discover Tours, every Saturday and Sunday, 3-4 p.m., Prospect Park Audubon Center at the Boathouse: Explore the secrets of nature with teacher/naturalists from the Prospect Park Audubon Center. Learn how to look for and identify birds as you explore Prospect Park’s most scenic landscapes. Discover Tours are a great way to learn about all facets of life within this beautiful park — and best of all, they’re free.
Nature Crafts, every Saturday and Sunday, 1-3 p.m., Prospect Park Audubon Center at the Boathouse: Looking for something to do with the kids? Teacher/naturalists at the Audubon Center are available each weekend, leading structured, fun, and engaging arts activities for children. Kids create toys, puppets, and more, using all-natural materials — and it doesn’t cost a thing.
General Information
Enter the park at Lincoln Road and Ocean Avenue, Parkside & Ocean avenues, or Flatbush Avenue & Empire Boulevard (Willink entrance) and follow the directional signs.
For more, call 718-965-8999, or 718-965-8960 for directions to all volunteering destinations, or go to www.prospectpark.org.
