Soak up some sun and maximize your summer fun with these Brooklyn events and summer activities:
Photo Courtesy Prospect Park AllianceEvery summer for nearly 30 years, the Celebrate Brooklyn! festival has taken over the Prospect Park Bandshell, offering free concerts, dance, film, and theater performances to thousands of Brooklyn residents. This year's line-up, which includes acts ranging from "They Might Be Giants" to "Los Amigos Invisibles" and "Animal Collective" will run from Monday, June 8 through Saturday, August 15.
Who needs Florida? Sun meets fun at Brooklyn's three beaches, which include Coney Island, Manhattan Beach, and Brighton Beach. Pack an umbrella and some summer reading, and embrace your inner beach bum on the Brooklyn shore.
No Brooklyn summer is complete without the annual Mermaid Parade in Coney Island. An ongoing tradition since 1983, the Mermaid Parade is now the largest (and possibly craziest) art parade in the United States. This year's extravaganza is on Saturday, June 20.
BAM's first-ever cinemaFEST features 18 films, outdoor movie screenings, a shorts program, a stay-up-all-night movie marathon, and more. The event lasts from Wednesday, June 17 through Thursday, July 2.
On Wednesday nights from July 8 through August 12, this annual free outdoor movie series will hit Williamsburg's McCarren Park. Watch popular movies like "Reality Bites" and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."
From July 9 through August 27, DUMBO will host an outdoor movie festival of its own on Thursday nights, screening popular movies like "Raising Arizona" and "Paper Moon" to crowds under the Brooklyn Bridge (where the view is, yes, pretty incredible).
Every summer, Coney Island hosts free Thursday night concerts as part of the Seaside Summer Concert Series. The 2009 concert schedule, which runs from Thursday, July 16 to Thursday, August 27, includes performers like Blondie and Gladys Knight.
Even though the Macy's fireworks have been moved from the East River, there are still plenty of ways to have fun in Brooklyn this Fourth of July. Show your patriotic colors at the annual Independence Day Parade, cheer on your favorite hot dog devouring pro at the famed Nathan's hot dog eating contest in Coney Island, or get your groove on at the Brooklyn Museum.
Head to Coney Island on Saturday, July 18, for this year's Siren Music Festival, which boasts acts by the likes of "Built to Spill" and "Spank Rock." The annual day-long music event (in its 9th year!) is free and open to the public.
Brooklyn's Red Hook Ball Fields open this year on Saturday, May 2, when you'll be able to make your way to the South American street food haven for delicious treats ranging from just-off-the-grill snacks like quesadillas, tacos, pupusas, and tamales to fresh ceviche and horchatas. The Ball Fields typically stay open through October.
