Photo by Mary Hautman

It looks like spring has finally arrived and summer’s not too far around the corner — and what better way to celebrate the sunshine than to take advantage of the dozens of events happening at Brooklyn Bridge Park this summer.

Brooklyn Bridge Park and the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy have announced their programming for the 2016 season, with events ranging from film screenings, musical performances, sports and exercise classes, art, and plenty of kid-friendly activities.

Check out the full schedule of events from the two organizations below.

Photo by Mary Hautman

Arts & Culture

Village Community Boathouse at 99 Plymouth
April 7 – May 22 | Main Street
Join the experienced boatbuilders of the Village Community Boathouse as they construct a 15-foot-long Whitehall rowboat. Volunteers can sign up to participate or observe and discuss the evolution of human-powered boating in the NY Harbor during boatbuilding sessions on Mondays and Thursdays 3–7 p.m., and on Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon.

Dumbo Family Festival
April 23 | 11 a.m. | Main Street Park and John Street Park
Dance, play, and spend the day at John Street and Main Street in Brooklyn Bridge Park! Explore the wonders of nature at our Environmental Education Center, get down with Mom and Dad at our dance party, decorate a replica of the Brooklyn Bridge with flowers, and enjoy classic games on the new lawns under the Manhattan Bridge.

Understanding
May 4 – October 23 | Pier 6
Public Art Fund presents Understanding, a 25-foot-tall rotating ruby red neon sculpture by one of Great Britain’s most acclaimed contemporary artists and a 2001 Turner Prize winner, Martin Creed. Commissioned specifically Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6, the work will illuminate a clear and poignant message while visually interacting with the City’s skyline.

THE FENCE
June | Parkwide
For the fifth consecutive year, United Photo Industries, in partnership with Photo District News, brings its enthralling photography exhibition, THE FENCE, to BBP. Its many sections throughout the Park will display the work of photographers from around the world depicting a variety of subjects.

Oyster Project at 99 Plymouth
Presented by Brooklyn Arts Council
June 2 – June 30 | Main Street
Inspired by Brooklyn’s native oyster reefs, this show will feature photos of Colleen Flanigan’s underwater sculptural installations which are designed to restore reefs by raising the pH of seawater. Judith Pleva’s multimedia scrapbook uses interwoven photos and articles to chronicle recent oyster reef restoration work.

Summer Reading Storytime
Tuesdays | June 7 – August 9 | 10:30 a.m. | Pier 3 Greenway Terrace
Enjoy storytime with librarians from the Brooklyn Heights branch of the Brooklyn Public Library who read fun stories from their summer reading list and more.

BAMcinemaFest Outdoor Screening
Thursday | June 9| 8 p.m. | Pier 1
Join BAMcinemaFest for an outdoor festival featuring live music, curated food, and special film screening! The film starts at sunset.

Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself Marathon
Saturday | June 18 | 4 p.m. | Granite Prospect
Annual marathon reading of Walt Whitman’s critically acclaimed poem, “Song of Myself.”

Pier Kids
Sundays | June 19 – August 7 | 11 a.m. | Pier 6
Sing, act, dance, and draw! Please join us on Pier 6 for a weekly celebration of the arts. Engaging activities will vary each week and be accompanied by an outdoor pop-up reading room from The Uni Project and art projects from Private Picassos.
Family-Friendly Activities 11 a.m. to noon; Performances noon to 1 p.m.
· June 19: Suzi Shelton
· June 26: Wildlife Theater
· July 3: A Royal Shindig & Brooklyn Beanstalk
· July 10: Arm-of-the-Sea Theater
· July 17: Hot Peas ‘N Butter
· July 24: You Must Be This Tall
· July 31: Meet the Animals
· August 7: Shira & Friends

Met Opera
Friday | June 24 | 7 p.m. | Pier 1
A favorite summer tradition in New York, the Metropolitan Opera’s Summer Recital Series returns to Pier 1, with a concert filled with favorite arias and duets, featuring Met artists Angel Blue, Ben Bliss, and Alexey Lavrov, with pianist Dan Saunders.

Rush Arts at 99 Plymouth
July 5 – September | Main Street
Rush Kids and Teens participating in the Rush Arts Summer Session return to BBP to create vibrant site-specific murals. Inspired by the works of Xenobia Bailey and taking cues from the surrounding parkland, these colorful murals will be sure to delight. Rush Summer Session is a free art-education program provided to underserved youth by the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation.

Movies With A View
Thursdays | July 7 – August 25 | with DJs at 6 p.m. and movies at sunset | Pier 1
Join us as we celebrate the 17th season of the Conservancy’s movie series! Shorts curated by BAMcinematek, DJs from Brooklyn Radio kick-off the evening, and bike valet is provided by Transportation Alternatives. Schedule of movie shorts and DJs will be announced soon!
· July 7: Singin’ in the Rain | PG
· July 14: Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle | R
· July 21: Purple Rain | R
· July 28: It Happened One Night | NR
· August 4: American Graffiti | PG
· August 11: Selma | R
· August 18: A League of Their Own | PG
· August 25: Public Vote

Gibney Dance in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Saturdays | July 9 – 30 | 7 p.m. | Pier 1
Gibney Dance brings their lower Manhattan performing arts center to the Park. Join them for sunset performances on the river, class on the grass, and other dance happenings set against the Manhattan skyline.

Books Beneath the Bridge
Mondays l July 11 – August 15 | 7 p.m. | Granite Prospect
On six Monday nights during July and August, six of Brooklyn’s best independent bookstores curate readings, discussions, signings, and more inspired by each event’s author.
· July 11: Freebird Bookstore
· July 18: Word
· July 25: powerHouse Arena
· August 1: Community Bookstore Park Slope
· August 8: Greenlight Bookstore
· August 15: Bookcourt

Laughter in the Park
Sunday | July 17 | 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. | Granite Prospect
NYCLaughs.org comes to the Park for a Sunday afternoon of laughs! Join them on the Granite Prospect for some great stand-up.

Hindu Lamp Ceremony
Saturday | August 6 | 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. | Main Street
Bring peace and harmony to our shoreline as Aeilushi Mistry performs the traditional Hindu Aarti ceremony at the Park! Presented with Brooklyn Arts Council.

All The Park’s A Stage
August 9, 10, 12, 13, 14 | 7 p.m. | Pier 1
Free performances of The Winter’s Tale by New York Classical Theatre. Performers roam the lawns of Pier 1 and use the vistas and Park landscapes as their backdrop.

Jazzmobile
TBD | 7 p.m. | Pier 1
Come enjoy an evening of jazz on Harbor View Lawn with NYC’s acclaimed Jazzmobile. Artist will be announced soon!

Kite Festival
Saturday | September 10 | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Pier 1
Watch your kite soar above the Manhattan skyline! Kites will be available for purchase or you can bring your own.

Brooklyn Americana Music Festival
Saturday & Sunday | September 24 & 25 | 2-8 p.m. | Pier 6
The Brooklyn Americana Festival returns with more original and traditional country, folk, roots, blues, old time, and bluegrass artists. Artists will be announced soon!

Bargemusic Family Friendly Concerts
Saturdays | 4 p.m. | Pier 1
Visit bargemusic.org for a full listing of their free family-friendly Saturday concerts!

Photo by Mary Hautman

Recreation

NYRR Open Runs
Thursdays, May – June 2 | Tuesdays, June 7 – September | 7 p.m. | Pier 6
New York Road Runners invite you to join their free Open Runs! Volunteers track the timing and marshal the course. Meet on the path south of Fornino at 6:45 p.m. for registration. The run begins at 7:00 p.m. and the course comprises a full 5K. Open to all ages. Strollers and dogs on leashes welcome. Please note, bag check is not provided.

18th Eileen C. Dugan Memorial 5K
Saturday | April 16 | 9 a.m. | Pier 6
A scenic 5K route (3.1 mi) spanning Brooklyn Bridge Park with breathtaking views of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan skyline, and the NYC harbor.

Basketball Clinics
May 5 – August 28 | Thursdays, 5-7 p.m. ; Sundays, 12-2 p.m. | Pier 2
Join Big and Little Skills Academy for dynamic youth basketball clinics on Pier 2 that include either yoga to enhance flexibility or flag football for agility training. Recommended for ages 8-17.

Kayaking
June 4 – September 29 | Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Thursdays, 5:30-6:45 p.m. | Pier 2 Dock
Paddle in the East River with the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse. Children under 18 must have an adult guardian present. Join us for Kayak Polo on Sundays at 11:00 am too!

Family Field Days
Saturday | June 18, July 16, August 20 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.| Various Locations
Get active on our sports piers by playing games of all sorts from soccer to volleyball to basketball to bocce on three different Family Field Days.

Double Dutch
Wednesdays | June 22 – August 31 | 7-9 p.m. | Pier 2
Learn to double dutch in a block party environment with experienced Brooklyn-based Double Dutch Empire instructors. Open to all abilities and recommended for ages 15 and up.

Pop-Up Pool
Daily | June 29 through Labor Day | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Take in the sunshine and cool waters at the Pop-Up Pool! The 30’x50’ pool includes a sandy beach and play area with refreshing food and drinks from Lizzmonade. Swim lessons are available.

Youth Volleyball Clinics
Sundays | July 3 – 31 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Come down to our sand volleyball courts to practice your skills! For ages 12 and under.

Fitness – Waterfront Workouts

Broadway Dance with Dodge YMCA
Mondays | May 9 – August 8* | 10 a.m. | Pier 2

Sunrise: Abhaya Yoga
Mondays | June 6 – July 25* | 7:30 a.m. l Pier 6

Ballet Barre with Dodge YMCA
Mondays | June 6 – August 8* | 7 p.m. | Pier 2

Pilates with the Fitness Guru
Tuesdays | June 28 – September 6 | 7 p.m. | Empire Fulton Ferry

Zumba with Dodge YMCA
Sundays | June 12 – August 14 | 4:30 p.m. | Pier 2

GRIT with Dodge YMCA
Sundays | June 19 – July 31 |4 p.m. | Pier 2

Piyo with Dodge YMCA
Wednesdays | June 22 – August 17 | 7 p.m. | Pier 6

Hip Hop Dance Aerobics with Dodge YMCA
Fridays | July 1 – August 12 | 7 p.m. | Pier 3 Greenway Terrace

Outdoor Strength with Brooklyn Strength
Sundays | August 7 – August 28 | 3 p.m. | Pier 2

*No class on May 30 or July 4

Photo by Barbara Eldredge

Education & Environment

Ed Center Open Hours
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3-5 p.m.; Saturdays & Sundays, 1-5 p.m. | Environmental Education Center
Explore Brooklyn Bridge Park like never before during open hours in our Environmental Education Center. Share all your Ed Center experiences on social media by tagging your posts with #edcntr.

Waterfront Walks
Sundays | 11 a.m. | Pier 1 entrance
Engage with our docents on a tour about the history of the Brooklyn waterfront, BBP’s sustainable design, and how the Park came to life.

Wednesday Night Tours
Wednesdays | May 11 – September 28 | 6:30 p.m. | Pier 1 entrance
Take an evening stroll with New York’s finest scholars and learn about the extraordinary history, ecology, design of Brooklyn Bridge Park. Purchase tickets ($5 members, $10 non-members) on our website.

Seining
June 5, July 16, August 13, September 25 | Times Vary |Main Street
Learn about the remarkable creatures of the East River as our scientists use a seining net to humanely catch and release these unique critters.

The Great Fish Count
Saturday | June 4 | 2 p.m. | Main Street
Pull on a pair of waders, cast a net, and find marine life. Join top ecologists and biologists to catch, count, identify, and release the animals in NYC’s swarming waters. Presented in collaboration with the World Science Festival, Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Stargazing with the World Science Festival
Saturday | June 4 | 7 p.m. | Pier 1
Get out your telescope (or share with astronomers) for a night of urban stargazing and music to celebrate the dance of the planets.

Checkmate 101
Sundays | June 19 – August 7 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Pier 6
Come learn how to take your chess game to the next level! Best for beginners; limited boards available.

Journey to the Stars
Thursdays | July 7 – August 25 | 8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. | Pier 1
Gaze across the New York sky and all the wonders it holds with Amateur Astronomers Association of New York.

City of Water Day
Saturday | July 16 | Main Street & Pier 2
Celebrate the waterfront by getting on the water in a kayak and exploring what’s below the water’s surface during our Seining program.

The Great Escape
Saturday | August 27 | 10 a.m. | Main Street
Come to the Park for a boat race and living history program to honor the 240th Anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn.

Photo by Mary Hautman

Volunteer Events

Green Team
Saturdays | May 7 – October 29 | 10 a.m. | Pier 1
Join this dedicated corps of volunteers who keep Brooklyn Bridge Park beautiful. The Green Team meets every Saturday to provide essential horticultural care to the park. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn about gardening, enjoy nature, and help the park look its best. Children are welcome to volunteer with a parent or guardian.

Coastal Cleanups
May 6, June 5, July 3, August 18 | Times Vary | Main Street
Team up with volunteers to combat pollution in our waterways and along our coastlines. Volunteers will care for the park’s unique coastal environment by cleaning up the park’s beaches, shorelines, and salt marshes.