From Salsa to Soul, Downtown Brooklyn Heats up With Summer And Fall Events

Downtown Brooklyn’s public spaces are set to come alive as the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership rolls out its annual Downtown Brooklyn Presents series, a curated lineup of concerts, dance parties, family-friendly fun and community celebrations.

From live jazz at lunchtime to hula hooping in the park and Caribbean-style workouts, the series celebrates Brooklyn’s rhythm, creativity and neighborhood spirit.

Highlights from the Downtown Brooklyn Presents schedule include:

Summertime Jazz Concerts
Tuesdays in July, 12:00pm to 1:30pm | Columbus Park Plaza
Live performances by local jazz musicians including Danny Mixon, Boncellia Lewis, Chembo Corniel and Stanley Banks, curated in collaboration with the Jazz Foundation of America.

Capicú! NYC
Thursdays, July 10 to 31, 6:00pm to 8:00pm | Abolitionist Place
A celebration of Caribbean music and culture featuring dominoes, DJs and performances by Ninja Sonik, Ultra Violet and others.

Bare Feet DTBK
Wednesdays, July 16 to 30, 6:00pm to 8:00pm | Plaza at 300 Ashland
Dance series led by Emmy-winning host Mickela Mallozzi with styles ranging from swing and hustle to hip-hop.

Sounds of Resistance and Joy: A Celebration of Mama Joy Chatel
Saturday, July 26, 12:30pm to 7:30pm | Abolitionist Place
A community gathering honoring the legacy of Joy Chatel with stories, food and music.

Downtown Brooklyn Salsa Series
Thursdays, Aug. 7 to 28, 5:00pm to 8:00pm | Abolitionist Place
Salsa classes and open dancing hosted by Salsa Salsa Dance Studio with rotating DJs.

Vinyl Night Dance Parties
Thursdays, Aug. 7 to 28, 5:00pm to 8:00pm | Albee Square
Vinyl-only DJ nights featuring disco, house, hip-hop and Latin tracks with performances by Misbehaviour, DJ Woof and more.

Friday Night Dance Party
Aug. 8, 5:00pm to 8:00pm | Plaza at 300 Ashland
Outdoor dance event with DJ Jonny de la Rivera.

Wednesday Wonders at Abolitionist Place
Aug. 27 | 12:00pm to 2:30pm.
A weekly mix of kids’ activities including games, puppet shows and hula hooping with instructor Lillian Newberg.

Rest Within the Wake by James Allister Sprang
Wednesday, Aug. 27, 5:30pm to 7:30pm | Plaza at 300 Ashland
An auditory installation presented by More Art, followed by a panel discussion at MoCADA.

Planet Brooklyn
Saturday, Aug. 23 and Sunday, Aug. 24 | Plaza at 300 Ashland
A two-day celebration of Brooklyn culture with music, local vendors and food.

Ping-Pong at the Commons
Tuesdays, Sept. 2 to 30 and October | Brooklyn Commons Park
Weekly ping-pong games with DJ sets from Mike Doe-lo.

SANTÉ! by Le Cirque Kikasse
Wednesday, Sept. 3, 5:00pm to 6:00 pm | Abolitionist Place
A circus show with acrobats and balancing acts staged from a food truck.

Wukkout! Caribbean Fitness
Wednesdays, Sept. 3 to 24, 6:00pm to 7:00pm | Brooklyn Commons Park
Aerobic dance workouts set to Caribbean Carnival music.

Fall Into Step Dance Series
Thursdays, Sept. 4 to 25, 12:00pm to 2:00pm | Brooklyn Commons Park
A showcase of dance styles from companies including Kriyol Collective and Flamenco Vivo.

Reading Rhythms
Saturday, Sept. 20, 4:00pm to 6:00pm | Abolitionist Place
A reading party with live music and small group discussions for book lovers.

Willoughby Wednesdays with BQE Strings
Wednesdays, Sept. 10 to 24, 12:00pm to 2:00pm | Willoughby Plaza
Live classical string covers of pop hits performed during the lunch hour.

All events are free and open to the public.